Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of five species of plants known as medicinal plants and used commonly in folkloric medicine. They are: Nigella sativa, Foeniculum vulgare, Black piper, Loranthus capitellatus, Cassia alata and Drynariaqurshiforia. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial and antifungal effects of these plants on Gram- positive and negative bacterial isolates, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella sp. and fungi isolates, such asCandida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata; Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terrus, Alternaria sp., Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum gypseum. The antimicrobial activity of the plants extracts against isolated pathogenic bacteria and fungi was assayed by well-diffusion method for bacteria and Candida and pure plate method for dermatophytes. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for bacteria and fungi were 0.625 to 40 mg ml^-1 and 2.5 to 40 mg ml^-1, respectively. The plant extracts were revealed to be effective in inhibiting the growth of tested bacteria and fungi.

Key words: Antibacterial, antifungal activity, medicinal plants.