TITLE:
Effects of Biochemical and Molecular Inhibitors of Plant Extracts on Pathogenic Bacteria
AUTHORS:
Ashwag Al-Zahrani, Effat Al-Judaibi, Hanan Omar, Awatif Al-Judaibi
KEYWORDS:
Natural Products, Antibacterial Activity, Biochemical Analysis, Molecular Analyses, Morphological Changes
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.5 No.5,
May
26,
2017
ABSTRACT: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the green
alga Ulva lactuca and medicinal plant Nigella sativa extract on
the activity of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The bacteria were incubated with the crude extracts and extracellular free
potassium and phosphorus ions were measured in the medium. The levels of
potassium and phosphorous were the maximum in the medium of S. aureus treated with N. sativa extract.
The medium of P. aeruginosa incubated with U. lactuca extract was
found to have the lowest phosphorous and the greatest potassium levels. The highest
activity against P. aeruginosa was noticed with U. lactuca extract, where it caused reduction in the dry weight and glucose
consumption of bacteria estimated by 28.41% and 41.09%, respectively.
The antibacterial activity of N. sativa extract was the greatest against S. aureus and recorded 32.59% and 39.96% reduction in the bacterial dry
weight and glucose uptake, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscopy study
showed morphological changes in the cell wall of treated bacteria. The
treatment of bacteria with the tested extract induced gene mutations. The
results assessed the possible application of U. lactuca and N. sativa as a source of pharmacological benefits.