Study of antibacterial effect of Peganum harmala extract on Streptococcus sanguinis and study ofits synergistic effect with some common antibiotics

Today, the main strategy for the treatment of bacterial infections is the use of antibiotics, but due to side effects and increased antibiotic resistance, the use of complementary or alternative methods to treat infectious diseases has become particularly important.

Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Peganum harmala seeds were prepared by soaking method. The MIC and MBC of the extracts were determined for one strain of Streptococcus sanguinis. The synergistic effect of the produced extracts with the antibiotics ampicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin was also investigated.

The results of this study showed that aqueous extract of Peganum harmala in concentrations of 1250 and 2500 μg / ml, and alcoholic extract of this plant in concentrations of 625 and 1250 μg / ml have inhibitory and lethal effect on the studied bacteria, respectively. In the study of the phenomenon of synergism between aqueous and alcoholic extracts with the studied antibiotics, which was done by the checkerboard method, it was found that the alcoholic extract of this plant has synergistic effect with the antibiotic clindamycin.

Alcoholic extract of Peganum harmala seeds can show a good antibacterial effect against Streptococcus sanguinis, one of the important species living in the mouth and the cause of endocarditis. Further research on the extraction and purification of effective compounds from this plant and the study of therapeutic effects or its possible side effects in the living organism, can be a step towards the use of herbal medicines as a supplement or alternative to common antibiotics.