Extracts and essential oil of two medicinal plants as a candidate against urinary tract infection caused by multi-drug resistance E. coli

Background: The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the two plants, including Eryngium caucasicum Trautv (EtEc, AqEc) and Froriepia subpinnata (EtFs, AqFs), as well as the essential oil of Eryngium caucasicum (EoFs) on MDR E. coli spp. isolated from the urine samples were examined. Methods: Microdilution and agar well diffusion methods were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and inhibition zone diameter of the extracts and essential oil. Reverse-phase High- performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-mass) were applied for phytochemical analyses of extracts and essential oil ingredients. Results: The inhibitory rate based on MIC of AqEc, EtEc, AqEc, EtEc and EoEs on total isolates were 37.6%, 43%, 31.2%, 40.9% and 53.8%, respectively. The killing rate based on MBC of AqEc, EtEc, AqEc, EtEc and EoFs on total isolates were 15.1%, 20.4%, 12.9%, 24.7% and 34.4%, respectively. EoFs, with the exception of cephalothin, chloramphenicol, pipiracillin and carbapenems, can be used as an alternative to 12 of the 18 antibiotics used (P<0.01). Compounds with antimicrobial activity including quercetin, catechin, terpenes, alcohols and aromatic molecules in extracts and essential oils have been identified and measured, but chlorogenic acid polyphenol could not be identified in any of the plant products. Conclusion: It seems that the extracts and essential oil studied have the potential to be used as native materials to treat urinary tract infections as well as food preservatives or other products.