Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of Black Elder, Stinging Nettle, Marigold and Ribwort Plantain

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of plant extracts against pathogenic microorganisms in vitro. Extracts of black elder (Sambucus nigra L.), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) and ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) were used in experiments and tested against gram-negative bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCM 1959, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica CCM 3807, Yersinia enterocolitica CCM 5671, gram-positive bacteria: Enterococcus faecalis CCM 4224, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus CCM 4223, Streptococcus pneumoniae CCM 4501, and against yeasts: Candida albicans CCM 8186, Candida krusei CCM 8271, Candida tropicalis CCM 8223. The evaluation of antimicrobial effects was performed with disc diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Determination of antioxidant activity was performed using the spectrophotometric method. Some species of selected plants were extremely effective against individual pathogenic microorganisms. Using the disc diffusion method, the best antimicrobial activity was reported for the extract from black elder (Sambucus nigra L.) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.). The best antimicrobial activity by the MIC method was found in the extract of ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) which was effective against all gram-negative bacteria. The highest antioxidant activity was determined in the extract from black elder (Sambucus nigra L.).

Keywords

• antimicrobial activity
• antioxidant activity
• plant extract
• pathogenic microorganisms
• disk diffusion method
• mic method
• spectrophotometric method