Antibacterial Activity of Extract and Essential Oil of Ziziphora tenuior L. against Bacteria Isolated from Urogenital Tract Infections

ABSTRACT          Background and Objectives:  Many species of  Ziziphora have been used in traditional medicine in the Azarbaijan region, northwest of Iran. This study aimed to determine antibacterial activity of essential oil and methanol extract of Ziziphora tenuior on some pathogenic bacteria isolated from urogenital tract infections.          Methods: The essential oil and methanol extract of Z. tenuior were obtained by Clevenger and maceration methods. Under sterile conditions, the required amount of urine was taken from patients referred to a number of clinics in Tabriz during 2014. After identification of the isolates using standard microbiological methods, antimicrobial effects of the essential oil and methanol extract of the plant on the isolates were evaluated by determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration, and antibiogram test.           Results: The MIC for essential oil of Z. tenuior was 250µg/mL for most Gram-negative bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Moreover, the MIC for Staphylococcus aureus was 250µg/mL and 500µg/mL for other strains of Staphylococcus.            Conclusion: Comparison of the inhibitory and bactericidal effects of the essential oil and methanol extract of Z. tenuior showed that the essential oil is able to inhibit growth of the bacteria tested even in low concentrations. Further studies are required in this regard using animal models.          Keywords: Antibacterial Agents, Ziziphora tenuior, Plant Extracts, Urinary Tract Infection.