Antibacterial effect of nettle (Urtica dioica)

Abstract

The antibacterial activity of aqueous and 95% ethanol extracts of nettle leaf were tested against some Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria isolated from hospitalized patients by the agar well diffusion method. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Bacillus Subtillus, Proteus spp. Salmonella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. were used. The results indicate that both extracts showed different antibacterial activities which was in favor of ethanolic extract because of more solubility of active ingredient in ethanol than in water. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus Subtillus and Salmonella spp. showed the highest susceptibility to nettle extracts antibacterial effect, while E coli, Pseudomonas and Proteus were less susceptible. The only clear resistant bacteria isolate was Klebsiella spp.