Phytochemical investigation and antimicrobial, antifungal and synergistic activities of chloroform fractions of the root of Ferula szovitsiana

Ferula szovitsiana belongs to Umbelliferae family and is an endemic medicinal herb distributed throughout the Iran and Central Asia. The gum obtained from the roots of genus Ferula has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive disorders and rheumatism. In this research، antibacterial and synergistic activities of chloroform fractions of root extract of Ferula szovitsiana have been studied. In this experimental study، antibacterial، antifungal and synergistic effects of chloroform and methanol extract and active fractions (CEF1-CEF15) on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (concentrations; 0. 2-4 mg/ml، the multiple of 2) have been studied using disc diffusion and micro-dilution methods. The results revealed that the extracts and the fractions had notable anti-microbial effect on the tested microorganism. The mean inhibition zone diameter between 7 to 23 mm was observed for the various fractions of the extract. Between 15 produced fractions، CEF6 has the most significant anti-microbial and anti-fungal effect against Bacillus subtilis and Cryptocccus neoformans (zone diameters; 15. 4 mm and 23. 1 mm respectively). Fraction CEF5 has no effect on the growth of microorganisms. Potent synergistic effect of the fractions with Erythromycin and Tetracycline were detected for CEF1، CEF9، CEF10 and CEF11 against Methicilin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Results obtained from this study revealed that total extract and fractions from F. szovitsiana have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Species of genus Ferula are rich sources of coumarin compounds with antimicrobial activity against many microorganisms and findings from the present study were based on the same potential of the fractions.