Antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of (Ammi visnaga) seeds against some types of bacteria

Modern and traditional medicines both make use of the medicinal plant Ammi visnaga L. This species of plant belongs to the Apiaceae family and is originally from Asia, Europe and the North African Mediterranean. A. visnaga has many medicinal properties as well as active ingredients, including flavonoids, essential oils and furobenzopyrones (FBP). In the aim of this study, the antibacterial effect of A. visnaga seeds was tested against two bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia. The seeds were extracted using 70% ethyl alcohol and the method of agar diffusion was used to test the antibacterial effect. Several concentrations of the extract were prepared (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/mL) and 3 plates were used for each concentration, each plate containing three pores. The results showed weak efficacy of seeds extract against the bacteria that was used in the study, as the zone of inhibition did not appear in concentrations below 600 mg/mL. The zones of inhibition formed at 800 and 400 mg/mL concentrations of extract were (1.8 +/- 0.4) mm and (1.83 +/- 0.11) mm, respectively, against S. aureus and (2.13 +/- 0.15) mm and (1.83 +/- 0.05) mm, respectively, against K. pneumonia. These results showed poor activity of plant seeds against the 2 types of bacteria used in this study.