Antimicrobial activity of selected herbal extracts

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Microbiology
• Ethnobotany

Background:

• Natural products are a rich source of antimicrobial compounds.
• Investigating plant-derived extracts for medicinal properties is crucial for discovering new therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the antimicrobial potential of methanolic extracts from Araucaria bidwilli oleoresins and Cytisus scoparius aerial parts.
• To determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against selected bacterial and fungal strains.

Main Methods:

• Two-fold serial dilution technique was employed.
• Antimicrobial activity was tested against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans.
• Extracts were compared against ampicillin and Amphotericin-B.

Main Results:

• All tested microorganisms exhibited sensitivity to both plant extracts.
• Araucaria bidwilli showed an MIC of 31.25 μg/ml against Bacillus subtilis, and 500 μg/ml for other strains.
• Cytisus scoparius exhibited MIC values of 250 μg/ml for B. subtilis and 500 μg/ml for other strains.
• A. bidwilli's activity against B. subtilis was more potent than ampicillin.

Conclusions:

• Both plant extracts possess antimicrobial properties.
• Araucaria bidwilli extract shows promising activity against Bacillus subtilis, potentially serving as a basis for further research.
• Further investigation is warranted to isolate and characterize the active compounds responsible for the observed antimicrobial effects.