ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF BLACKBERRY (RUBUS FRUTICOSUS)

Abstract

Antibacterial activities of methanol and water extracts of blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus ) were tested against 63 clinical isolates of bacteria strains ( Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus ) by disc-diffusion method and minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) values of each active extract were determined. The blackberry extracts proved to be active against all bacteria species tested in this study. The highest antibacterial activity was expressed by methanol and aquouse extracts of blackberry fruits against S. aureus with 20 mm inhibition zone and 0.312 mg/ml MIC value. Also good antibacterial potentials were detected against Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with methanol and water extracts of blackberry leaves ranging with 10-18mm inhibition zones. Keywords : Blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus), Antibacterial activity, Disc diffusion method.