Antimicrobial Efficacy of Four Different Extracts of Plantago major: An In vitro Study

Aims: Plantago major is frequently used in traditional treatment for upper respiratory tract diseases such as pneumonia, cough, pharyngitis, and skin, eye, and urinary tract infections. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and minimum effective dose of hexane, methanol, ethanol, and water extract of Plantago major leaves.

Study design: In vitro experimental study.

Methodology: P. major leaves was crushed into a fine powder and dissolved in different solvents (hexane, methanol, ethanol, or water) using a Soxhlet device, then the extracts were purified by evaporation of the solvent. All extracts were analyzed for antibacterial and antifungal properties using broth dilution method depending on MIC value determined according to the solvent-microorganism-time trio in DDM.

Results: The in vivo test showed that all methods to extract of Plantago major leaves have activity against all test microorganisms. Both hexane and water extract showed the same activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, C. albicans and Candida tropicalis at 4 mg/ml. The lowest activity of Plantago major’s (PM's) hexane and water extract was on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas vulgaris bacteria as 8 mg/ml. Methanol and ethanol extracts of PM showed higher activity than hexane and water extract. PM ethanol extract showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aerouginosa at 2ml/mL, and Bacillus subtilis Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris at 4 ml/mL.

Conclusion: The results nominate the Plantago major extract has potential antimicrobials and antifungals. However, the development of antimicrobial agents requires purifying the active bio components by high throughput techniques to achieve effective activity as positive controls.