Phytochemical Analysis, Heavy Metals Content And Antimicrobial Activity Of Selected Iraqi Medical Plants

Abstract

For decades, one of the most popular ideas in human health literature is the idea that using of the medicinal plants as antibacterial source. The presents study was carried to estimate: Firstly, the levels of heavy metals (Mg , Zn, Cu , Mn and Fe) in four plants (Laurus nobilis L. , Zingiber officinale , Origanum majorana L. and Trigonella foenum graecum L. ) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Mg has the highest level in Zingiber officinale with 250 μg/ ml , while the level of Cu in Zingiber officinale was dip down to 0.8 μg /ml .
Secondly: the antimicrobial activity of Laurus nobilis L. , Zingiber officinale , Origanum majorana L. and Trigonella foenum graecum L. against reference strain of Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus subtilis , Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We performed the agar diffusion method e and indicated the bactericidal action. Laurus nobilis L. extract showed strong antimicrobial action against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 23mm, while Zingiber officinale extract gave the maximum inhibition against Escherichia coli with 25.5 mm. Both extracts of Origanum majorana L. and Trigonella foenum graecum L. experience intense antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus aureus with (22.5, 21 mm) respectively.
The results of the current study indicate that the levels of the heavy metals in the studying plants were in the allowed range and the extracts derived from the plants using in this study might be the active source of antimicrobial compounds.