Asian Journal of Plant Sciences1682-39741812-5697Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ajps.2006.861.866 Staphylococcus aureus]]>DadgarT. AsmarM. SaifiA. MazandaraniM. BayatH. MoradiA. BazueriM. GhaemiE. 5200655Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a serious global problem and includes strains of beta-lactam-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Novel antimicrobials and/or new approaches to combat the problem are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of alcoholic and aqueous extract of 23 medical plants species of Golestan province on clinical and standard stains of MRSA and MSSA. Twenty three medicinal plants were collected from their natural habitat in Golestan province in north of Iran. Their ethanolic and aqueous extract obtained by percolation methods. Antibacterial effects were assessed by disk diffusion method and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extracts was determined by the micro broth dilution against 14 clinical and standard strains of methicillin resistant and sensitive of Staphylococcus aureus. The ethanolic and aqueous extract of 8, plants showed best anti staphylococcal effect, respectively. The ethanolic extract of Artemisia, herbaalba, Nigella sativa, Punica granatum, possed the most outstanding in vitro antibacterial activity which the maximum inhibition zone was 22.4-18 mm, respectively and the lowest MIC values was measured in Punica granatum, as 0.01 mg mL-1 against MRSA The results showed that ethanolic extract had better antibacterial effect than aqueous extract and anti staphylococcal activity of Ethanolic extract of plants against MRSA was better than MSSA strains. Ethanolic and aqueous extract of Punica granatum had the best antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms. The result obtained from these plants might be considered sufficient for further studies.]]>Akinyemi, K.O., O. Oladapo, C.E. Okwara, C.C. Ibe and K.A. Fasure,2005Staphylococcus aureus activity.]]>5610Drew, T.H., J.R. Perfect, L. Srinath, E. Kurkimillis, M. Dowzichy and G.H. Talbot,2000S. aureus infections with quinupristin dalfopristin in patients intolerant of or failing prior therapy.]]>46775784Dulger, B. and A. Gonuz,20043104107Edine, W.T.S., L.A.M. Bronzwaer, O. Lyytikainen and J.E. Degener et al.,2004S. aureus in Europe 1999-2002.]]>10527634El-Astal, Z.Y., A.E.R.A. Ashour and A.M. Kerrit,200521187193Jones, M.E.,2003S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.]]>21211213Mansouri, S.M. and M. Khaleghi,1997Staphylococcus aureus isolated from from differet sources in Southeastern Iran.]]>229393Mashhadian, N. and H. Rakhshandeh,2004Nigella sativa extracts against S. aureus, P. aeroginosa and C. albicans.]]>24752Murphy, M.,199912564582North Dakota Department of Health,2005S. aureus epidemiology report.]]>2005Nostro, A., M.P. Germano, V. D'Angelo, A. Marino and M.A. Cannatelli,200030379384Roberts, S., H. Young, S. Faulkner, S. Renshaw and A.J. Morris,2002S. aureus infections.]]>11512Shopsin, B. and B.N. Kreiswirth,2001S. aureus.]]>7323326Thornsberry, C.M.C. and L.K. Dougal,198318510841091WHO.,2001