Antibacterial activity of Nepeta deflersiana extract against pathogenic gram-positive bacteria

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and synergistic activities of the crude extract of Nepeta deflersiana against the gram-positive pathogenic bacteria. Plants of Nepeta deflersiana were crushed to a fine powder and dissolved in different polar organic solvents (ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate and acetone). Soxhlet extraction method was used to prepare the crude extract. The antibacterial susceptibility of the crude extract was studied against the gram-positive reference and clinical strains by agar well diffusion method. The MIC and MBC were determined by microbroth dilution assays using MH broth. We observed that the extract from the N. deflersiana had significant antimicrobial activity against gram-positive microorganisms. The plant extract showed the higher antibacterial activity against the reference strain of Streptococcus pyogenes. The MIC and MBC varied between 0.92-25 and 1.56-200 mg/ml respectively. Synergy study explained the significant bacteriostatic effect of N. deflersiana extract on Staphyllococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228) and S. aureus. This study describes about the antimicrobial properties of N. deflersiana. Subsequently, further studies is needed to investigate the mechanism of synergistic activity which is crucial to prove the use of this plant for antimicrobial therapy.