Antimicrobial compounds from ethano-medicinal plants of Oman

Eight species of Omani ethno-medicinal plants belonging to Zygophyllaceae viz. Fagonia bruguieri, Fagonia indica, Fagonia socotrana, Seetzenia lanata, Tribulus pentanadrus, Tribulus tertrestris, Tetraena qatarense, Tetraena simplexare traditionally used in the treatment of various illnesses and body disorders. Ethanolic extracts were screened for antimicrobial activity against different strains of human pathogenic bacteria and fungi such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter faecalis and Cladosporum herbarum. The tests were carried out using agar diffusion method and bioautography. The percentage yield and inhibition zone diameter of the ethanol extract and its fractions were determined and the data were statistically analyzed. The efficiency of different fractions was compared by measuring the clearing zones. Of all the plants tested, Fagonia indica, Tribulus pentandrus, and Tetraena simplex were found to be more effective against bacterial and fungal strains. Brine Shrimp lethality test was used to determine LC50 of plant extracts. For ethanol extract LC50 indicated that Fagonia species and Seetzeinia lanata are more effective than Tribulus and Tetraena species. All selected species were found to have antimicrobial activity on at least two microbial strains. The antimicrobial activity profile showed that E. coli is the most resistant among the tested strains. The results indicate the potential of these medicinal plants in treating microbial infections of the body.