Abstract:
This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity and the synergistic effect of essential oils
from Artemisia herba-alba L, Mentha spicata, and Rosmarinus officinalis L, which are used
in traditional medicine. The oils were extracted by hydrodistillation. The antibacterial activity
was tested on wild strains isolated from the diabetic feet of nine diabetic patients. The isolated
bacterial strains are Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella
pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The antibacterial
activity of the essential oils against the wild strains was evaluated through qualitative
assessment (disk diffusion on agar medium), antibiogram, and determination of the minimum
inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The results
showed significant values, with inhibition zones for Staphylococcus aureus measuring 18
mm, 15 mm, and 21 mm with the essential oils of Artemisia herba-alba Asso, Mentha
spicata, and Rosmarinus officinalis L., respectively. Regarding the synergistic effects of these
oils, the mixture (S05: 2 volumes of Rosmarinus officinalis L., and 1 volume of Artemisia
herba-alba L L) showed significant inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (ranging from
25 to 40 mm), Staphylococcus epidermidis (33 mm), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (20 mm).
Therefore, based on the MIC and MBC results, the use of these natural substances as
antibacterial agents in the pharmaceutical industry can be proposed as a therapeutic
alternative.
