Investigation of antimicrobial activity of some endemic plants growing in eastern black sea region

In this study, 76 extracts from 22 endemic plant species growing in Eastern Black Sea Region were investigated for their antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity against 5 pathogenic bacteria, 2 fungi and 2 viral strains. Also, fractions obtained from two extracts having strong antibacterial activity were studied for their antibacterial and antifungal features. Forty two crude extracts from 17 plants were found to posses antibacterial activity against at least one (or more) test microorganisms. While the most susceptible bacterial strain was Branhamella catarrhalis, none of the extracts showed inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli. The chloroform soluble extract from fruits of Betula medwediewii was determined as the most prominent one for its antibacterial activity with MICs between 19-312 (ig/ml. In addition, some extracts from aerial parts of Alchemilla rizeensis, Rosa pisiformis, Primula longipes and Heracleum platytaenium had strong antibacterial activity regarding MIC values. The most prominent extract for its antifungal activity was obtained from aerial parts of Primula longipes (MIC values of 312 |Ig/ml for Candida albicans, 19 ug/ml for Trichophyton ruhrum). It was determined that some fractions from extracts belonging to leaves of Centaurea helenioides and Anthemis cretica L. ssp. argaea showed strong antibacterial and antifungal activity with MIC values between 4 and 78 |ig/ml. A water soluble extract from the fruit of Betula medwediewii inhibited HSV-1 and HSV-2 with 1C50 values 76.5 |Xg/ml and 50.2 fig/ml, respectively. Antiviral activity was also determined in some extracts from Rosa pisiformis (aerial), Angelica sylvestris var. stenoptera (seed), Alchemilla rizeensis (flower and seed),94 Rhododendron ponticum ssp. ponticum var. heterophyllum (aerial), Que reus pontica (aerial) and Quercus macranthera ssp. syspirensis (fruit). Key words: Eastern Black Sea Region, endemic plants, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, antiviral activity.