An-Najah Staff

This study aimed to evaluate antibacterial and antifungal activities and exhaustive extraction yields of the aqueous and organic extracts of Verbascum sinuatum L., against possible human pathogens, which are the fungus Candida albicans, gram positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus epidermidis and the gram negative bacteria Eschrichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Well diffusion method was used in screening antimicrobial activity for the plant extracts, in which the diameters of inhibition zones were measured and compared to a positive control. Serial dilution method was used for measuring the minimum inhibition concentrations for each microorganism. In well diffusion method, the plant’s aqueous extract has antimicrobial activity to all the tested organisms except Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, with variable diameters of inhibition zone. The percent inhibition compared to the positive control imipenem was 39.13% for Staphylococcus aureus, 37.5% for Staphylococcus epidermidis, Eschrichia coli for 30.55% and the least 30.43% for Bacillus subtilis. The organic extract exhibited inhibition activity 26.08% against Bacillus subtilis and 50% against Eschrichia coli. In the serial dilution method, the aqueous extract exhibited inhibition for all the test microorganisms. At initial concentration of 20 mg/ml, the lowest MIC value was for Staphylococcus aureus 1.28 µg/ml, and highest for Staphylococcus epidermidis 4000 µg/ml. The MIC values for Pseudomonas aeruginosa 160 µg/ml, 800 µg/ml for Bacillus subtilis, 800 µg/ml for Eschrichia coli and 32 µg/ml for Candida albicans respectively. This study showed that V. sinuatum extract has a broad spectrum activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, as well as anticandidal activity.

Thirty-five methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates were collected from 3 hospitals in the northern and southern parts of Palestine between February and May 1998. These isolates were typed by ribosome spacer PCR (RSPCR)and arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR). RS-PCR generated 9 different genotypes. The use of APÐPCR provided a high resolution typing method and allowed us to define 11 different clusters. Three major clusters, however, based on the combination of both typing methods, spread throughout the neonatal and intensive care units of Rafidya Hospital during the entire period.

Abstract: 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.

Objectives: This study has been done to evaluate the interaction between ethanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria (seed), Psidium guajava (Leaf), Lawsonia inermis (Leaf) and Sacropoterium spinosum (seed) and antimicrobial drugs including oxytetracycline HCl, enrofloxacin, gentamicin sulphate and sulfadimethoxine against four clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Methodology: Evaluation of the interaction between ethanolic extracts and different antimicrobial agents has been done using well-diffusion method. Results: It showed that ethanolic extracts increase the inhibition zones of oxytetracycline HCl, gentamicin sulphate, and sulfadimethoxine, while combinations between these plant extracts and enrofloxacin decrease inhibition zone.
Conclusion: 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. 

Thirty-five methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates were collected from 3 hospitals in the northern and southern parts of Palestine between February and May 1998. These isolates were typed by ribosome spacer PCR (RSPCR) and arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR). RS-PCR generated 9 different genotypes. The use of APÐPCR provided a high resolution typing method and allowed us to define 11 different clusters. Three major clusters, however, based on the combination of both typing methods, spread throughout the neonatal and intensive care units of Rafidya Hospital during the entire period.

The antimicrobial activities of 56 Palestinian medicinal plants against etiologic agents of acne vulgaris, mainly Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus was studied using disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. The results from the disc diffusion method demonstrated that these plants differ significantly in their activity against the studied microorganisms. The most active plants against all bacterial strains were Rhus coriaria, Ricinus communis, and Sarcopoterium spinosum. Test microorganisms differed significantly in relation to their susceptibility to different plant extracts used. Generally, anaerobic bacteria were more susceptible to plant extracts than aerobic bacteria. Those plants which could inhibit the growth of P. acnes, R. coriaria, R. communis, and S. spinosum had strong inhibitory effects. 43 plants could inhibit the growth of all aerobic bacteria. Based on a broth dilution method, the R. coriaria extract had the greatest antimicrobial effect against P. acnes (MIC 6 mg/ml, MBC 6 mg/ml), S. aureus (MIC 4 mg/ml, MBC 6 mg/ml), E. coli (MIC 6 mg/ml, MBC 8 mg/ml)and P. aeruginosa (4 and 6 mg/ml).Taken together, our data indicate that R. coriaria, R. communis had a strong inhibitory effect on P. acnes and most other test bacteria. Therefore, the two plants would be an interesting topic for further study and possibly for an alternative treatment for acne.

