An-Najah Staff

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

Varthemia iphionoides is indigenous to Palestine, where it is traditionally being used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this paper was to provide pharmacological validation to this medicinal use. Water and ethanol extracts of Varthemia iphionoides were studied on isolated rabbit ileum for spasmolytic action. These extracts showed a reduction of the amplitude and the tone of spontaneous contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Apart from that, water extract of Varthemia iphionoides drastically diminished the increase of the contraction of the ileum caused by acetylcholine (ACh) concentration of 5.5X10-6M. This indicates that Varthemia iphionoides extract probably acts at least through muscarinic receptors blockade.

To assess the clinical utility of the crude ethanolic extract of the leaves of Varthemia iphionoides (Compositae), minimal inhibitory concentrations eJ'v1Ies) were determined using agar dilution technique. Accordingly, The MICs of of this plant extract ranged from 0.0313-1 mg/ml for three clinical Staphylacaccus aureus strains and ATCC strains of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis, whereas Escherichia coli studied in this report was fOlUld to exhibit higher 1v1Ie value (4 mg/ml). The effect of combinations of ethanolic extract of Varthemia iphionoides and cefotaxime was investigated by means of fractional inhibitory concentration (FIe) indices. Using the FIe indices, synergistic interactions were observed against B. subtilis (ATCC 6633) and S. aureus strains (FIC indices of 0.75-0.875); while combinations against E. cali and S. epidermidis (ATCC 25923) exhibited antagonistic interactions (FIC indices of 2.5 to 16.4). Synergy was confirmed at cefotaxime concentrations corresponding to 1/2 MIC and an ethanol extract concentrations corresponding to 1/41v1IC and lower. Key words: Varthemia iphionoides . Medicinal plants . Antibacterial activity . Herb-drug interactions . Plant extracts

Varthemia iphionoides is indigenous to Palestine, where it is traditionally being used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this paper was to provide pharmacological validation to this medicinal use. Water and ethanol extracts of Varthemia iphionoides were studied on isolated rabbit ileum for spasmolytic action. These extracts showed a reduction of the amplitude and the tone of spontaneous contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Apart from that, water extract of Varthemia iphionoides drastically diminished the increase of the contraction of the ileum caused by acetylcholine (ACh) concentration of 5.5X10-6M. This indicates that Varthemia iphionoides extract probably acts at least through muscarinic receptors blockade.

Ethanolic and hot water extracts from 4 different plant species used in Palestine in popular medicine for the treatment of several ailments of microbial and non-microbial origin were evaluated for potential antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Both water and ethanol extracts of Mentha longifolia, Melissa officinalis and Rosa damascena were effective on MRSA. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of the ethanolic extract of M. longifolia and M. officinalis were in the range of 3.125 to 12.50 mg/ml and 12.50 to 25.00 mg/ml, respectively. The ethanolic extract with the greatest antimicrobial activity was that of R. damascena (MIC 0.395 to 0.780 mg/ml and MBC 1.563 to 3.125 mg/ml). The combination of ethanolic extracts of the plants studied showed synergistic antibacterial activity against MRSA strains.

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. 

Varthemia iphionoides is indigenous to Palestine, where it is traditionally being used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this paper was to provide pharmacological validation to this medicinal use. Water and ethanol extracts of Varthemia iphionoides were studied on isolated rabbit ileum for spasmolytic action. These extracts showed a reduction of the amplitude and the tone of spontaneous contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Apart from that, water extract of Varthemia iphionoides drastically diminished the increase of the contraction of the ileum caused by acetylcholine (ACh) concentration of 5.5X10m-6 M. This indicates that Varthemia iphionoides extract probably acts at least through muscarinic receptors blockade.

Objective  To determine the antimicrobial activity of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and to investigate the synergistic effects of this extract combined with ceforuxime against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Methods  The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of rosemary ethanol extract, alone and in combination with cefuroxime, were studied.
Results  The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the ethanol extract of rosemary were in the range of 0.39–3.13 mg/mL. The minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were usually equal to or double that MICs. The antimicrobial activity of combinations of the ethanol extract of rosemary and cefuroxime indicated their synergistic effects against all MRSAs.
Conclusions  The present work clearly demonstrates that rosemary has a key role in the elevation of susceptibility to β-lactams.

Objective: To determine the antimicrobial activity of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and to investigate the synergistic effects of this extract combined with ceforuxime against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Methods:The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of rosemary ethanol extract, alone and in combination with cefuroxime, were studied.
Results : The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the ethanol extract of rosemary were in the range of 0.39–3.13 mg/mL. The minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were usually equal to or double that MICs. The antimicrobial activity of combinations of the ethanol extract of rosemary and cefuroxime indicated their synergistic effects against all MRSAs.
Conclusions: The present work clearly demonstrates that rosemary has a key role in the elevation of susceptibility to β-lactams.

 Objective: This study has been done to evaluate the interaction between water extracts of Psidium guajava, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia fruticosa, Majorana syriaca, Ocimum basilucum, Syzygium aromaticum, Laurus nobilis, and Rosa damascena alone and then synergy testing of these extracts with known antimicrobial agents including oxytetracycline HCl, gentamicin sulfate, penicillin G, cephalexin and enrofloxacin.  This study was conducted against five S. aureus isolates; one is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 4 Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA
Methods: Evaluation of the interaction between plant extracts and different antimicrobial agents has been done using well-diffusion and microdilution methods.
Results: The results of the conducted experiments using well-diffusion method demonstrate that these plants showed in vitro interactions between antimicrobial agents and plant extracts were additive, while using microdilution method showed synergistic effects with significant reduction in the MICs of the test antibiotics against these strains of S. aureus. This change in MIC was noticed in all plant extracts including these plants showed weak antibacterial activity by well diffusion method. Synergism effect was occurred in both sensitive and resistant strains but the magnitude of minimum fold reduction of inhibitory concentration in resistant strains especially MRSA strain was higher than the sensitive strains.
Coclusion: This study probably suggests the possibility of concurrent use of these antimicrobial drugs and plant extracts in combination in treating infections caused by S. aureus strains or at least the concomitant administration may not impair the antimicrobial activity of these antibiotics.