The Synergistic Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Origanum Vulgare, Hypericum Perforatum and Their Active Components Carvacrol and Hypericin Against Staphylococcus Aureus

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the synergistic activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of medicinal plants Origanum vulgare and Hypericum perforatum and their active components, carvacrol and hypericin against Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: The synergistic effects of the plants, as well as carvacrol and hypericin, were examined using a checkered method against S. aureus (ATCC 12600). Results: A fractional inhibitory concentration of 0.5 was obtained for combination of O. vulgare and H. perforatum and 0.49 for combination of the active ingredients carvacrol and hypericin, both of which indicated a synergistic effect. Conclusion: This preliminary evaluation demonstrated a synergistic property of O. vulgare and H. perforatum extracts in treating S. aureus infection. This study indicates that combination of the plants, as well as combination of carvacrol and hypericin, might be used as a new antibacterial strategy against S. aureus.

Lay abstract We studied and evaluated the synergistic activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of oregano and St John’s wort and their active components, carvacrol and hypericin, against Staphylococcus aureus. The results suggest that a combination of oregano and St John’s wort extracts, as well as a combination of hypericin and carvacrol, have potential for use as natural and effective combinations against S. aureus infections.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords::

• antibacterial
• antibiotic
• checkered carried out to Fratini method
• combination
• fractional inhibitory concentration
• Gram positive
• herbal medicine
• medicinal plant
• Staphylococcus aureus
• synergist

Author contributions

M Bahmani drafted the manuscript. B Ashrafi performed the statistical analysis. M Bahmani and B Ashrafi carried out the study. S Soroush, M Rafieian-Kopaei, M Khaksarian and M Rashidipour, M Nazer collected the data and revised the manuscript critically for important text and content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments

This article was extracted from PhD thesis of M Bahmani. Also, we thank all the members of Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center such as S Abbaszadeh, R Mohammadrezaei-Khorramabadi.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was funded by the Research and Technology Deputy of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. No. A-10-1379-1. The authors would like to express their gratitude for financial support of the Research and Technology Deputy of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Research and Technology Deputy of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. No. A-10-1379-1. The authors would like to express their gratitude for financial support of the Research and Technology Deputy of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.