Fathima Rasli C.H., Shainy N.K., Neja C., Farha Barami, and Kunhi A.A.M. (2017). Antibacterial and synergistic effects of leaf extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Hyptis suaveolens against multi drug resistant strain Staphylococcus aureus. In P.J. Jisha and K. Mashhoor (Eds.) ‘Advances in Microbiology’ LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, Saarbrucken, Germany, pp. 70-84 (ISBN: 978-3-330-07223-7)

Abstract

Emerging resistance of pathogens towards various antibiotics has prompted researchers to look for alternatives such as plant-derived compounds having antimicrobial activity. This study indicated good antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Hyptis suaveolens, in acetone, chloroform, petroleum ether, and water, against multi drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Phytochemical analysis of acetone leaf extracts of both the plants showed the presence 4 different phyto-constituents, which may be responsible for the antibacterial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value for C. odorata of chloroform and acetone extracts were found to be 250 and 200µl, respectively and H. suaveolens of chloroform and acetone extracts were found to be 350 and 300µl, respectively. The acetone extract exhibited synergy in the growth inhibition as tested by the Checkerboard assay. Among the plant extract combinations, acetone extracts exhibited an FIC value of 0.468 whereas the chloroform extracts of the plants showed a value of 0.567 which is slightly higher than the value of synergy of ≤ 0.5. This clearly indicated the potential use of a combination of acetone extracts of C. odorata and H. suaveolens for thetreatment of multi drug resistant S. aureus infections.