Abstract

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. is a medicinal plant known for its various pharmacological properties, including the anti-bacterial and the anti-microbial effects. This study aimed to determine and compare the antibacterial activities of extracts of two Tunisian T. foenum-greacum populations, diploid (2n=16) and its induced autotetraploid (4n=32). Aqueous and organic extracts (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanolic fractions) prepared from seeds and leaves were assayed to determine their antibacterial potential againstStaphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium using agar disk diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. The results showed that the organic extracts had no antibacterial potential against the tested bacteria contrary to the aqueous extracts. The extracts prepared from the seeds were more active compared to those prepared from the leaves against all tested strains. And the induced autotetraploid population presented an antibacterial activity higher than that of the diploid population.

Key words: Trigonella foenum-graecum, diploid, autotetraploid, antibacterial activity, aqueous extracts, organic extracts, seeds, leaves.