Antibacterial Activity of Four Plant Extracts Used in Palestine in Folkloric Medicine against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Authors: BASSAM ABU-SHANAB, GHALEB MOHAMMAD ADWAN, NASER JARRAR, AWNI ABU-HIJLEH, KAMEL ADWAN

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.

Keywords: Antibacterial activities, plant extracts, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

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