THE ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OBTAINED FROM LEAVES OF SOME PLANTS BELONGING TO THE SANSEVIERIA THUNB. GENUS AGAINST ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII STRAIN

Abstract

Purpose: In study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the antibacterial activity of seventeen plants belonging to the Sansevieria genus against Acinetobacter baumannii complex isolate, resistant to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin (specimen 3680, UK NEQAS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial capacity and to validate scientifically the inhibitory activity of some plants belonging to the Sansevieria genus for microbial growth attributed to their popular use and to propose new sources of antimicrobial agents.

Methodology. The leaves of Sansevieria plants, cultivated under glasshouse conditions, were sampled at M.M. Gryshko National Botanic Garden (NBG), National Academy of Science of Ukraine. Specifically, the leaves of Sansevieria francisii Chahin, S. caulescens N.E.Br., S. suffruticosa N.E.Br., S. roxburghiana Schult. & Schult.f., S. metallica Gérôme & Labroy, S. gracilis N.E.Br., S. hyacinthoides (L.) Druce, S. cylindrica Bojer ex Hook., S. canaliculata Carrière, S. aethiopica Thunb., S. kirkii Baker, S. trifasciata Prain, S. forskaliana (Schult. & Schult.f.) Hepper & J.R.I. Wood, S. fischeri (Baker) Marais, S. dooneri N.E.Br., S. intermedia N.E.Br., S. parva N.E.Br. were sampled for the study. Antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar disk diffusion technique.

Scientific novelty. Results proved that extracts obtained from the leaves of S. dooneri and S. gracilis were particularly active against Acinetobacter baumannii complex isolate (diameters of inhibition zones were 14-20.5 mm). It was followed by the activities of extracts from the S. suffriticosa (15.4 ± 1.11 mm), S. fischeri (14.7 ± 1.1 mm), S. parva (14.2 ± 1.1 mm), S. canaliculate (13.8 ± 1.18 mm), S. trifasciata leaves (13.7 ± 1.3 mm). Finally, the ethanolic extracts of S. hyacinthoides and S. intermedia showed fewer antimicrobial activities (diameters of inhibition zones ranged between 7.5 to 10 mm).

Conclusions. Hence, the ethanolic extracts derived from S. dooneri and S. gracilis exhibit a favorable antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii, indicating that these plants could be a good source of antibacterial agents to combat A. baumannii-mediated infections. Thus, the leaves of some plants belonging to the Sansevieria genus with antibacterial properties may offer alternative therapeutic agents against bacterial infections.