Abstract:
Background: Acne is one of the most prevalent dermatologic diseases in the world. The
development of resistance to antibiotics provides for further attempts to search for new
antimicrobial agents to combat infections and overcome the resistance and side effects of the
currently available antimicrobial agents. Therefore, this study was aimed at screening selected
Ayurvedic medicinal plants for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S.
aureus).
Objectives: To determine the antibacterial activity of selected seven medicinal plants (MPs) and
five cosmetic products against S. aureus, that causes acnes
Methods: Antibacterial activities of methanolic extracts of seven MPs, against S. aureus were
assessed by agar well diffusion assay and MIC. Antibacterial activities of five cosmetic products
which are used to treat acnes, were assessed by well diffusion assay. Vancomycin was used as the
positive control and 10% DMSO was used as the negative control. Five cosmetic products were
selected from KIU undergraduates based an online survey.
Results: Methanolic extracts of Phyllanthus emblica L. exhibited potent antibacterial activity
against S. aureus, with an average zone of inhibition of ≃20.66mm. The MIC was detected as
100mg/mL. Positive control, Senna auriculata L., Rubia cordifolia. Linn, Hemidesmus indicus,
Cassia alata L., Curcuma Zedoaria, Acalypha indica L. showed average of inhibition zones (IZs)
of ≃22.1mm ≃17mm, ≃16.6mm, ≃16mm, ≃13.3mm, ≃12mm and ≃11mm, respectively. IZs of
cosmetic products were detected as ≃ 44mm, ≃ 32.5mm, ≃ 18mm, ≃ 15mm and ≃ 13mm.
Conclusion: Phyllanthus emblica L. displayed the most potent antibacterial activity against S.
aureus, that causes acnes, and all seven medicinal plants showed antibacterial activity. Active
ingredients of cosmetic products are clindamycin antibiotic, tea tree extraction, rose extraction,
golden jojoba oil and neem extraction respectively. Clindamycin antibiotic included product and
tea tree extraction included product displayed the most potent antibacterial activity. Other three
products showed minimum size of IZs.
