Background: Due to the increasing rate of antibiotic resistance in bacteria and side effects of antibiotics, researchers aim at finding new herbal medicines. Several studies have proved the antibacterial effect of medicinal plants, such as Cuminum cyminum L. The present study aimed to investigate the antibacterial effect of Cuminum cyminum L. extract on some pathogenic bacteria in-vitro.
Methods: In this in-vitro study, aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Cuminum cyminum L. were prepared from seeds. Antibacterial effect of the extracts on several bacterial strains was evaluated using disk diffusion and broth micro-dilution methods to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Then, the results were compared to the results of bacterial susceptibility to penicillin and amikacin antibiotics.
Results: Cuminum cyminum L. aqueous and alcoholic extracts inhibited the growth of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA)(ATCC 25923). Diameters of zone of inhibition ranged from 10-22 and 14-22 mm for alcoholic and aqueous extracts, respectively. Considering methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (ATCC 700698), diameters of zone of inhibition ranged from 13-23 and 11-13 mm for alcoholic and aqueous extracts, respectively. These extracts were not effective in other tested bacteria. The alcoholic extract MIC was determined as 75±35.4 mg/mL for both MRSA and MSSA isolates.
Conclusion: With respect to the antibacterial effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Cuminum cyminum L. on S. aureus isolates, further evaluation of the extracts for treatment of the infections caused by these bacteria is recommended.