Abstract

The petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and water extracts of the oleo-gum resins of two Arabian medicinal plants, Commiphora molmol Engl. ex Tschirch andBoswellia papyrifera Hochst were investigated for their antibacterial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The phytochemical investigation demonstrated the presence of phenolic compounds, alkaloids and saponins in the methanol extracts which is lacking in the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts. The methanol extracts exhibited the highest antibacterial activity whereas the ethyl acetate extracts exhibited some degree of activity and the petroleum ether and water extracts exhibited no or least activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged between 31.25 and 250 µg/ml for oleo-gum resin methanol extract of C. molmol and of B. papyrifera ranged from 62.5 to 500 µg/ml, respectively.

Key words: Commiphora molmol, Boswellia papyrifera, Staphylococcus aureus,MRSA, antibacterial activity.