Antimicrobial Activity Of Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Herbal Bioactive Compounds for Skin Infections and Inflammatory Conditions

Skin microbiota is an integral part of the human immune system. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the essential components of the normal flora. Approximately 20–30% of healthy individuals are persistently colonized with S. aureus, whereas the remainders are considered low-level intermittent carriers. Despite these natural aspects of existence, S. aureus can be a major opportunistic human pathogen. This versatile microorganism can infect a variety of anatomical sites, causing a broad spectrum of pathologies ranging from superficial to invasive infections. It developed a variety of strategies to adopt to a changing microenvironment. This attributed to the emergence of resistance to antibiotics of different classes during the past six decades. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was originally confined to health-care settings (health-care-associated MRSA). Later on, community-acquired MRSA was identified as another source of infections. Recent figures indicate that MRSA strains have been associated with approximately 75% of all S. aureus infections worldwide. Several guidelines have been published to establish an adequate treatment of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) caused by MRSA strains. In the first part of this review, we focus on current treatment guidelines with a focus on medical drug therapy, but drug therapy has its own limitations. Recently, the interest in herbal remedies has greatly increased. There is growing evidence of antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants and their extracts. The second part of this review is dedicated to herbal compounds to circumvent antibiotic resistance. Herbal compounds may potentiate the action of antibiotics and restore the activities of antibacterial agents against which S. aureus has developed a drug resistance. Part 2 focuses on the role of S. aureus in pathology of the two major inflammatory skin diseases, i.e., atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis. Finally, Part 3 provides an overview on natural compounds with antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and possible use in the treatment of SSTIs,

Effectiveness of Medicinal Plant Extract against Pathogenic Bacteria in the Prevention and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infectious disease that infects humans in the presence of microorganisms, often not treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics because they contribute to developing resistant microorganisms. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the antibacterial efficacy of medicinal plants used to treat infection in the urinary tract. One hundred samples were collected from patients with UTIs, ranging in age from 10–60 years. Outpatients and inpatients with UTIs live in Al-Najaf Center and attend treatment at Al-Hakeem Hospital and Al-Sader Teaching Hospital. Ten microliters of urine samples were inoculated on selective media to isolate and identify pathogenic bacteria, presumptive identification was performed using the Viteck-2 system. Eight antibiotics were used for showed antibiotic susceptibility: cefixime (5 μg), streptomycin (25 μg), amoxicillin (30 μg), erythromycin (10 μg), ciprofloxacin (10 μg), azithromycin (15 μg), gentamicin (10 μg), and nitrofurantoin (50 μg). Two species of plants were used to determine antibacterial activity: Castanea crenata and Saussurea costus. Of 100 urine samples, 80 tested positive for bacteriuria. Escherichia coli was the most prevalent bacterium in the urine 50 (62.5%), followed by Klebsiella pneumonia 10 (12.5%), Proteus vulgaris seven (8.75%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa six (7.5), Staphylococcus aureus four (5%), and Streptococcus pyogenes three (3.75%). Some bacteria with Gram staining comprising E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Proteus spp. are resistant to many antibiotics. C. crenata and S. costus inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria isolated from the urine samples. Testing and determining the antimicrobial activities of medicinal plants will help pharmaceutical companies develop modifiers or precursors for synthesizing new therapeutic alternative drugs to treat infectious diseases caused by pathogens.

Screening and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Medicinal Plants Collected from Lalitpur District

