title: Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Combination withZataria multifloraEssential Oil and Methanol Extract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Against a variety of antimicrobial resistant pathogens, the scientists attempted substitution of antimicrobial medicine with various nanoparticles and plant-based antibacterial substances.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the antibacterial effects of silver nanoparticles solely and in combination withZataria multifloraessential oil and methanolic extract on some photogenic bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs) of plant essential oil, methanolic extract, and silver nanoparticles against bacteria were evaluated using the broth microdilution method and check board microtiter assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the experiment showed that the MIC and minimal bacterial concentration (MBC) values of Ag-NPs against all strains were in the range of 15.625 - 500 µg/mL, and values for the essential oil and plant extract were in the range of 1.56 - 100 mg/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silver nanoparticles were observed to have additive effects with essential oil againstStaphylococcus epidermidisandS. aureus. The obtained results suggest the need for further investigations of the antibacterial effects of the combination of silver nanoparticles with other plant extracts and essential oils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences & Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAUPS), Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheikholeslami
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAUPS), Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyyedeh Elaheh
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAUPS), Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Ahmadi Ashtiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences & Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAUPS), Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Reza
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hosseini Doust
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAUPS), Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahdi Rezayat
keywords: Antibacterial Susceptibility; Bacteria; Essential Oil; Nanoparticles; Plant Extracts; Silver