Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Satureja mutica Fisch. & C.A.Mey. Collected from North Khorasan Province, Iran

ABSTRACT           Background and Objectives: Many aromatic plants from the genus Satureja have been used in traditional medicine in north of Iran. This study aimed to determine the ecological requirements for the growth of Satureja mutica Fisch. & C.A. Mey, and evaluate antioxidant and antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of S. mutica collected from North Khorasan Province, Iran.          Methods: Aerial parts of S. mutica were collected in blooming stage. Ecological requirements and the traditional uses of the plant were recorded. Ethanol extract of the plant was prepared by maceration. Antioxidant capacity of the extract was measured by three methods of total antioxidant capacity, reducing power and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and then compared with standard antioxidants (butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene). Antibacterial activity of the extract was studied against nine Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by agar dilution method and determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs).          Results: S. mutica is the most common wild aromatic annual herb in north slob and sunny areas around mountains of Bojnord (1020-1300 m). The ecological features of this region are as follows: annual rainfall 308 mm, average temperature 11.5 oC, semi dry cold climate in the sandy clay loam soil, Ec=0.7 desizimence, and pH= 7.30. Ethnopharmacological data showed that this plant has been widely used by rural people as an anti-infective, antispasm and sedative agent that could treat rheumatic pain, migraine, toothache and diarrhea. The ethanol extract of S.mutica had relatively high antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 11.2 mg/ml. The extract also had high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus and Enterococcus faecalis, with inhibition zone diameters ranging between 15.1±0.5 and 27.7±0.8 mm and MIC values of 60, 68, 53 and 83 mg/ml, respectively.          Conclusion: It can be concluded that the extract of S. mutica has favorable antibacterial and antioxidant activity, which could be used as natural anti-microbial agent for treatment of some infection diseases.           Keywords: Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Bojnord, Ecological Requirements, North Khorasan, BHT, BHA.