Investigation of the antimicrobial activity of some species belonging to Caryophyllaceae family

For this study 10 species were collected from this family, which included (Stellaria media, Holosteum umbellatum, Silene dichotoma, Silene supine, Silene vulgaris, Cerastium chlorifolium, Silene alba and Silene aegyptiaca), used to test antimicrobial activity against 15 microorganisms (Bacillus subtilis DSMZ 1971, Candida albicans DSMZ 1386, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC 13048, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa DSMZ 50071, Pseudomonas fluorescens P1, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13075, Salmonella infantis, Salmonella kentucky, Salmonella typhimurium SL1344, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Staphylococcus epidermidis DSMZ 20044) by using disk diffusion, MIC and MBC/MFC methods in addition, the activity of these plants are compared against standard antibiotics (Kanamycin 30 µg, Streptomycin 10 µg, Meropenem 10 µg, Vancomycin 30 µg, Ampicillin 10 µg, Gentamicin 10 µg, Ofloxacin 5 µg, Linocomycin 2 µg, Ceftazidime 30 µg, and Tetracycline 30 µg). As a result S. alba presented antimicrobial effects against all microorganisms, but S. media and S. vulgaris had less impact compared to S. alba. While Meropenem 10 µg exhibited high effect against all microorganisms except E. faecium, P. fluorescens and C. albicans, Linocomycin 2 µg had affected only two microorganisms, namely S. aureus and S. epidermidis. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the plants extracts against 15 microorganisms were observed to be different values in the range between 100 µg/mL - 3,125 µg/mL. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) showed that the results of both tests were similar to result of MIC test. Key Words: Antimicrobial activity, Caryophyllaceae, disk diffusion test, minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC, minimum bactericidal concentration, MBC, minimum fungicidal concentration, MFC.