ABSTRACT
Background: The emergence of microbial resistance towards antibiotics increased in a terrible rate. Screening of antimicrobial effect of plant extracts represents hope for discovery of new antimicrobial agents
Objectives:This research aimed to study the influence of the extracts of several medicinal plants on diabetic foot ulcer bacteria
Methodology: Swabs from deep tissues were collected from 56 patients attending the Outpatient clinic of diabetic foot Unit, and diagnosed clinically as diabetic foot infections. The specimens were examined to identify the causative bacteria and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Antimicrobial activity of ethanol extracts of ten medicinal plant parts [cinnamon, henna, fennel, black cumin, eucalyptus, clove, chamomile, ginger, sloenstemma and basil] were investigated using well diffusion method. Phytochemical screening of effective plants extracts were performed using tests for alkaloids, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, saponins, phenols, sterols, tannins, flavonoids and diterpen
Results: The commonest isolated organisms were S. aureus [33.9%], followed by S. epidermidis [16.9%], P. aeruginosa [15.3%], P. mirabilis [13.6%], K. pneumoniae [10.2%], E. coli [6.8%] and P. vulgaris [3.4%]. Most bacteria were resistant to tested antibiotics and 33.9% were multi-drug resistant bacteria. Ethanol extract of solenstemma, clove, black cumin, and basil had effective growth inhibition effect against isolated bacteria. Phytochemical screening clarified that these plant parts contain powerful secondary metabolites and active materials which explained their antimicrobial activity
Conclusions: Some medical plants showed antimicrobial activity against resistant bacteria, thus could be leading and useful therapeutic agents against many bacterial infections