Antimicrobial activity of crude henna extract against Gram-positive bacteria

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of ethanolic extract of local Basra henna leaves on Gram-positive bacteria species. Also, to assess the antibacterial properties of henna crude extract in vitro and compare them with antibiotics. Methods: In this study, Lawsonia inermis (henna) leaves were extracted with ethanol using the solvent extraction technique. The pathogens were isolated from wound samples obtained from hospitalized patients in two different hospitals in Duhok city. The culture of thirty isolates had been recognized by routine methods. Different concentrations of ethanol crude extract were acquired and bio-assayed in vitro to inhibit the growth of five human pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria. Agar well diffusion assay was used for achieving henna antibiotic activity. Moreover, an antibiotics susceptibility test was done by the disk diffusion method using the Muller-Hinton agar medium. Results: The growth of all tested bacteria was suppressed to various degrees by increasing the concentration of the extract. The data has revealed that Staphylococcus aureus was more sensitive than other examined isolates, where the diameter zone of inhibition was ranging from 16-27, 14-25, and 8-18 mm for Staphylococcus epidermidis, Lactobacillus spp. and Streptococcus pneumonia respectively. The antimicrobial activity of henna extract indicates that it is suitable for being used as significant certain medications. Consequently, henna is active to serve as an anti-bacterial agent against multi-drug resistant Gram-positive bacteria. Conclusion: The antimicrobial activity of henna extract indicates that it is suitable for being used as significant certain medications. Consequently, henna is active to serve as an anti-bacterial agent against multi-drug resistant Gram-positive bacteria.