Citation:De Zoysa, M. H. N. , Hasanga, M. R. P. , Hewawasam, R. P. , & Wijayaratne, W. M. D. G. B. (2019). Antibacterial Activity of Crude Hexane Extract of Epaltes divaricata (Heen mudamahana) against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates. 2nd Research Symposium of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, 44.
Date:2019-12-05
Abstract:
Background: Development of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterial
strains with reduced susceptibility to antibiotics and increased number of multidrug resistant
microbial strains is observed worldwide due to irrational use of broad spectrum
antibiotics. Since there is need to search for new infection-fighting strategies, medicinal plants
have become potential sources in the development of novel antimicrobial agents to overcome
this problem.
Objectives: To determine the antibacterial activity of hexane extract of Epaltes divaricata
(Heen mudamahana) against MRSA isolates.
Methodology: Hexane extract of Sri Lankan medicinal plant Epaltes divaricata (whole plant)
was analysed against twenty MRSA clinical isolates obtained from stock cultures of Department
of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna. Antibacterial activity of plant
extract was initially examined using agar disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC) was determined by broth dilution method using a microtitre plate. Serial
five-fold dilution of the plant extract was prepared to yield seven dilutions of the original
extract. Vancomycin was used as positive control.
Results: Hexane extract of E. divaricata showed zones of inhibition for all twenty MRSA
isolates in the initial screening. Maximum zone of inhibition of MRSA isolates ranged between
6.7-13.1 mm. Minimum inhibitory concentration for MRSA isolates ranged between 0.012-0.32
mg/mL.
Conclusions: It is concluded that hexane extract of Epaltes divaricata showed significant
antibacterial activity against the clinical isolates of MRSA tested. Further scientific
investigations will warrant identification of active compounds responsible for the antibacterial
activity in this plant extract.