Abstract

The antimicrobial activities of the different aerial and root extracts of Salvia cilicica were determined aiming to evaluate whether, it can be used in phytotherapy as an antimicrobial agent. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of roots and aerial parts of S. cilicica extracts was evaluated using micro dilution and disc diffusion methods against Gram positive and Gram negative reference standard microorganisms and yeast Candida albicans. All of the extracts, with the exception of ethanol extract, showed antimicrobial activity by using minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) tests. The roots-petroleum ether and acetone extracts showed the highest antimicrobial activity (MIC’s ranges 20-313 μg/ml) against Gram positive bacteria. The root-acetone extract showed higher antimicrobial activity against Gram negative bacteria in comparison to other extracts. The most remarkable result of the antimicrobial activities is that, except for the ethanol extract, the S. cilicica had a good inhibitory effect (MIC’s ranges 20-313 μg/ml) against Bacillus cereus and Salmonella cholerasuis, and was noticed to be more active in paper disc diffusion test against Gram positive than Gram negative bacteria. The roots petroleum ether and acetone extracts exhibited activity against C. albicans. In conclusion, S. cilicica had a potential therapeutic value supporting its traditional usage in folk medicine.

Key words: Salvia cilicica, Gram positive, Gram negative, yeast, antimicrobial, endemic.