Antibacterial activities of six medicinal plants against methicillin-resistant and sensitive Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcu aureus is an important cause of community and hospital acquired infections. Infections caused by methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) are mainly nosocomial and are increasing in all around the world. Many attempts have been made by the researchers to find new compounds as an appropriate substitute for these antibiotics. In this study antimicrobial activities of aqueous and boilling extracts of 6 medicinal plants species collected from Golestan province on clinical and standard strains of MRSA and MSSA were assessed by disc diffusion method. Each test was repeated 3 times and mean inhibition zone was recorded. The boilling and aqueous extracts of 5 and 3 plants showed the best anti staphylococcal effect, respectively. The boilling extract of Artemisia sieberi, Punica granatum, which the maximum inhibition zone was 16.6 mm. raised the most outstanding in vitro antibacterial activities. As a result boilling extracts had better antibacterial effects than aqueous extract.