Study on histological structure and antimicrobial activity of Lilium candidum L

Abstract

ABSTRACT Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have become a serious therapeutic problem recently, that can be solved by using of herbal drugs with antibacterial effects. The stem, leaf, tepal, anther, and ovary of Lilium candidum L. (white lily) were selected for histological and microbiological studies. For the microbial study, the stem, leaf, and tepal were extracted with methanol, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water, and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined against standard and clinical strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii) by microdilution method after evaporation of the solvents. Unicellular non-glandular hairs were observed on the stem surface, and mesomorphic stomata were present in the stem and the leaf. The mesophyll of the leaf and the tepal is homogenous. Uneven secondary cell wall thickening was found in the endothecium of the anther. Placentation of the 3-locular ovary was axile. The butanol and water extracts of the stem showed an inhibitory activity on P. aeruginosa, while the butanol extract of the leaf inhibited the growth of S. aureus and E. coli, and its aqueous fraction inhibited S. aureus. The tepal extracts made with butanol and water showed an inhibitory effect on each tested strain. The observed antimicrobial activity of white lily yielded promising results, suggesting that further microbiological and phytochemical analyses are needed to explore the potential therapeutic use of the species.