Anti-Bacterial Activity of an Ancient Remedy Against Pathogenic Skin Infections

Background/Objectives Skin and soft-tissue infections are among the most common infections and can develop severe local and systemic complications. Bacterial species: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli usually cause skin infections. Studies of plants and natural materials used in ancient medicine to treat infections may assist us in further antibiotic discoveries. In this study, we tested the bactericidal activity of a 1000-years-old Arabic Al-Razi remedy against common skin infections Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains.Methods The antimicrobial activity was tested by agar diffusion method, after adding specific test sample, zone of inhibition was measured. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of Al-Razi full remedy, dropout batches and single ingredients were performed by broth micro dilution assay.Results The mixture of all ingredients of this remedy (vinegar, gum arabic, boswellia, vitriol and aloe) has shown highest antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. pyogenes, multi drug resistance (MDR) P. aeruginosa and clinical strain of P. aeruginosa. However, the presence of a single ingredient in water has shown no activity against tested bacterial strains except vitriol.Conclusion The AR remedy comprising several ingredients (vinegar, gum arabic, boswellia, vitriol and aloe) had shown great potential to inhibit skin infection bacterial strains (S. aureus, S. pyogenes, MDR P. aeruginosa and the clinical strain of P. aeruginosa). In contrast, single ingredients (except vitriol) had shown no activity against all tested bacterial strains. These results suggest that combination of natural products has more potential against bacterial infections.