Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

ISSN 2736-1756

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antimicrobial activity of Rhaponticum acaule and Scorzonera undulata growing wild in Tunisia

Houda Ben Abdelkader1*, Karima Bel Haj Salah2, Kaouthar Liouane1, Olfa Boussaada3, Karima Gafsi1, Mohamed Ali Mahjoub1, Mahjoub Aouni2, Ahmed Nourreddine Hellal3 and Zine Mighri1

1Laboratory of Natural Substances, Chemistry and Organic Synthesis, Faculty of Science, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia (99/UR/12-26).

2Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases and Biologically Active Substances, Faculty of Pharmacy, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.

3Laboratory of Conservation and Valorisation of Plant Resources, Faculty of Pharmacy, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.

Accepted 06 November, 2017

Abstract

This study examined the in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extracts (butanolic, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether and the product H2) of 2 plants belonging to the Asteraceae family: Rhaponticum acaule L. and Scorzonera undulata L. Butanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of the Rhaponticum acaule plant showed a moderate antibacterial activity against 3 of the tested strains; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus fecalis while Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Citrobacter freundeï were resistant to the extracts. The product H2 showed an antibacterial activity against S. aureus, C. freundeï and E. fecalis. From the results of the antifungal activity, we observed that butanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of R. acaule showed a strong inhibition against Trichophyton rubrum with inhibition percentage of 56.25 and 78.75%, respectively. Butanolic extract showed a moderate inhibition of Microsporum canis, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and Aspergillus fumigatus while ethyl acetate extract showed low inhibition. The aerial part ethyl acetate extract of S. undulata seemed to be more active than the petroleum one. It showed an antibacterial activity against all bacteria strains tested except for E. coli. For antifungal activity, the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts of the aerial part inhibited strongly all tested fungi. The roots extracts from S.undulata show weak antimicrobial activities compared with the aerial parts extracts of the same plant.

Key words: Rhaponticum acaule L, Scorzonera undulata L, Asteraceae, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, Tunisia.