Antimicrobial Potential of the Leaves of Stachys pseudopinardii on Microorganisms Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections.

Purpose: Urinary tract infections are a serious health problem affecting millions of people each year. Therefore, studies for new alternative remedies are necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial potential of the leaves of Stachys pseudopinardii R. Bhattarcharjee & Hub.-Mor. (Lamiaceae) against the pathogens causing complicated urine tract infections. Methods: The ethanolic extracts obtained from the leaves of S. pseudopinardii were investigated for their antimicrobial activities against the pathogens causing complicated urine tract infections (Enterococcus feacalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Candida albicans) by disc diffusion method and microdilution method. Some antibacterial and antifungal antibiotics were used as a positive reference standard to determine the sensitivity of the strains. Results: The extracts showed antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis and Candida albicans with inhibition zones of 18.2, 17.4 and 16.0 mm, with MIC’s and MBC’s or MFC’s of 32.0 (64.0), 32.0 (64.0) and 64.0 (128.0) μg/mL, respectively. Also the extracts exhibited moderate activity against the other test microorganisms. Conclusion: Our findings support the use of S. pseudopinardii in traditional medicine for the treatment against the urine tract pathogens. Hence, it is suggested to isolate and identify the active compounds of the plant for novel antimicrobial agents in future.

Antibacterial Activity of Two Brown Algae (Cystoseira compressa and Padina pavonica) Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Aqueous and ethanolic extracts obtained from two brown algae (Cystoseira compressa (Esper) Gerloff et. Nizamuddin) and Padina pavonica (Linnaeus) Thivy) have been investigated for their ability to inhibit 35 hospital isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the plant were effective on MRSA. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of the ethanolic extract with the greatest antibacterial activity were those of Cystoseira compressa MIC 3.2-6.3mg/mL and MBC 6.3-25mg/mL, respectively.