Determination of antimicrobial and anti-MRSA activities of Cladonia foliacea extracts

This study aims to determine the antimicrobial activity of methanol and ethanol extracts of Cladonia foliacea (Huds.) Willd. against pathogenic standard microorganisms and the anti-MRSA activity against clinical MRSA strains. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) were determined by the broth microdilution method. All strains were exposed to concentrations of extracts between 12.5-0.006 mg/ml. Methanol and ethanol extracts were found to have antibacterial activity against standard bacterial strains at doses of 0.01-6.25 mg/ml. The most effective strain for both extracts was the Bacillus cereus strain with an MIC value of 0.01 mg/ml. It was observed that the extracts had a higher effect on gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative bacteria. The MIC values of ethanol and methanol extract against Candida albicans yeast strain were calculated as 0.39 mg/ml and 0.78 mg/ml, respectively. In addition, it was found in the study that both extracts showed very high anti-MRSA activity against all clinical MRSA strains at doses of 0.01-6.25 mg/ml. It can be said that this species can be a natural source of antimicrobial agents and can be used as an alternative in the treatment of MRSA strains.