Abstract

In Iraq like most third world countries, attempts to extract, identify and study the activity of the active components of plants and use it as drugs. The use of herbal medicine predates the introduction of antibiotics and predates social, economic and religious barriers. The extract of the herb Avena sativa L. (Gramineae), from Iraq, was done by using of 70% ethanol as a solvent, the study the antimicrobial activity of the extract (in vitro) on gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), and gram negative bacteria (E. coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aerugiuosa,and Klebsiella), A. niger, and Candida, moreover. The extract showed considerable activity against all bacteria and fungi and it produces significant decrease in blood glucose level, after 1, 2, 4 and 8 h of treatment as compared to untreated diabetic rats.

Key words: Antibacterial, arena sativa, extraction, fungal.