Objectives: To screen and evaluate antimicrobial activity of crude ethanol extracts of medicinal plants against various bacteria. Methods: The study was conducted from February - August 2018 in Pinnacle college, Lalitpur with plan to collect Seven different herbs species; Acorus calamus (Bojho), Aloe vera (Ghiu Kumari), Artermisia indica (Titepate), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Mentha arvensis (Pudhina), Zanthoxylum armatum (Timur) and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) were subjected to 70% ethanol soxhlet extraction, then extract then heated at 78.37°C to remove ethanol, working solution was prepared in DMSO. Test organisms included mainly enteric isolates i.e. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella oxytoca, Salmonella Typhi and Staphylococcus aureus were selected. The Antibiotic Susceptibility tests of isolates were done by of Modified Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were determined by Agar well diffusion technique. Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was determined by dilution technique. Results: Among 7 plants that were tested, 6 plants were found to have activity against test bacteria. Acorus calamus 3/5(60%) was effective against test bacteria. Azadirachta indica and Menthe arvensis inhibited 2/5 (40%). Aloevera and Artermisia indica were effective against S aureus only 1/5(20%) and Zingiber officinale had no antibacterial effects over any tested bacteria. S. aureus was the most susceptible Gram positive bacteria meanwhile K. oxytoca stood among Gram negative, emerged as the most resistant species. S. aureus showed ZOI with 6 plant extracts excluding ginger P. aeruginosa was inhibited by Acorus calamus, Azadirachta indica and Mentha arvensis. The largest ZOI of 15 mm was obtained with Zanthoxylum armatum acting upon S. aureus. While, the smallest diameter of 8 mm was showed by Acorus calamus against S. Typhi. The lowest MBC was given 15.63 mg/ml by Mentha arvensis and Azadirachta indica against Pseudomonas aeruginosa while, Artermisia indica against S. aureus. Conclusion: Medicinal plants should be possible medication in the future to combat pathogens.

Ethnopharmacological Survey, Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activities of Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Diarrhea in Southeastern Gabon.

Diarrhea is a condition that particularly affects children under five the age of years old in developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of medicinal extracts plants used in treatment and to characterize their inhibitory capacity in the growth of bacteria isolates in childhood diarrhea in the southeast region of Gabon. An ethnobotanical survey on the plants used in the treatment of diarrhea in southeastern Gabon was carried out and a phytochemical screening of the collected plants was performed. The antimicrobial activity of aqueous extracts was evaluated; 33 plant species were identified, representing 28 genera and 19 families. Bark (39.5%) was the most commonly used plant part, followed by powder formulations (28.9%). The preferred method of preparation and chewing (44.7%), together with drinking (36.8%), were the most prevalent modes of administration. Phytochemical screening showed a plethora of secondary metabolites (terpenoids, alkaloids and phenolic compounds), and a marked level of anti-diarrheal activity was found with Sida acuta and Santiria. ebo against Shigella spp. (16.22 ± 0.7 mm and 14.05 ± 1.4 mm) and Yersinia pestis (16.35 ± 0.5 mm and 15.51 ± 0.5 mm). The high diversity of secondary plant metabolites and their inhibitory ability against enteric pathogens would justify their use at the local level to treat diarrheal infections.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of Medicinal Plants Used against Microbial Infections in Pregnant Women in Delta State, Nigeria

Pregnant women are important people in society. As such, their health condition is paramount. Healthy babies reflect the health condition of fetus in the womb and the mother. In Nigeria, pregnant women consult local midwives for the purpose of their health and that of their unborn children. Medicinal plant ingestion is common among pregnant women as they believe it is safe and effective for curing ailment and maintaining good health. Microbial diseases that infect pregnant women are numerous. There is therefore a need to detect other bioactive compounds which could be used for treating and maintaining good health in pregnant women. The study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of medicinal plants used for pregnancy care. Medicinal plants used were identified by oral interview. Microorganisms were isolated and identified by standard methods from urine samples. Result from oral interviewers showed that some medicinal plants and substances including kaolin clay were used by pregnant women. Microrganisms identified were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and others including Candida albicans. Ficus exasperata and Solenostemon monostachyus were active against Candida albicans at 12.5mg/ml but not active on any bacteria. Peperomia pellucida had no inhibitory effect on any of the microorganism. In conclusion, Ficus exasperata and Solenostemon monostachyus could be used to treat microbial infections caused by Candida ablicans during pregnancy.

Novel Strategy for Optimizing the Antibacterial Activity of Psidium guajava Against Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and Streptococcus spp.

The development of a new antibiotic is a challenging task, with an estimated failure rate of 95%. Minor changes in the chemical structure of a drug, such as stereochemistry, geometry, or functional group modifications, can significantly impact its medicinal activity. In this study, we aim to devise novel strategies for optimizing the antimicrobial properties of guava leaf extract through simple reactions, either by self-reaction or combination reactions with a reagent, drug, or different plant extract. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed conjugation and formation of new functional groups in the prepared sample of Guava Guava (GG) and Guava Aspirin Guava (GAG), which were further confirmed by weight analysis. The results demonstrated that the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants can be improved or optimized through simple reactions, such as combining the plant extract with a non-antimicrobial drug like aspirins or adding a small volume of concentrated sulfuric acid to the plant extract by heating at a temperature range of 100 – 110°C. Among the two combinatory methods used, GG exhibited better performance in inhibiting the growth of all tested bacterial strains at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL compared to GAG at the same concentration, which inhibited the growth of only two bacterial strains: Escherichia coli and Streptococcus spp. These methods can be further explored and applied in various studies, including antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer research, leveraging the availability and diverse range of natural products found in medicinal plants.

