identification and measurement of active ingredients aerial parts 'artemisia annua' and antibacterial effects by mic, mbc and disk diffusion methods

More than 80% of the world's population relies on traditional medicine (herbal extracts or their active ingredients) for their health needs. in addition, more than 50% of all modern clinical drugs are of natural origin. herbs may have the ability to resist against bacteria and many types of antibiotics. totally, many plants have a high ability to fight bacterial and fungal pathogens [1]. artemisia is a genus of small plants or shrubs found in temperate regions of northern iran. this plant belongs to the important composite family (asteraceae), one of the largest plant groups, which includes about 1000 genera and more than 20,000 species. the compounds in the artemisia annua have antimicrobial properties. the purpose of this research is investigation of the antifungal and antimicrobial effect of alcoholic extracts of plant artemisia annua on the microorganisms in the laboratory conditions [2].in this study, artemisia annua, was dried at room temperature after collecting and confirming its species, and then extracted by soxhlet apparatus with ethanol. identification and study of plant compounds were performed using gc-mass. next, for complete removal of solvent, it was poured on a watch glass for 48 hours and dried [3]. disk diffusion test was carried on the obtained extract by concentrations of 100 mg.ml-1, 50 mg.ml-1, 25 mg.ml-1, 12.5 mg.ml-1, 6.25 mg.ml-1 and 3.125 mg.ml-1 in the culture medium containing bhi agar. also minimum bactericidal concentration (mbc) and minimum inhibitory concentration (mic) tests were carried by concentrations of 400 mg.ml-1, 200 mg.ml-1, 100 mg.ml-1, 50 mg.ml-1, 25 mg.ml-1, 12.5 mg.ml-1, 6.25 mg.ml-1, 3.125 mg.ml-1, 1.56 mg.ml-1 and 0.78 mg.ml-1 broth in culture medium containing bhi and the results were evaluated after 24 hours of incubation. mic effect of ethanolic extract of artemisia annua on staphylococcus epidermis was 0.81 mg.ml-1 and for escherichia coli it was obtained as 6.01 mg.ml-1. also in mbc method in 3 higher concentrations had lethal properties. the mechanism of action of the active ingredients of this plant is the destruction of the bacterial cell wall. according to the results of ethanolic extract of artemisia annua showed a better inhibitory effect on gram-positive bacteria staphylococcus epidermis in comparison with gram-negative bacteria escherichia coli and also has a lethal effect. finally, the ethanolic extract of artemisia annua, can be used as raw material in the manufacture of cosmetic products due to its inhibitory and lethal properties of skin microorganisms.