Abstract

Yasmina Benabdesslem, Kadda Hachem

In view of the global rise of antimicrobial resistance, the discovery of new antimicrobial agents of plant origin has become essential. In this study, the therapeutic capacity of different extracts of Salvia argentea was evaluated in vitro by testing the antimicrobial activity on 16 bacterial strains and 4 yeast strains. Aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts of Salvia argentea were obtained, and their antimicrobial effects were evaluated using the method of diffusion in agar medium and microdilutions. Aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts were effective on a majority organism tested with inhibition zones of up to 23 ± 2.6 mm observed in bacteria, and 24 ± 1.5 mm in yeast. Significant MIC results were noted between 3.90 and 7.81 mg/mL for bacterial strains (Klebsiella pneumonia, Pasteurella multocida, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Citrobacter freundii), and a MIC value of 3.90 mg/mL for the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The CMB/MIC ratio values recorded for the majority of bacterial strains attribute to Salvia argentea extracts a bactericidal action against multi-resistant bacterial strains. In addition, the CMF/MIC ratio values expressed for the different extracts with respect to yeast clearly show a fungicidal action on the three strains of Candida albicans whereas for Saccharomyces cerevisiae the extracts have a fungistatic action. The antimicrobial activities of Salvia argentea extracts was observed on all the strains tested.