Inhibitory Effect of Mediterranean Sage and Rosemary on Clinical and Community Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Plant extracts are traditionally used for treating many infectious and non- infectious diseases. This study aimed at assessing the inhibitory effect of the ethanol extracts of two medicinal plants; Mediterranean Sage (Salvia libanotica) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) on clinical and community strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Ethanol extracts of the two plants were tested for their antibacterial effect against 25 clinical (n=15, 60%) and community (n=10, 40%) strains of MRSA. Rosemary and Mediterranean Sage extracts demonstrated activity against all isolates, 50μl of 100 mg/ml of each plant extract yielded inhibition zone reaching as high as 27 and 30 mm by agar well diffusion method. Effective MICs and MBCs of ethanol extracts of Rosemary and Mediterranean Sage against MRSA were 0.125 to 0.5mg/ml and0.25 to 1 mg/ml respectively. Mixed ethanol extract of Rosemary and Mediterranean Sage showed antagonistic effect on MRSA strains. These results suggest the potential therapeutic implications of the ethanol extract from Rosemary and Mediterranean sage in the treatment of MRSA infections.