The anti-bacterial effects of Zataria multiflora extract on common pathogenic Gram positive cocci, pathogenic Gram negative bacilli and non - pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

Due to increased bacterial resistance to common antibiotics, tendency towards using herbal extracts like
Zataria multiflora from Lamiaceae family is increasing. In this study, antibacterial effects of Z. multiflora on
several common pathogenic and non pathogenic bacteria were evaluated. Several clinical Gram positive
cocci and Gram negative bacilli isolated from patients and healthy humans were identified with standard
methods. The extract of Z. multiflora was prepared from dried leaves with maceration method. The
antibacterial activity of Zataria extract with initial concentration of 200 µg/ml was determined by micro
dilution method. Results obtained showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration varied from 2 to 32
µg/ml for all Gram positive cocci and Gram negative rods while it was 512 µg/ml for Pseudomonas
aeroginosa and Shewanella putrifaciance. The minimum bactericidal concentration varied from 4 to 512
µg/ml for examined bacteria. In conclusion, it seems that Zataria extract could inhibit the growth of some
clinical Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. However, the inhibitory effects of Zataria extract for
Pseudomonas aeroginsa and Shewanella putrifacians are lower than its inhibitory effects for other Gram
negative bacilli in the examined extract concentrations. We noticed that the bactericidal effect of Zataria
extract was less than its bacteriostatic effect