SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF HERBAL TEA SAMPLES WITH CIPROFLOXACIN AGAINST MRSA AND THEIR ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Sambucus nigra L. (elderberry), Salvia sclarea L. (clary sage), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary), and Coriandrum sativum L. (coriander) are all consumed as flavoring agents for food and are well-known in traditional medicine for the treating various diseases worldwide. These herbs are also commonly used for microbial infections, especially to relieve cough, fever, and cold symptoms. This study aims to screen and compare the content of total phenols and antioxidant activity potential of three different extracts from each commercial sample of S. nigra, S. sclarea, R. officinalis and C. sativum from Türkiye. We also investigated the (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 (methicillin-susceptible, MSSA) and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 (methicillin-resistant, MRSA) and the synergistic activity with an antibiotic, ciprofloxacin, by checkerboard assay. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The fruits of S. nigra and C. sativum, the aerial parts of S. sclarea, and the leaves of R. officinalis were purchased from a trading company that marketed them as herbal tea in Türkiye. This study investigated the total phenolic content and antioxidant potential of extracts from commercial samples. We also determined the synergistic effect of herbal tea samples with ciprofloxacin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). RESULTS: R. officinalis (rosemary) and Salvia sclarea (clary sage) extracts showed high phenolic content and antioxidant activity, whereas it was determined that C.sativum (coriander) and S. nigra (elderberry) extracts exhibited lower antioxidant activity and low phenolic compounds. Moreover, ciprofloxacin in combination with the ethanolic extract of S. sclarea showed additive antibacterial activity against S. aureus ATCC 43300. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that herbal tea prepared from commercial R. officinalis (rosemary) and S.sclarea (clary sage) samples can support the antioxidant activity with high phenolic content and that ciprofloxacin combined with the ethanolic extract of clary sage showed additive antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus ATCC 43300. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of additive action in detail.