THE EFFECT OF RUTA GRAVEOLENS L. ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS ON SKIN ISOLATES OF STAPHYLOCOCCI AND PROPIONIBACTERIUM ACNES.

The aim: To define antimicrobial properties of 50%, 70% and 90% ethanolic extracts of Ruta graveolens L. against macrolide resistant (MLS-resistant) skin isolates of staphylococci and Propionibacterium acnes, and to determine MIC and MBC of investigated extracts. Materials and methods: Extracts were prepared by the method of maceration. Bacterial cultures were identified by biochemical microtests. Identification of MLS-resistance type was performed by using disc-diffusion method. The MIC and MBC were determined by serial two-fold dilution of ethanolic extracts of Ruta graveolens L. in MHB and HBB for staphylococci and P. acnes, respectively. Bacterial growth in each well was assayed by absorption at 495 nm, using a spectrophotometer SynergyTMHTX S1LFTA (BioTek Instruments, Inc., USA). Results: All ethanolic extracts of garden ruta were active against all staphylococci and P. acnes skin isolates and showed exclusively bactericidal activity (MBC/MIC ratios ranged from 1 to 2) against all investigated strains. 90% extract of Ruta graveolens L. showed better results than 50% and 70% extracts - average MIC and MBC concentations for P. acnes strains were 1.38«0.66 mg/mL and for staphylococcal strains average MIC was 2.1«1.16 mg/mL and MBC - 2.86«1.2 mg/mL. Conclusions: 50%, 70% and 90% ethanolic garden ruta extracts showed moderate antibacterial activity against main skin pathogens, responsible for acnes vulgaris development - S. epidermidis, S. aureus and P. acnes. No difference in susceptibility between resistance and sensitive strains of staphylococci and P. acnes indicate that acquired MLS-resistance of investigated skin isolates does not affect on the level of their sensitivity to ruta extracts.