NTU Undergraduates' research April 2014 - Biosciences | Page 33

N0207614

In Vitro investigation of potential antimicrobial activity of
Purple Sage, Winter Heather, Liquorice Root and Arrowroot
extracts
Sashoy Beckford
Abstract
Plants and herbs have throughout history been used as a traditional
medicinal treatment for disease, in fact many antibiotics used are
chemically derived from products found in nature; for example penicillin
and its many antibiotic derivatives, which have been modified to be used
against a broader spectrum of bacteria. The objective of this study was to
investigate the potential antibiotic activity of Purple Sage, Winter
Heather, Liquorice Root and Arrowroot extracts on S. aureus, B. subtilis,
Salmonella, E. coli and S. cerevisiae from clinical strains. The pure
extracts were tested on agar inoculated with the microorganisms and
assessed for presence of zones of inhibition of bacterial growth. The MIC
was then determined for those samples found positive for antimicrobial
properties. The next phase of this study was to establish whether the
extracts were bactericidal or bacteriostatic. Finally the pH of the
extracts was measured. Purple Sage and Liquorice root were found to be
effective antimicrobials at levels as low as 6.25% and 1.56% respectively,
comparatively Winter Heather only inhibited the growth of S. cerevisiae at
levels as low as 1.56%.
Key words: Antimicrobial Activity, Purple Sage, Winter Heather, Liquorice Root, Arrowroot,
Hibiscus, MIC, pH, Bactericidal, Bacteriostatic, S. aureus, B. subtilis, Salmonella, E. coli,
S. cerevisiae

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