Nematicidal and antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts of 17 plants, of importance in ethnopharmacology, obtained from the Arabian Peninsula.
OBJECTIVE
The development of resistance to synthetic drugs by target organisms is a major challenge facing medicine, yet locked within plants are phytochemicals used in herbal medicine (especially in the Arabian Peninsula) that may find application in this regard. In pursuit of unlocking these "hidden treasures," the methanol extracts of leaves, aerial parts, fruits, and resins of 17 plants used in the Arabian Peninsula were screened for antimicrobial activities.


METHODS
The nematicidal, antibacterial, and antifungal activities were determined using appropriate assays. Steinernema feltiae, Staphylococcus carnosus, Escherichia coli, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used as test organisms. Concentrations of the extracts ranging from 0.5 to 20 mg/ml were tested and appropriate statistical tests performed on the data generated.


RESULTS
The results show that extracts from Solanum incanum, Chenopodium murale, Commiphora myrrha, Anthemis nobilis, and Achillea biebersteinii were the most active and had very high activities against two or more of the test organisms at low concentrations. Extracts of the leaves of S. incanum and resins of Ferula asafoetida were the most active nematicides, with significant activity at 0.5 mg/ml. Extracts of C. myrrha and C. murale had the most active antibacterial activity with inhibition zones of 12-15 mm and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 2.5 mg/ml for both bacteria. Extracts of the leaves of A. biebersteinii were the most active fungicide, giving an MIC of 1.5 mg/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
The results validate the use of these plants in ethnopharmacology, and open new vistas of opportunities for the development of cheap but effective agents that may be useful against infectious diseases.
Department of Pharmacy, Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Saarland, Campus B2 1, D-66123 Saarbruecken, Saarland, Germany.
Adel
A
Al-Marby
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State Nigeria.
Chukwunonso Ecc
CE
Ejike
Department of Pharmacy, Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Saarland, Campus B2 1, D-66123 Saarbruecken, Saarland, Germany.
Muhammad Jawad
MJ
Nasim
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Clinical Pharmacy, Al Baha University, Saudi Arabia.
Nasser A
NA
Awadh-Ali
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Yemen.
Rwaida A
RA
Al-Badani
Department of Pharmacognosy & Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sana'a University, Yemen.
Ghanem Ma
GM
Alghamdi
Department of Pharmacy, Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Saarland, Campus B2 1, D-66123 Saarbruecken, Saarland, Germany.
Claus
C
Jacob
Antimicrobials; Commiphora myrrha; Solanum incanum; medicinal plants; nematicides; phytochemicals