Screening and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Medicinal Plants

Objectives: To screen and evaluate antimicrobial activity of crude ethanol extracts against various microorganisms. Methods: Ethanoic extracts of 7 different species; Acorus calamus (Bojho), Aloe vera (Ghiu Kumari), Artermisia indica (Titepate), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Mentha arvensis (Pudhina), Zanthoxylum armatum (Timur) and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) were subjected to soxhlet extraction. Test organisms included mainly enteric isolates i.e. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Klebsiella oxytoca, Salmonella Typhi and Staphylococcus aureus were selected, pathogens confirmed by Antibiotic Susceptibility test was done by disc diffusion method of Modified Kirby – Bauer method using Amikacin (30 mcg), Ampicillin (10 mcg), Chloramphenicol (30 mcg), Ciprofloxacin (5 mcg), Gentamicin (10 mcg) and Penicillin G (10 mcg).The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were determined by Agar well diffusion technique both individually and in combination. On the other hand, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration was determined by dilution technique. Results: Among 7 plants that were tested, 6 plants were found to have activity against test bacteria. A. calamus was effective against 3 out of 5 test bacteria. A. indica and menthe arvensis inhibited 2 out of 5 bacteria. A. vera and A. indica were effective against S, aureus only and Z. officinale had no antibacterial effects over any tested bacteria. S. aureus was the most susceptible gram positive bacteria meanwhile K. oxytoca stood among Gram negative, emerged as the most resistant species. S. aureus showed ZOI with 6 plant extracts excluding ginger P. aeruginosa was inhibited by A. calamus, A. indica and M. arvensis. The largest ZOI of 15 mm was obtained with Z. armatum acting upon S. aureus. While the smallest diameter of 8 mm was observed with Acorus calamus against S. Typhi. The smallest MBC value of 13.63 mg/ml was obtained with M. arvensis against P. aeruginosa. Results showed that P. aeroginosa was the most resistant bacteria, only 1 out of 3 antibiotics were sensitive to it. 60% of the test bacteria were sensitive to 2 out of 3 antibiotics tested. Conclusion: To recapitulate, the extract of species can be used to prevent the pathogenic organism.

Traditional knowledge, medicinal plants, bioactive constituents, and prospecting technology: potential control of fungi

The use of plants with medicinal properties for fungi control has led to a continuous exploration of new compounds that could contribute towards promising studies in the development of new drugs and the knowledge of how this control is performed on microorganisms. The objective of this review has been to report on the potential use of medicinal plants to control the pathogenic fungi of a host of plants and animals, which can contribute to the achievement of new formulations for botanical fungicides. Many authors have demonstrated antifungal and general antimicrobial activities for Brazilian flora species through well-established methods, such as by microdilution, agar diffusion, and disk diffusion, while determining a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC), and the inhibition potential of essential oils, extracts and fractions. In this review, 68 species were cited for occurring in Brazil, with 25 being in the north-northeastern part of the country. Thus, most studies about the antimicrobial activities of medicinal plants bring an ‘initial understanding’ of their potential, particularly of some species, genera, and even families. Nevertheless, more data that is exceedingly specific is mandatory by focusing on new and more accurate approaches, such as the action mechanisms, toxicity, the active components, and the verification of the existence of synergic effects. These criteria would be the minimum required to develop new natural products as alternative treatments for the various infectious pathologies that affect plants, animals, and human beings.

Antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants used for urinary tract infections in pastoralist community in Ethiopia

BackgroundMedicinal plants have wide medicament application used to prevent and management of many ailments. These plants are used for primary health care in pastoralist communities who are deprived of modern medical care. They possess extensive therapeutics bioactive coupled with varied chemical structures. However, scientific validation of efficacy and safety of plants used to treat the urinary tract infections haven’t been fully exploited. The aim of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial activity and screening phytochemicals of medicinal plants used to treat urinary tract infections.MethodsIn-vitro experimental study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial effect and screening phytochemical of Rumex abyssinicus, Cucumis pustulatus, Discopodium penninervium, Lippia adoensis, Euphorbia depauperata, and Cirsium englerianum. Against drug resistance microbes. 80% methanol was used for extraction of the plant parts. The susceptibility tests were investigated using disc diffusion and broth micro-dilution methods.ResultsThe majority of tested extracts showed antimicrobial activity on two or more drug-resistant bacteria with MIC value (1.0–128.0 μg/ml) and 9–27 mm inhibition zone in diameter. Extracts obtained from C.englerianum and E. depauperate showed more potent antibacterial activity on MRSA and Enterococcus faecalis with IZ 25 and 27 mm respectively. E. coli and K. pneumoniae were inhibited by those extracts with IZ ranging 9–25 mm and 11–27 mm respectively. E.faecalis and K. pneumoniae were more susceptible bacteria to the respective extracts. R. abyssinicus showed promising antifungal effect with had 21 mm IZ and MIC range 16-32 μg/ml on C.albicans. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic and terpenoid were common phytochemical characterized in majority of screened plants.ConclusionTested extracts exhibited significant antibacterial and antifungal activity. Hence, further structural elucidation of bioactive that inhibited the growth of microbes aforementioned plants may be used as precursors for the synthesis of new antibiotics in the future.

Comparative antibacterial study of black cumin oil of Saudi and Syrian origin seeds with the commercial product

Background: A literature survey showed that significant work has been done to evaluate antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants and their constituents. Thousands of phytoconstituents are tested against a wide range of microbial strains in vitro, in vivo, and clinically. Black cumin oil obtained from the seeds of Nigella sativa L. is used as carminative, stimulant, diuretic, emmenagogue, lactagogue, and anthelmintic. Seed oil is applied externally on skin as antiseptic, emollient, and to prevent cold symptoms. Many studies have displayed the antimicrobial activity of black seed oil against a variety of microorganisms including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In the present study, a comparative antibacterial activity of black cumin oil of Saudi Arabian, Syrian seeds, and marketed/branded oil was undertaken. Materials and Methods: Black cumin oil (12%) is obtained from Saudi and Syrian originated seeds by the soxhlet extraction method. Agar disc diffusion method was applied for antibacterial activity of each oil and two marketed oils. Antibacterial activity of different black cumin oil samples has been evaluated against standard Escherichia coli, standard Klebsiella pneumonia, and standard Staphylococcus aureus. Phytochemical screening is also done to check the presence of phytoconstituents, which might be responsible for the activity. Results: All black cumin oil samples are found to be sensitive to S. aureus only. Black cumin of Saudi originated seeds showed higher activity than Syrian. Seeds oil of Syria had almost similar activity to one of the marketed oils (M1). Another marketed black cumin oil (M2) showed highest antibacterial activity among all types of oils. Phytochemical screening of these oils showed the presence of steroids and alkaloids, which might be responsible for the activity. Several factors that affect the phytochemical variations are environmental, geographical, agricultural, and extraction conditions, which result in differences in their antibacterial activity. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that all samples of black cumin oils have antibacterial activity against S. aureus (Gram-positive bacteria). Therefore, they might be considered as possible alternatives to antibiotics for the treatment of S. aureus infections.

English

English

The ultrastructural damage caused by Eugenia zeyheri and Syzygium legatii acetone leaf extracts on pathogenic Escherichia coli

BackgroundAntibiotics are commonly added to livestock feeds in sub-therapeutic doses as growth promoters and for prophylaxis against pathogenic microbes, especially those implicated in diarrhoea. While this practice has improved livestock production, it is a major cause of antimicrobial resistance in microbes affecting livestock and humans. This has led to the banning of prophylactic antibiotic use in animals in many countries. To compensate for this, alternatives have been sought from natural sources such as plants. While many studies have reported the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants with potential for use as phytogenic/botanical feed additives, little information exists on their mode of action. This study is based on our earlier work and describes ultrastructural damage induced by acetone crude leaf extracts of Syzygium legatii and Eugenia zeyheri (Myrtaceae) active against diarrhoeagenic E. coli of swine origin using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and fluorescent microscopy (FM). Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to investigate the chemical composition of plant extracts.ResultsThe extracts damaged the internal and external anatomy of the cytoplasmic membrane and inner structure at a concentration of 0.04 mg/mL. Extracts also led to an increased influx of propidium iodide into treated bacterial cells suggesting compromised cellular integrity and cellular damage. Non-polar compounds such as α-amyrin, friedelan-3-one, lupeol, and β-sitosterol were abundant in the extracts.ConclusionsThe extracts of S. legatii and E. zeyheri caused ultrastructural damage to E. coli cells characterized by altered external and internal morphology. These observations may assist in elucidating the mode of action of the extracts.

