Peganum harmala extract suppress the activity of SEA gene in Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

The gram positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is responsible for many diseases including toxic shock syndromes and food toxicity caused by the exotoxins that S. aureus releases. SEA and SEB are the best characterized out of more than 20 Staphylococcal enterotoxins. Treatment with Peganum Harmala seeds alcoholic extract can result in effect the gene expression of SEA gene, due to its antibacterial effects. This study focused on the seed extract of P. harmala, 20 grams of dried and powdered seeds of peganum harmala were extracted and 125 Staphylococcus aureus samples were screened. All of the isolates are previously confirmed using differential and selective media. From the isolates bacteria genomic DNA was extracted and the SEA gene was identified by using conventional PCR with specific primers. One S. aureus of the isolates was found to be SEA gene positive. The results of sensitivity test of S. aureus isolates to 3 concentrations of Peganum Harmala extract was determined using disc diffusion method, at concentrations of 500, 250 and 50 mg/ml has inhibit the S.aureus by 2.1 mm, 1mm and no antimicrobial activity respectively. The result of RT-PCR Showed that SEA gene at 50 concentrations is expressed 0.40 times less than the control, at 250 concentrations is expressed 0.15 times less than the control and at 500 concentrations is expressed 0.06 less than the control.