Antimicrobial activities of Saudi Arabian desert plants

Abstract

The ethanol extracts of Alhagi maurorum Medic., Chenopodium murale L., Convolvulus fatmensis G. Kunze., Conyza dioscoridis (L.) Desf., Cynanchum acutum L., Diplotaxis acris (Forssk) Boiss, Euphorbia cuneata Vahl., Origanum syriacum L., Solenostemma argel (Del.) Hayne. and Tamarix aphylla L.(Karst) showed significant antimicrobial activity against Gram negative, Gram positive bacteria, unicellular and filamentous fungi. However, Tamarix aphyla showed remarkable activity against Aspergillus flavus and 16, out of 19, strain of the investigated test organisms. The highest MIC value was obtained by Tamarix aphyla against 8, including all the filamentous fungi, of the investigated test strains. However, the extract of Cheno-podium mural showed the best MIC against the unicellular fungi.