The Investigation of the Antibacterial Activity of Eryngium caucasicum trautv, Saponaria officinalis, Froriepia subpinnata, Malva sylvestris, and Urtica dioica

Abstract

Background: Regarding the increasing resistance of bacteria against antibiotics and the existence of antibacterial compounds in plants, we here investigated the antimicrobial effects of the methanolic extracts of several plants on pathogenic bacteria. Methods: Ten grams of the dry ingredients of Eryngium caucasicum trautv (leaf), Saponaria officinalis (flower), Froriepia subpinnata (leaf), Malva sylvestris (leaf), and Urtica dioica (leaf) was poured in 100 mL of methanol and shaken for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the extracts were strained and dried in the oven, and their antimicrobial activity at the 100 mg/mL concentration was evaluated against the mentioned bacteria using the sinkhole method. Results: The plant extracts inhibited the growth of all bacteria in various degrees. Among all the plant extracts used, that of F. subpinnata delivered the largest diameter of growth inhibition zone (6 mm) against S. dysenteriae, and the extracts of E. caucasicum and F. subpinnata showed the largest diameter of inhibition zone against Xanthomonas translucens. Also, the extract of M. sylvestris delivered the largest inhibition zone diameter (8 mm) against E. coli. Conclusions: Our results showed that the methanolic extract of E. caucasicum was the most effective plant extract against S. dysenteriae, Rathayibacter tritici, and L. monocytogenes, but M. sylvestris extract revealed the greatest impact on E. coli. It is recommended to further investigate the antibacterial compounds of these plants as potential treatments for bacterial infections.