title: Effect of ethanolic extract of Ecballium elaterium against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Ecballium elaterium (E. elaterium) fruits alone against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains and Candida albicans (C. albicans) strains, or in combination with penicillin against Staphylococcus areus strains.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity or synergy interaction was carried out using microdilution method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that ethanolic extract of E. elaterium fruits has antimicrobial activity against methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and C. albicans. This extract showed a significant decrease in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of penicillin against both MRSA and MSSA strains. Fractional inhibitory concentration index (FIC) between penicillin and ethanolic extract of E. elaterium fruits against these test strains was less than 0.5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that ethanolic extract of E. elaterium fruits has antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and C. albicans and there is a possibility of concurrent use of penicillin and E. elaterium extract in combination in the treatment of infections caused by MRSA and MSSA strains. A wider study is needed to identify the effective components, the mode of action and the possible toxic effect in vivo of these ingredients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, An-Najah N. University, P. O. Box (7)-Nablus, Palestine.
authors.forename: Ghaleb
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adwan
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adwan
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Candida albicans; Ecballium elaterium; MRSA; Medicinal plant; Plant extract; Synergism