Antimicrobial potential of different medicinal plants against food industry pathogens

Work aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants against selected species of food industry pathogens in vitro conditions. The detection of antibacterial properties was examined by the disc diffusion method and the method of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC). The cultivation of microorganisms after the 24 h was performed by disc diffusion method. Petri dishes have grown at 37 °C in which the Mueller - Hinton agar and application it to the sterile paper disc impregnated with the extract. The thickness of the resulting inhibition zone was measured with a ruler after completion of the culture. After the preparation of bacteria and extracts of certain concentrations of a subsequently added to wells microplates we use the method of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) which was conducted out as the second measurement, and we took the readings absorbance spectrophotometer at 570 nm using the Glomax plate spectrophotometer. We found out, that Equisetum arvense demonstrated the largest zones of inhibition to the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The greatest antimicrobial activity achieved Equisetum arvense, Urtica dioica, and Taraxacum officinale against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica CCM 3807 and Yersinia enterocolitica CCM 5671. Equisetum arvense and Taraxacum officinale was the most effective against Escherichia coli CCM 2024 and the least effective were Tussilago farfara and Mentha piperita with using the method of minimum inhibitory concentrations.

Ethnobotanical survey and antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants used to cure various diseases in Kaptipada and Udala block of Odisha, India: A Review

Ethnobotanical survey and antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants used to cure various diseases in Kaptipada and Udala block of Odisha, India: A Review

Efficacy and Mechanism of Traditional Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds against Clinically Important Pathogens.

Traditional medicinal plants have been cultivated to treat various human illnesses and avert numerous infectious diseases. They display an extensive range of beneficial pharmacological and health effects for humans. These plants generally synthesize a diverse range of bioactive compounds which have been established to be potent antimicrobial agents against a wide range of pathogenic organisms. Various research studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of traditional plants scientifically or experimentally measured with reports on pathogenic microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials. The antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants or their bioactive compounds arising from several functional activities may be capable of inhibiting virulence factors as well as targeting microbial cells. Some bioactive compounds derived from traditional plants manifest the ability to reverse antibiotic resistance and improve synergetic action with current antibiotic agents. Therefore, the advancement of bioactive-based pharmacological agents can be an auspicious method for treating antibiotic-resistant infections. This review considers the functional and molecular roles of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds, focusing typically on their antimicrobial activities against clinically important pathogens.

Antimicrobial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Medicinal Plants against Human Pathogenic Bacteria

Objectives: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants against human pathogenic bacteria and perform Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of plants extracts.
 Methods: Rhizome of Curcuma longa, dried buds of Synzygium aromaticum, seeds of Zanthoxylum armatum and leaves of Elaeocarpus ganitrus, Psidium guajava, Azadirachta indica, and Artemisia vulgaris were collected from hilly regions of Nepal. The plant parts were air-dried at room temperature for several days and grinded to powder form. The ethanolic extracts of medicinal plants were prepared by using the percolation process of extraction using separating funnel and tested against human pathogenic bacteria by disc diffusion method. Then, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the plant extracts were performed.
 Results: All plants extracts exhibited antibacterial properties against bacteria under study. However, extract from S. aromaticum (Clove), P. guajava (Guava) and E. ganitrus (Rudraksh) leaves showed most promising result against Staphylococcus aureus with zone of inhibition of 14mm, 16mm and 16 mm respectively. Likewise, S. aromaticum (Clove), C. longa (Turmeric) and P. guajava (Guava) showed good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli with zone of inhibition of 11mm, 11mm and 10mm respectively. A. vulgaris (Titepati) and A. indica (Neem leaves) showed promising activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with zone of inhibition of 11mm. Z. armatum (Timur) showed good result against E. coli with zone of inhibition 10mm. MIC values of ethanolic extracts of S. aromaticum and E. ganitrus were found to be at the range of 12.5-25mg/ml.
 Conclusion: This study has helped to understand the use of these plants as traditional medicine in an economic and safe alternative to treat infectious diseases.

