In vitro antimicrobial activity of artemisia annua leaf extracts against pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

In recent years, the usage of plant materials as food supplement and as alternative medicine has increased. Medicinal herbs are a rich source of antimicrobial agents. In this investigation, antimicrobial effects of leaf methanol and ethanol extracts of Artemisia annua against Staphylococcus aureus PTCC 1431, Salmonella enterica PTCC 1231, Klebsiella pneumonia PTCC 1053, Shigella dysenteriae PTCC 1188 and Escherichia coli PTCC 1399 were studied, using well diffusion method. Methanol and ethanol extracts obtained from leaves of A. annua exhibited antimicrobial activity against test microorganisms. The methanol extract of A. annua showed high inhibition of the growth of S. aureus PTCC 1431, S. enterica PTCC 1231 with inhibitory, 16.5 and 15.5 mm, with average 13.7 mm. The results indicate the fact that extracts of A. annua could be effectively used against diseases caused by selected human pathogens.