In vitro assessment of antimicrobial potency and synergistic effects of three medicinal plants (Mentha arvensis, Carissa carandas and Calendula officinalis) extract against pathogenic bacteria

The increased attention toward replacing chemical antimicrobials with natural remedies has led to increased studies. To prove the antimicrobial characteristics of plant extracts, their effect on infectious bacteria has to be studied in laboratory. In this study, aqueous and ethanolic extract leaves/fruits of three commonly available medicinal plants (Mentha arvensis, Carissa carandas and Calendula officinalis) individually and in combinations were tested for their antimicrobial activity against three different pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus cereus (MCCB-0143), Staphylococcus aureus (MCCB-0139) and  Escherichia coli  (MCCB-0018)) using agar disc diffusion, agar well diffusion. Among plants extracts, C. carandas fruits (Cc) and M. arvensis ethanolic extract (MaE) showed strong antimicrobial activity against E. coli (MCCB-0018). The ethanolic combination (ethanolic Calendula: Carissa: Mentha1:2:1) showed strong antimicrobial activity against B. cereus and F112 (fruits Calendula: Carissa carandas: Mentha arvensis, 1:2:1) showed significant (P < 0.05) antimicrobial activity against S. aureus (MCCB-0139). An individual and synergistic activity of ZOI ranging from 0.16-28.0 mm was active against test organism. The highest ZOI 28.0 ±1.50 was observed in Carissa fruit extracts. The study reveals that plant extracts and their combination have significant effect of antibacterial activity. The plant extract seems promising for the development of a new herbal preparation for bacterial infection. Key words: Antimicrobial activity, Mentha arvensis, Carissa carandas, Calendula officinalis.

[1]  G. Pavani.  Bacillus cereus as a nongastrointestinal pathogen , 2014 .

[2]  Mohamed O Ahmed,et al.  Antibacterial In-Vitro Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus from Libyan Environment , 2013 .

[3]  J. Ulrichová,et al.  The effectiveness of dried cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms , 2010, British Journal of Nutrition.

[4]  A. Klančnik,et al.  Evaluation of diffusion and dilution methods to determine the antibacterial activity of plant extracts. , 2010, Journal of microbiological methods.

[5]  A. Musa,et al.  Preliminary phytochemical and antimicrobial investigations of leaf extracts of Ochna schweinfurthiana (Ochnaceae). , 2010 .

[6]  R. Kuttan,et al.  Wound healing activity of flower extract of Calendula offlcinalis , 2009, Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology.

[7]  N. Lall,et al.  Antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants against oral microorganisms. , 2008, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[8]  S. Khan,et al.  ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES ON SOME USEFUL HERBS OF HARAMOSH AND BUGROTE VALLEYS IN GILGIT, NORTHERN AREAS OF PAKISTAN , 2008 .

[9]  A. Ghosh,et al.  Antibacterial activity of some medicinal plant extracts , 2007, Journal of Natural Medicines.

[10]  C. Ao.  Comparative anatomy of bisexual and female florets, embryology in Calendula officinalis (Asteraceae), a naturalized horticultural plant , 2007 .

[11]  V. Go,et al.  Efficacy of Cranberry Juice on Helicobacter pylori Infection: a Double‐Blind, Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Trial , 2005, Helicobacter.

[12]  H. No,et al.  Antibacterial activity of chitosans and chitosan oligomers with different molecular weights. , 2002, International journal of food microbiology.

[13]  Benin India,et al.  Traditional Medicine - Growing Needs and Potential , 2002 .

[14]  N. Barker,et al.  A preliminary survey of plants used in traditional medicine in the Grahamstown area , 2001 .

[15]  M. Laing,et al.  Phytochemical research in South Africa : review article , 2001 .

[16]  M. P. Germanò,et al.  Extraction methods and bioautography for evaluation of medicinal plant antimicrobial activity , 2000, Letters in applied microbiology.

[17]  J. Eloff.  It is possible to use herbarium specimens to screen for antibacterial components in some plants. , 1999, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[18]  D. Grierson,et al.  An ethnobotanical study of plants used for the treatment of wounds in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. , 1999, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[19]  Joseph M. Blandeau.  Expanded activity and utility of the new fluoroquinolones: A review , 1999 .

[20]  N. Vorsa,et al.  Inhibition of the adherence of P-fimbriated Escherichia coli to uroepithelial-cell surfaces by proanthocyanidin extracts from cranberries. , 1998, The New England journal of medicine.

[21]  R. Micetich,et al.  Phytopharmaceuticals. Part 1. Antifungal Activity of Selected Iranian and Canadian Plants , 1998 .

[22]  A. Sofowora.  Research on medicinal plants and traditional medicine in Africa. , 1996, Journal of alternative and complementary medicine.

[23]  F. Faure,et al.  Flavonol Glycosides from Calendula officinalis Flowers , 1989, Planta medica.