Investigation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of medicinal plants grown in the eastern black sea region of Turkey

Objective: The aim of this study was to screen various extracts of plant of Gentian ( Gentiana pyrenaica L . ), Tarragon ( Artemisia dracunculus L.), Persimmon ( Diospyros kaki ), Raspberry ( Rubus ideaus ) to display potent antimikrobial, antifungal and antioxidant activity in vitro, total phenolic and flavonoid contents in order to find possible sources for future novel antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical formulations. Material and Methods: The antioxidant properties of 12 different samples of medicinal and aromatic plants such as leaves, flowers and scapus were investigated by DPPH, FRAP and CUPRAC assays. Total phenolic, total flavonoid content and the antimicrobial properties of extracts from these plants were also determined. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were investigated by microdilution method and agar diffusion method respectively. Results: According to the determination of antioxidant results, dried leaves of Persimmon ( Diospyros kaki ) (obtained from Trabzon) plant had the best antioxidant activity that was carried out in all analyzes (except the analysis of total polyphenol). In accordance with analysis of total polyphenol, activity of purple flower of Gentian ( Gentiana pyrenaica L . ) plant was measured at 31,303±0,274 mg GAE /g dry sample and thus this plant had the highest total phenolic content. Antimicrobial activity tests were carried out using disc diffusion methods with 12 microbial species and most of them displayed good-moderate antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: Due to their antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant properties, the extracts some of these plants might be used as potential sources of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity using Artemisia afra, Psidium guajava and Erythrina lysistemon on Staphylococcus species

Background: Medicinal plants contain components of therapeutic value and provide an alternative form of available antibiotics to multiple infections. Development of microbial resistance to the available antibiotics has further enhanced the investigation of the role of antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants. Method: Here we report the antimicrobial properties of Artemisia afra, Psidium guajava and Erythrina lysistemon extracts obtained by using two different extraction solvents. Extracts were subjected to tests using zones of inhibition, Thin Layer Chromatography and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Results: Pronounced antimicrobial activity was observed against Staphylococcus aureus using the ethanol extraction technique. However, no statistical significance was observed between the results produced using extracts from both methods A (according to dilution factor) and B (method 3a of the German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia). Conclusion: The potential for developing antimicrobials from plants in vivo provides a platform for phytomedicine and pharmacological studies.

The effect of <i>Piper</i> <i>betle</i> against <i>Candida</i> <i>albicans</i> adherence to denture acrylic surfaces

Antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants has been identified since ancient times, and has been used to cure bacterial and fungal diseases. Piper betle is an important medicinal plant with its medicinal properties extending to antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic fungi and bacteria. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of P. betle leaf extract on Candida albicans adhesion on denture acrylics. Young betel leaves (1 st - 3 rd leaf) were subjected to vacuum infiltration with ethanol. Anticandidal activity of a range of concentrations of the leaf extract (5,000 – 10,000 ppm) was assessed against C. albicans (ATCC 90028) and seven laboratory isolates using the agar well bioassay. Further, the same concentrations were used to test their ability to suppress the adhesion of C. albicans on denture acrylics, as compared to a commercial denture cleanser (positive control), and sterile distilled water (negative control) using an adhesion assay. The results indicated that sterile distilled water had the highest adhesion (23.75 ±5.3 cells per unit area) while both, the leaf extract of concentrations of 8,000 – 10,000 ppm and the commercial denture cleanser showed significant (p C. albicans adhesion on denture acrylics. There was no significant difference between adhesion in an 8000 ppm concentration extract of P. betle and the commercial denture cleanser of equal concentration, indicating that betel leaf extract is as efficient as the commercial denture cleanser, in suppressing the adhesion of C. albicans on denture acrylic surfaces

Antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants traditionally used in Vhembe district to treat pain and infection related diseases

Antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants traditionally used in Vhembe district to treat pain and infection related diseases