antibacterial activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of portulaca oleracea leaves and seeds in sistan region, southeastern iran

Background: many efforts have been made by researchers to find new antibiotics which are clinically useful against bacteria and drug resistant microorganisms. objectives: we aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of leaves and seeds of the portulaca oleracea plant in traditional medicine of sistan region, southeast of iran. materials and methods: in this cross-sectional and descriptive study, from january 2010 to january 2012, we studied the antibacterial activity of p. oleracea extract using nine bacteria (gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains) which were resistant to standard antibiotics such as erythromycin, cefixime, ceftazidime, tetracycline, ampicillin and amikacin. bacterial strains were obtained from a standard laboratory. broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (mic) and minimum bactericidal concentration (mbc). results: the hydroalcoholic extract of p. oleracea l. leave and seed had antibacterial effects on selected drug resistant bacterial strains. conclusions: the leaves and seeds extract of p. oleracea has a remarkable antibacterial effect and it can be a good alternative when we are faced with drug resistance bacteria. however, more studies are required.