Planta Med 2007; 73 - P_131
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-986912

Antimicrobial activities of six artemisia species of west Anatolia

Ş Baykan Erel 1, NÜ Karabay Yavaşoğlu 2, U Zeybek 1
  • 1Ege University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Bornova, 35100, İzmir, Turkey
  • 2Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of General Biology, Bornova, 35100, İzmir, Turkey

Artemisia L. (Asteraceae) is represented by 23 species in the Turkish flora [1]. A. absinthium L., A. arborescens L., A. campestris L., A. scoparia Waldst. & Kit., A. santonicum L., and A. vulgaris L., naturally distributed in West and South West of Turkey, were chosen as experimental material in this study. This study was conducted to investigate antimicrobial activity of the essential oils and methanol extracts of the Artemisia taxa mentioned above.

Essential oils and methanol extracts of Artemisia taxa were tested for antimicrobial activities by disc diffusion method [2]. In vitro antimicrobial studies were carried out against eight bacteria strains, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538/P, St. epidermidis ATTC 12228, Escherichia coli ATCC 29998, E. coli ATCC 11230, Pseudomonas aeroginosa ATCC 27853, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047, Salmonella typhimurium CCM 5445 and a fungal strain, Candida albicans ATTC 10239. Ketakanozole and seftacidime were used as positive controls.

Essential oils of Artemisia taxa were showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. A.santonicum inhibited the growth of S. epidermidis ATTC 12228 (inhibition zone 21mm) and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 (19mm) more than Seftacidime (14mm). All of the oils except A. arborescens were active mm againist medically important pathogen S. aureus. with over 14mm zone while the inhibition zone of seftacidime was 12mm. A.santonicum and A.scoparia oils have been shown to inhibit the growth of C. albicans, similar to ketokonazole as a conventional antifungal. The results indicate that the essential oils of these Artemisia spp. are more effective against tested microorganisms than their methanol extracts.

References: [1] Davis PH. and Mill RR. (1988). Flora of Turkey, Volume 10, Edinburgh University Press, 163,418. [2]. Bradshaw LJ. (1992). Laboratory Microbiology. 4th edn. Emeritus California State University, Fullerton, Saunders College Publishing: New York, USA. 435p.