Antibacterial Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Herbal Plants Against Some Hospital-Acquired Infections

Abstract

Background: Due to increased bacterial resistance to common antibiotics, the tendency towards using herbal extracts is increasing. Plantago major L, Plantago ovata, Lallemantia iberica L, Sinapis arvensis L, and Ficus carica  are widely used as herbal plants in traditional medicine. They were known to have a variety of therapeutic effects. The current study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of hydroalcoholic extract of these herbs against some hospital-acquired infections. Materials and Methods: Disk-diffusion antibiotic sensitivity testing, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration of hydroalcoholic extracts were applied to assess the antibacterial activity compared with tetracycline, as a control antibiotic. Results: The results of this experiment showed that the L. iberica and S. arvensis extract had the greatest effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Proteus vulgaris. All the tested medicinal plants had a high antibacterial effect on P. vulgaris, except P. ovata. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the replacement of chemical drugs with herbal extract could be effective in the elimination of bacterial growth.