Antimicrobial evaluation of flowering stalks of Cistanche violacea, a holoparasitic plant collected from arid region in Qassim, Saudi Arabia

Objective : Cistanche violacea has been found in Qassim region (Saudi Arabia), growing as a parasitic plant on Haloxylon salicornicum . The flowering stalk part of this plant was evaluated for antimicrobial potential against various referenced bacteria and fungi. Methods : The flowering stalk parts were collected from the field, dried, extracted by maceration in 80% methanol and 80% Ethanol, The crude extracts were examined against the tested microorganisms using agar-well diffusion method. Results : The antimicrobial testing showed that among 10 referenced bacterial isolates, only one exhibited significant susceptibility to the methanol and ethanol extracts of C. violacea , which was Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC ® 12228 TM , recorded 15 and 16 mm inhibition zones, respectively. While other bacteria recorded weak or no susceptibility and no antifungal activity was detected. Conclusions : In general, the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the flowering stalks of C. violacea exhibited weak or no antimicrobial properties except with one bacterial strain, further studies on the other biological activities are recommended as well as investigating the chemical constituents. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first report evaluating the antimicrobial potential of the flowering stalks of C. violacea in Qassim area, Saudi Arabia.