Investigating the Antibacterial Effects of Zataria multiflora Methanolic Extract on Standard Pathogenic Bacteria in Laboratory Conditions

Alternative treatments are becoming more and more necessary due to the increasing growth in medication resistance to synthetic antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to examine the antibacterial capabilities of an extract from Zataria multiflora (Z. multiflora) against a variety of pathogenic bacteria. Z. multiflora plants were collected from the natural resources of Isfahan province and verified as Z. multiflora by botanists from the Agricultural Jihad Organization. Methanolic extract of Z. multiflora was prepared, and its effects were tested at concentrations of 50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml, 200 mg/ml, and 400 mg/ml using the well diffusion and disk diffusion methods on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Minimum inhibitory concentration of bacterial growth and minimum bacterial pathogen concentration (MIC/MBC) were determined through dilution in tubes. The outcomes showed that both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were significantly inhibited by the methanolic extract of Z. multiflora. The MBC/MIC analysis revealed that S. aureus was the most sensitive, while E. coli was the least sensitive to the Z. multiflora extract. The study shows the potential of the methanolic extract from Z. multiflora against various pathogenic bacteria, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative ones. It suggests it could be a viable alternative to synthetic antibiotics, especially in the face of antibiotic resistance. Further research is needed to understand its mechanisms, optimize extract preparation, and explore its clinical applications..