Like many plants, Camellia sinensis L and Erica multiflora L were used in Algerian traditional medicine for the treatment of urinary tract infections and a number of other diseases. To provide a scientific basis to the traditional use of these plants, aqueous and organic extracts were screened for their potential antibacterial and antifungal. In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity of aqueous and organic extracts were determined with using agar-well diffusion method. However, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of active extracts was determined by using micro-plate dilution test. Finally theirs antimicrobial effects were compared to some standard antibiotics. Among the tow plants screened, Camellia sinensis L was found to be more active than Erica multiflora L. It was observed that the hot water and methanolic extracts of Camellia sinensis L showed higher inhibitory activity against selected microbial species than the other solvents extracts. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MICs) of aqueous and methanolic extracts is ranged between 0.039 to 0.312 mg /L and 0.039 to 0.625 mg /L respectively. The results obtained showed a wider spectrum of activity of extracts but less strong inhibition as compared to the investigated commercials antibiotics. The antimicrobial efficacy demonstrated by these plants provides a scientific basis that validates their traditional uses as home remedies for the treatment of urinary infection.
Medicinal plants; urinary tract infections; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity; MIC
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