Jorjani Biomedicine Journal

Background and objective: Some common problems in the health care system are Microbial resistance to antibiotics, the side effects of food additives, and preservatives. Considering the antibiotic resistance of microorganisms and the need to identify new compounds, the present study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial effects of Artemisia extracts.
Material And Method The study was performed in two stages including extraction and determination of antibacterial properties of aqueous, ethanolic, methanolic, acetone/ethanolic, and hydroethanolic extracts of Artemisia on standard Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, and oral bacteria sample. The well diffusion method was performed to evaluate the concentration that had an inhibitory and bactericidal effect.
Result: Aqueous extract had an effect on the oral bacteria sample (8 mm), the methanolic extract had an effect on S. pyogenes and oral bacteria sample (15 mm) and finally acetone/ethanolic extracts had antimicrobial properties against S. pyogenes (16 mm). The concentration used for all five extracts was 50 mg/ml and showed an inhibition effect on the growth of S. pyogenes standard strain and oral bacteria sample. The less serial dilutions of extracts were tested but no antibacterial effects were seen. So, 50 mg/ml was the minimum concentration that had an inhibitory and bactericidal effect.
Conclusion: It can be inferred that aqueous, methanolic, and acetone/ethanolic extracts of Artemisia had the highest inhibitory effect on S. pyogenes and the oral bacteria sample. Consequently, by applying different extraction methods and by utilizing different solvents, it may be possible to more efficiently obtain biomaterials with antimicrobial properties from this plant.
 

BBackground and Objective: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important case of nosocomial infections and a major health problem. The increased emergence of resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants among these bacteria, necessitates the production of new antimicrobials with wider activity and low toxicity. This study was carried out to evaluate inhibitory effects of chlorhexidine gluconate and extract of Peganum harmala on multi-drug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa.
Material and Methods: 39 P. aeruginosa strains were isolated from 114 environmental samples. After identifying MDR strains, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of chlorhexidine gluconate (20%) and P. harmala extract against the isolates was determined by broth microdilution method. 
Results: Overall, 27 (69.2%) P. aeruginosa isolates resistant to quinolones, aminoglycoside, cephems and carbapenems were reported as MDR strains. The MIC of chlorhexidine gluconate was ≥ 1000μg/ml, which was 4-fold higher than the MIC of P. harmala extract (MIC=500μg/ml). MIC of chlorhexidine gluconate and P. harmala extract against P. aeruginosa isolates differed significantly (P=0.01).
Conclusion: Compared to chlorhexidine gluconate, P. harmala extract has a higher antibacterial effect on MDR P. aeruginosa isolates from environment. Further research is required to verify the efficacy of this plant extract for disinfection of equipment in clinics and local kitchens.