Objective: This study was conducted to update the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates among human clinical S. aureus isolates recovered from Northern Palestine, to evaluate the possible presence of vancomycin-Resistant S. aureus (VRSA) and vancomycin-intermediate resistant S. aureus strains (VISA) and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities of these clinical isolates. Methods: The in vitro activities of 11 antibiotics against 204 non-duplicate S. aureus isolates from clinical samples in North of Palestine were determined by the disk-diffusion method. These samples were isolated between June 2006 and December 2007. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of vancomycin for 115 methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains was carried out using the agar dilution method. Results: One hundred and fifteen (56.4%) of these isolates were MRSA and according to their antibiotic profile these are multidrug resistant (resistant to three or more non-β-lactam antibiotics). Ninety nine (43.6%) isolates were methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), forty four of MSSA isolates (44.4%) were multidrug resistant, while forty five (45.6%) were non multidrug resistant. Our results showed that the most common resistance (95.6%) was to penicillin. Two strains of MRSA have shown to be vancomycin-intermediate resistant, had MIC of 4 µg/mL and 8 µg/mL and these vancomycin-intermediate resistant S. aureus strains (VISA) are resistant to all antibiotics tested. Conclusion: According to our information this is the first study report about VISA in Palestine.

Objectives: This study has been done to evaluate the interaction between ethanolic extracts ofRhus coriaria (seed) , Psidium guajava (Leaf), Lawsonia inermis (Leaf) and Sacropoterium spinosum(seed) and antimicrobial drugs including oxytetracycline HCl, enrofloxacin, gentamicin sulphateand sulfadimethoxine against four clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).Methodology: Evaluation of the interaction between ethanolic extracts and differentantimicrobial agents has been done using well-diffusion method.Results: It showed that ethanolic extracts increase the inhibition zones of oxytetracycline HCl,gentamicin sulphate, and sulfadimethoxine, while combinations between these plant extractsand enrofloxacin decrease inhibition zone.Conclusion: This study probably suggests the possibility of concurrent use of these antimicrobialdrugs and plant extracts in combination in treating infections caused by S. aureus strains or atleast the concomitant administration may not impair the antimicrobial activity of theseantibiotics.

Objective: This study was conducted to update the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates among human clinical S. aureus isolates recovered from Northern Palestine, to evaluate the possible presence of vancomycin-Resistant S. aureus (VRSA) and vancomycin- intermediate resistant S. aureus strains (VISA) and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities of these clinical isolates.
Methods: The in-vitro activities of 11 antibiotics against 204 non-duplicate S. aureus isolates from clinical samples in North of Palestine were determined by the disk-diffusion method. These samples were isolated between June 2006 and December 2007. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of vancomycin for 115 methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains was carried out using the agar dilution method.
Results: One hundred and fifteen (56.4%) of these isolates were MRSA and according to their antibiotic profile these are multidrug resistant (resistant to three or more non-β-lactam antibiotics). Ninety nine (43.6%) isolates were methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), forty four of MSSA isolates (44.4%) were multidrug resistant, while forty five (45.6%) were non multidrug resistant. Our results showed that the most common resistance (95.6%) was to penicillin. Two strains of MRSA have shown to be vancomycin- intermediate resistant, had MIC 4 and 8 μg/ml and these vancomycin- intermediate resistant S. aureus strains (VISA) are resistant to all antibiotics tested.
Conclusion: According to our information this is the first study report about VISA in Palestine. 

Thirty-five methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates were collected from 3 hospitals in the northern and southern parts of Palestine between February and May 1998. These isolates were typed by ribosome spacer PCR (RSPCR)and arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR). RS-PCR generated 9 different genotypes. The use of APÐPCR provided a high resolution typing method and allowed us to define 11 different clusters. Three major clusters, however, based on the combination of both typing methods, spread throughout the neonatal and intensive care units of Rafidya Hospital during the entire period.