Study of Antibacterial Properties of Adiantum capillus-veneris Extract on Eight Species of Gram Positive and Negative Bacteria

Adiantum capillus-veneris L. is a traditional medicinal plant which was used in the treatment of bronchitis and coughs, and also to prevent hair loss. Methanolic extract of this plant has demonstrated significant antimicrobial activities. In this study the antibacterial properties of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. extract on eight species of Gram positive and negative bacteria were evaluated. The herbal sample of Adiantum capillus-veneris was collected during the summer (June-July) from the north region of Iran called Condoluse and identified by herbarium laboratory in Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, where a voucher specimen is deposited. The sample was pretreated and extracted with methanol 96% by percolation method and then concentrated and stored in a safe bottle until the experiments started. By using dilution method different dilutions of the extract have been prepared (10%, 5%, 2.5% and 1.25%). Antimicrobial activity of the methnolic extract of Adiantum capillus-veneris were evaluated against 8 strain of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria using agar disk diffusion and agar well plate methods. Our results demonstrated that prepared dilutions of the Adiantum capillus-veneris extract had significant effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori strains. Also the results indicated no significant inhibitory effects on Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus pyogenes strains. Consistent with the other studies, our investigation demonstrated some antimicrobial effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris extract. With respect to various and multiple chemical properties of this plant, it is suggested that Adiantum capillus-veneris can be used for more medical and therapeutic purposes.