Antibacterial Activity of Some Medicinal Plants against Some Bacteria Species and food spoilage bacteria

In the current study, some plants were selected to screen their potential antibacterial activity. For evaluating antibacterial activity, both aqueous and organic solvents) methanol and acetone (were used. The tested plants were Cymbopogon schoenanthus, Cotula cinerea, and Francoeuria crispa. Agar well diffusion method was used to test the antibacterial activity against two Gram negative (Brucella spp., Proteus spp.) and three Gram positive (Staphylococcus albus, Streptococcus spp., Bacillus subtilis) bacterial species. All extracts were effective antibacterial agents, being capable of inhibiting the growth of each examined bacteria. Based on the findings of this study, methanol, acetone and aqueous extracts of the leaves of C. schoenanthus, C. cinerea and F. crispa showed various antibacterial efficiency towards various bacterial species. Among plant extracts, the strongest antibacterial activity was shown by acetone extract of F. crispa against Streptococcus spp, with inhibition zone 27±1mm, Bacillus subtilis with inhibition zone of 26.27±4mm, followed by methanol against Streptococcus spp, and Brucella spp. with inhibition zone of 24±1 mm, 22±1mm respectively. Francoeuria crispa extracts exhibited the greatest antibacterial activity towards each of the evaluated bacteria, followed by Cymbopogon schoenanthus and Cotula cinerea. In comparison, methanol and acetone extracts showed pronounced inhibitory activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. These findings demonstrate that certain plants may have antibacterial properties. This study suggests the possibility of applying Cymbopogon schoenanthus, Cotula cinerea, and Francoeuria crispa leaves as natural sources of antibacterial and may provide clues to clarify potential candidates for the future development of new chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of some infectious diseases.