Herbs may serve as antibacterial agents providing alternatives to the current medications which have a growing tendency towards bacterial resistance. In this study, rotoevaporated filtered, methanol extracts of nine herbs were diluted with dimethyl sulfoxide and used to treat bacteria samples. Quantitative measurements were made on bacteria growing in tryptic soy broth at 37oC. Bacterial growth was determined by measuring decreased percent transmittance at 625nm due to increased turbidity. Catnip, Goldenrod and Kudzu demonstrated the strongest bacterial growth inhibition. Percent inhibition at 50% transmittance of the control sample of Catnip and Goldenrod with Escherichia coli and Streptococcus aureus were found to be in the range from 24% � 51%. Minimum inhibitory concentrations will be presented for these systems as well as data collected on other herbs. This study indicates that herbs may provide additional antibacterial agents.

Antibacterial properties of selected herbs on Escherichia coli and Streptococcus aureus

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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