Antimicrobial Activity of Aqueous Extracts of Physalis alkekengi, Cassia angustifolia, and Carum copticum against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli
Subject Areas : microbiology
Ramin Mohammadi-Aluocheh
1
*
,
Mohammad-Taghi Ravanji
2
,
Seyyedeh Masoumeh Mirnurollahi
3
,
Masoumeh Mahdavi-Ourtakand
4
1 - Department of Biology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Biology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Biology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Biology, VaP.C., Islamic Azad University, Varamin, Iran
Keywords: antimicrobial activity, aqueous extract, Physalis alkekengi, Cassia angustifolia, Carum copticum.,
Abstract :
Introduction: The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has prompted growing interest in plant-based antimicrobial agents as natural, safe, and affordable alternatives to conventional antibiotics. In the present study, the antimicrobial activity of aqueous extracts of Physalis alkekengi, Cassia angustifolia, and Carum copticum was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Materials and Methods: Aqueous extracts were prepared from the plants. Their antimicrobial effects were evaluated using the disk diffusion method and by determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Furthermore, the combined effect of the plant extracts at sub-inhibitory concentrations was also assessed..
Results: The results indicated that none of the tested extracts affected the growth of Escherichia coli. In contrast, the Carum copticum extract exhibited significant inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL. The extracts of Physalis alkekengi and Cassia angustifolia only showed inhibitory effects on S. aureus at concentrations of 100 and 200 μg/mL. The MIC values of C. copticum, P. alkekengi and C. angustifolia extracts against S. aureus were 64, 64, and 128 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the combination of extracts displayed synergistic effects against S. aureus but not against E. coli.
Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that the aqueous extracts of these medicinal plants, particularly Carum copticum, possess promising antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and may serve as potential natural candidates for the development of novel antibacterial formulations.
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