Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 36/1. (2016)

Botany

IN VITRO ASSAY OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF THREE MEDICINAL PLANTS: EUGENIA CARYOPHYLLATA THUNB., JUGLANS NIGRA L. AND ARTEMISIA ABSINTHIUM L., AGAINST MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA

Lumini^a ROMAN \ Anamaria HOSU2, Horajiu ROMAN3, Ilda CZOBOR1, Cristiana Andreea VASILIU1, Gentiana PRÉDÁN1, Grigore MIHÄESCU1 ‘Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independenfei 91—95 Sector 5, RO-76201 Bucurefti, 2 Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj Napoca, Strada Arany János 11, RO-400028 Cluj-Napoca, 3Faculty of Geology, University of Bucharest, Traian Vuia 6, RO-020956 Bucuresti

Abstract: The incidence of infectious processes caused by resistant bacteria is today one of the major health risks. Despite the progress of the pharmaceutical industry, traditional medicine is starting to gain even more ground. The hydroethanolic extract of Eugenia caryophyllata, Juglans nigra and Artemisia absinthium were tested in vitro from a lot of MDR Gram negative bacteria isolated from renal infections. The identification of the main potential antibacterial compounds was performed by TLC method. Quercetin and gallic acid were present in all the extracts studied. Kaemferol was identified in E. aryophyllata and J. nigra extract and ferulic acid was identified only in E. caryophyllata extract. Chlorogenic acid was specific only to A absinthium extract. E. caryophyllata had the highest amount of polyphenols (equivalent gallic acid) and J. nigra highest amount of flavonoids (equivalent rutin). MIC of hydroethanolic extracts of herbs was between 7.8 and 500 mg / mL. The results demonstrate the high potential of the antibacterial activity of herbs due to their metabolic compounds.

Keywords: E. caryophyllata,]. nigra, A. absinthium, MDR Gram negative bacteria, phenolic compounds, TLC

Introduction

Infections remain one leading cause of death in the world, which amplify the global crisis that characterizes the health of the global population. For almost every existing antibiotic, bacteria have developed a resistance factor that protects them. Antimicrobial agents can not cover all these mechanisms and the development of antibiotic resistance is relentless [Davies & Davies, 2010]. Eugenia caryophyllata Thunberg 1788 (syn. Syzygium aromaticum Linn.) belonging to the Myrtaceae family is an aromatic tree, native to tropical area. [Mahmoud, et. ah, 2001]. In traditional Asian and Australian medicine buds of E. caryophyllata (clove) are used in various diseases, such as asthma, gastrointestinal infections, headache [Singh et. ah, 2012]. Artemisia absinthium L. (wormwood) is a herbaceous plants a perennial originating from the temperate Europe, including Romania. The plant extracts showed a strong antimicrobial activity, especially against Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria [Moslemi et al, 2012\. Juglans nigra L. belongs to the family Juglandaceae, being known as American walnut or black walnut, it is native in the eastern part

M A R I S I A, XXXVI, p. 43-50