Study of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Effects and Phytochemical Characteristics of Matricaria recutita L, Nigella sativa L., Fumaria parviflora Lam and Myrtus communis L. Extracts on Pathogenic Bacteria from Human Blood and Urine Cultures

Medicinal plants are some of the most important sources of medicine in several countries. Urinary tract infection is one of the most common infections and blood infection is an important cause of death worldwide. Antibiotic resistance has increased as a fundamentally global problem that needs appropriate alternatives. Fumaria parviflora Lam, Myrtus communis L., Matricaria recutita L. and Nigella sativa L. are some of the most important plants in traditional medicine.

First, plants were powdered using electric grinder and then the hydroalcoholic extract was prepared using maceration method. After dispersing alcohol, this was lyophilized and three concentrations of 64, 160, and 220 mg/ml were prepared. Antimicrobial effects were assessed using disk diffusion method and antioxidants were investigated using DPPH method.

The highest percentage of inhibition for the Myrtus was against Escherichia coli bacteria (86%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (100%) compared to gentamicin and 100% resistance was observed for Staphylococcus aureus compared to erythromycin. Nigella sativa included the highest antioxidant effect (nearly 60%) and Myrtus with 43% had the lowest antioxidant effect. Using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, it was detected that the most effective substances in Myrtus, Nigella sativa, Fumaria parviflora and Matricaria respectively were benzotriol (30.97%), octadecadienoic acid (44.35%), pyran (13.26%) and benzopyran (50.24%).

Myrtus plant includes the most antimicrobial effects and Nigella sativa includes the most antioxidant effects.