Evaluation of Antibacterial and Synergistic/Antagonistic Effect of Some Medicinal Plants Extracted by Microwave and Conventional Methods

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of the microwave (MW) extraction method by comparing it with a conventional method through evaluation of antimicrobial and synergism/antagonism activity of each aquatic and ethanolic extracts samples, which were extracted from the dried plants (Ficus sycomorus leaves, Lawsonia inermis leaves and Glycerrhiza glabra Linn.). Nine samples of each plant for both solvents were irradiated with MW at several power outputs (180 w, 360 w, and 540 w) in several interval times (1, 2 and 3 minutes). The antibacterial activities of extracts and the synergistic effect between plants and antibiotics were evaluated using disk diffusion method against clinical isolated Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The result revealed that the inhibition zone for more than 50% using aquatic and ethanolic samples results (extracted in two minutes and MW power 180 w) had shown the optimum extract and better antibiotic activity for each plant. Also, the results of ethanolic extracts used against selected microorganisms showed antimicrobial and synergistic effect with most antibiotics better than aquatic extracts. Our results indicate the possibility of using MW apparatus as an extractor to obtain bioactive compounds from plants and thus used in the treatment of bacterial infections, and some results of this study were encouraging. However, the antagonistic reactions of some extracts with some antibiotics and their use in combination should be further studied for in vitro activities. It is clearly a need to be furthermore evaluated, to identify the effective components, the mode of action and the possible toxic effect in-vivo of these ingredients.