Antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L.alone and in combination with cefuroxime against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objective:To determine the antimicrobial activity of rosemary(Rosmarinus of ficinalis L.) and to investigate the synergistic effects of this extract combined with ceforuxime against methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).Methods:The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of rosemary ethanol extract,alone and in combination with cefuroxime,were studied.Results:The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) of the ethanol extract of rosemary were in the range of 0.39-3.13 mg/mL.The minimum bactericidal concentrations(MBCs) were usually equal to or double that MICs.The antimicrobial activity of combinations of the ethanol extract of rosemary and cefuroxime indicated their synergistic effects against all MRSAs.Conclusions:The present work clearly demonstrates that rosemary has a key role in the elevation of susceptibility toβ-lactams.

Antibacterial activities of some plant extracts alone and in combination with different antimicrobials against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains

Objective:To evaluate the possible in vitro interaction between ethanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria[R.coriaria)(seed),Sacropoterium spinosum(S.spinosum)(seed),Rosa damascena(R. damascene)(flower) and certain known antimicrobial drugs including oxytetracycline HCl, penicillin C,cephalexin,sulfadimethoxine as sodium,and enr of loxacin.This synergy study was carried out against 3 clinical strains of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa).Methods:Evaluation of synergy interaction between plant extracts and antimicrobial agents was carried out using microdilution method.Results:The results of this study showed that there is a decrease in the MIC in case of combination of ethanolic plant extracts and test antimicrobial agents.The most interesting result was that the combination between R. coriaria and these antibiotics,showed a high decrease in minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC), and a strong bactericidal activity against these strains.Conclusions:These results may indicate that combinations between R.coriaria extract and these antibiotics could be useful in fighting emerging drug-resistance P.aeruginosa,which may due to that R.coriaria extract contain natural inhibitors working by different mechanisms or inhibiting efflux pumps.Now we have experiments underway leading to the identification of the active molecules present in R.coriaria.Further,in vivo experiments are needed to confirm pseudomonal protection.

Assessment of antifungal activity of herbal and conventional toothpastes against clinical isolates of Candida albicans

Objective:To detect the anticandidal activity of nine toothpastes containing sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate and herbal extracts as an active ingredients against 45 oral and non oral Candida albicans(C.albicans) isolates.Methods:The antifungal activity of these toothpaste formulations was determined using a standard agar well diffusion method.Statistical analysis was performed using a statistical package,SPSS windows version 15,by applying mean values using one-way ANOVA with post-hoc least square differences(LSD) method.A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results:All toothpastes studied in our experiments were effective in inhibiting the growth of all C.albicans isolates.The highest anticandidal activity was obtained from toothpaste that containing both herbal extracts and sodium fluoride as active ingredients, while the lowest activity was obtained from toothpaste containing sodium monofluorophosphate as an active ingredient.Antifungal activity of Parodontax toothpaste showed a significant difference(P<0.001) against C.albicans isolates compared to toothpastes containing sodium fluoride or herbal products.Conclusions:In the present study,it has been demonstrated that toothpaste containing both herbal extracts and sodium fluoride as active ingredients are more effective in control of C.albicans,while toothpaste that containing monofluorophosphate as an active ingredient is less effective against C.albicans.Some herbal toothpaste formulations studied in our experiments,appear to be equally effective as the fluoride dental formulations and it can be used as an alternative to conventional formulations for individuals who have an interest in naturally-based products.Our results may provide invaluable information for dental professionals.

Effect of ethanolic extract of Ecballium elaterium against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans

Objective:To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Ecballium elaterium(E. elaterium)fruits alone against Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus) strains and Candida albicans(C.albicans)strains,or in combination with penicillin against Staphylococcus areus strains. Methods:Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity or synergy interaction was carried out using microdilution method.Results:The results showed that ethanolic extract of E.elaterium fruits has antimicrobial activity against methicillin resistant S.aureus(MRSA),methicillin sensitive S. aureus(MSSA) and C.albicans.This extract showed a significant decrease in minimum inhibitory concentrations(MIC)of penicillin against both MRSA and MSSA strains.Fractional inhibitory concentration index(FIC)between penicillin and ethanolic extract of E.elaterium fruits against these test strains was less than 0.5.Conclusions:This study suggests that ethanolic extract of E.elaterium fruits has antimicrobial activity against S.aureus and C.albicans and there is a possibility of concurrent use of penicillin and E.elaterium extract in combination in the treatment of infections caused by MRSA and MSSA strains.A wider study is needed to identify the effective components,the mode of action and the possible toxic effect in vivo of these ingredients.