An-Najah Staff

Nine medicinal plants growing in Palestine were screened in vitro for potential antibacterial activity against 6 bacterial strains by well diffusion and micro-dilution techniques. Both aqueous and organic solvents were used. The dried extracts of Sacropoterium spinosum (Rosaceae) (seed), Ruta chalepensis L (Rutaceae) (leaf), Cassia senna (Ligumenosa) (leaf), Lawsonia inermis (Lythraceae) (leaf), Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) (Leaf), Carataegus azerullus (Rosaceae) (Leaf), Ranunclus asiaticus(Ranunculaceae) (Flowers), Calendula officinalis (Composita) (Flowers),and Salvia syriaca (Labiatae) (leaf) were screened. The bacterial strains tested were; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); three strains (1, 2 & 3), multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Klebsiella pneumonia. The average diameter of inhibition zones ranged from 9 to 30 mm and 11 to 28 mm for aqueous and ethanol extract, respectively. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most inhibited microorganism. Sacropoterium spinosum extract was the most active against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The MIC value of ethanol extract was 0.781 mg/ml against MRSA while 0.390 mg/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The combination effect of ethanol extracts of (Sacropoterium spinosum with Lawsonia Inermis) on bacterial species tested exhibited a higher effect than that of any individual extract. Such results lead to an interesting promise for further investigation to design potentially active antibacterial augmentative agents of natural sources. Key words: Antibacterial activities, plant extracts, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Palestine.

Abstract: The antibacterial activities of hot water, methanol and ethanol extracts of 5 plant extracts utilized in Palestine in popular medicine were studied. The dried extracts of Syzyium aromaticum (Myrtaceae) (seed), Cinnamomum cassia (Lauraceae) (cassia bark, Chinese cinnamon) (bark), Salvia officinalis (Lamiaceaea) (leaf), Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceaea) (leaf) and Rosmarinus officinalis (Labiatae) (leaf) were tested in vitro against 4 bacterial species by disk diffusion and micro-dilution. The patterns of inhibition varied with the plant extract, the solvent used for extraction, and the organism tested. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 were the most inhibited microorganisms. S. aromaticum extract was the most active against multi- drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 EHEC. The combinations of ethanolic extracts of S. officinalis with R. officinalis and of R. officinalis with T. vulgaris on bacterial species tested exhibited a higher effect than that of any individual extract. Results of this kind herald the interesting promise of designing a potentially active antibacterial synergized agent of plant origin.Key Words: Antibacterial activities, plant extracts, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Nine medicinal plants growing in Palestine were screened in vitro for potential antibacterial activity against 6 bacterial strains by well diffusion and micro-dilution techniques. Both aqueous and organic solvents were used. The dried extracts of Sacropoterium spinosum (Rosaceae) (seed), Ruta chalepensis L (Rutaceae) (leaf), Cassia senna (Ligumenosa) (leaf), Lawsonia inermis (Lythraceae) (leaf), Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) (Leaf), Carataegus  azerullus (Rosaceae) (Leaf), Ranunclus asiaticus(Ranunculaceae) (Flowers), Calendula officinalis (Composita) (Flowers),and Salvia syriaca (Labiatae) (leaf) were screened. The bacterial strains tested were; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); three strains (1, 2 & 3), multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Klebsiella pneumonia. The average diameter of inhibition zones ranged from 9 to 30 mm and 11 to 28 mm for aqueous and ethanol extract, respectively. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most inhibited microorganism. Sacropoterium spinosum extract was the most active against Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug resistant  Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The MIC value of ethanol extract was 0.781 mg/ml  against MRSA while 0.390 mg/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The  combination effect of ethanol extracts of (Sacropoterium spinosum with  Lawsonia Inermis) on bacterial species tested exhibited a higher effect than  that of any individual extract.  Such results lead to an interesting promise for further investigation to design  potentially active antibacterial augmentative agents of natural sources. 

Nine medicinal plants growing in Palestine were screened in vitro for potential antibacterial activity against 6 bacterial strains by well diffusion and micro-dilution techniques. Both aqueous and organic solvents were used. The dried extracts of Sacropoterium spinosum (Rosaceae) (seed), Ruta chalepensis L (Rutaceae) (leaf), Cassia senna (Ligumenosa) (leaf), Lawsonia inermis (Lythraceae) (leaf), Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) (Leaf), Carataegus azerullus (Rosaceae) (Leaf), Ranunclus asiaticus(Ranunculaceae) (Flowers), Calendula officinalis (Composita) (Flowers),and Salvia syriaca (Labiatae) (leaf) were screened. The bacterial strains tested were; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); three strains (1, 2 & 3), multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Klebsiella pneumonia. The average diameter of inhibition zones ranged from 9 to 30 mm and 11 to 28 mm for aqueous and ethanol extract, respectively. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most inhibited microorganism. Sacropoterium spinosum extract was the most active against Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The MIC value of ethanol extract was 0.781 mg/ml against MRSA while 0.390 mg/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The combination effect of ethanol extracts of (Sacropoterium spinosum with Lawsonia Inermis) on bacterial species tested exhibited a higher effect than that of any individual extract. Such results lead to an interesting promise for further investigation to design potentially active antibacterial augmentative agents of natural sources.