Antibacterial activity study of single and combined extracts of Berberis ruscifolia, Baccharis sagittalis, Euphorbia dentata and Euphorbia schikendanzii, native plants from Argentina

Abstract

The present work aimed to detect the antibacterial activity of natural species (Berberis ruscifolia, Baccharis sagittalis, Euphorbia dentata and Euphorbia schikendanzii). Twelve plants organic extracts were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The combined effect of acetonic extracts was also evaluated. All extracts showed antibacterial activity with MIC varying from 16 to 2 mg/mL. The highest inhibition was observed with acetonic and chloroform-methanolic extracts of B. ruscifolia against S. aureus (MIC=2 mg/mL). Only, the combinations of B. ruscifolia + B. sagittalis and B. sagittalis + E. schikendanzii showed beneficial effect for grampositive bacteria (additive effect).