Abstract

The major aims of this study was to determine ethnobotany and antimicrobial activity of sixteen medicinal, aromatic and nutraceutical plants from high altitude of Bakhtiari Zagross mountains, which are Iranian medicinal plants. Antimicrobial activities of extract of sixteen Iranian folklore plants including, Heracleum lasiopetalum Boiss. (Apiaceae), Satureja bachtiarica Bunge. (Lamiacae), Thymus daenensis Celak. (Lamiacae), Ziziphora teniur L. (Lamiacae),Echiophora platyloba L. (Apiaceae), Dracocephalum multicaule Benth. (Lamiacae), Kelussia odoratissima Mozff. (Apiaceae), Mentha longifolia Hudson. (Lamiacae), Achillea kellalensisBoiss. (Asteraceae), Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl. (Lamiacae), Hypericum scabrum L. (Hypericaceae), Quercus brantii Lindley. (Fagaceae), Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae), Pistachia atlantica Desf. (Anacardiaceae), Arnebia euchroma (Royle.) Johnston. (Boraginaceae) and Salvia hydrangea DC. (Lamiacae) were investigated against strains ofStaphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Yersinia enterocolitica, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni and Candida albicans by agar disc diffusion and serial dilution assays. The results of the study reveal that some of species play an important role in primary healthcare system of these tribal communities. Some of the medicinal plants showed relatively high antimicrobial activity against all the tested bacteria and fungi. In conclusion, it can be said that the extract and essential oil of some of the medicinal plants from high altitude of Bakhtiari Zagross Mountains could be used as natural antibacterial agents in the food preservation and human health.

Key words: Medicinal plants, ethnobotany, ‎antimicrobial activity, high altitude, Zagross mountains.