Antibacterial effect of Capparis spinosa and Pistacia atlantica on growth of Escherichia coli in Vitro and in Vivo

Escherichia coli is the cause of many surgical wound infections. This study was designed to investigate the antibacterial effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Capparis spinosa and pistacia atlantica on E. coli in surgical wounds using a rat model. First, Antimicrobial activity of extract of Capparis spinosa and pistacia altantica had been determined by paper disk diffusion method (to determine inhibition zone), Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and also by Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Then, 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into three groups of treatments and control rats. A circular incision was made on the dorsal inter-scapular region of each rat. Then, rats were inoculated topically with 1.5×108 CFU of E. coli at the site of skin wounds. The extracts of Capparis spinosa and pistacia atlantica was applied to wounds twice a day during the experiment. Animals of the control group were left untreated. The results showed that the extract of Caparis spinosa and Pistacia atlantica had antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial activity of Pistacia atlantica extract against E. coli was higher than the Capparis spinosa extract (The MIC and MBC values). Also a significant difference in the rats treated with the extracts compared to the control group. It can be concluded that the extracts of these plants have antimicrobial properties and inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli in infected wounds and thus can accelerate the wound healing process.