The investigation of antimicrobial and antifungal activity of some Artemisia L. species

Abstract

Background: Throughout history pathogenic microorganisms cause infectious diseases. Medicinal herbs play an important role in human life because they are used for the therapy and production of herbal remedies. Therefore, it is relevant to study the antibacterial activity of medicinal herbs includingArtemisiaL. species.Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial and antifungal activity ofArtemisiaL. species extracts and to identify their synergistic antimicrobial effects with erythromycin against skin isolates ofStaphylococcus aureuswith different mechanisms of MLS-resistance.Materials and methods:Artemisia absinthiumL. herb extracts (AAs-4, AAs-7, AAs-9),Artemisia vulgarisL. herb extracts (AV-4, AV-7, AV-9) andArtemisia abrotanumL. herb extracts (AAr-4, AAr-7, AAr-9) were used in this study (solvents – 40%, 70% and 90% ethyl alcohol respectively).The determination of antimicrobial activity of extracts was performed using clinical isolates of antibiotic susceptible and antibiotic resistant microorganisms. Bacterial cultures were identified on the basis of the biochemical microtests “STAPHYtest 16”, “ENTEROtest 24”, “NEFERMENTtest 24” taking into account the complex of their morphological and cultural properties in accordance with the recommendations of the 9thedition of “Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology”. Yeast-like fungi cultures were identified on the basis of 40 biochemical tests with the help of the VITEK 2 system using the VITEK 2 YST ID card.The synergism of the antimicrobial activity of extracts with erythromycin was investigated using the clinical isolate ofStaphylococcus aureuswith the non-inductive MLS-resistance mechanism (resistant to erythromycin at minimum bacteriostatic concentration of 125 μg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration of 250 μg/ml without induction of resistance to clindamycin).Research results: The evaluation ofArtemisiaL. herb extracts activity was carried out using standard strains of microorganisms which are recommended by the WHO.The results of the conducted studies indicate thatArtemisiaL. herb extracts are able to reduce the growth of microorganisms. The investigated extracts showed the potent bacteriostatic action against the cocci or rod-shaped microflora. The antimicrobial activity ofArtemisiaL. herb extracts directly depends on the concentration of ethanol as the solvent.Artemisia vulgarisL. herb extracts (solvents – 70% and 90% ethanol) andArtemisia abrotanumL. herb extract (solvent – 90% ethanol) show synergism of antimicrobial activity with erythromycin in relation toStaphylococcus aureuswith efflux mechanism of MLS-resistance. The obtainedArtemisiaL. herb extracts can be used to create antifungal drugs, as well as antimicrobial drugs (against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria).