Inhibitory activity of Iranian endemic medicinal plants against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio harveyi

Antibacterial activity of six medicinal herbs and aromatic plants used in cooking was investigated with two Vibrio species. Essential oils‎ of Thymus daenensis Celak., Satureja‎bachtiarica Bunge., Satureja khuzestanica ‎Jamzad., ‎Zataria multiflora Boiss., ‎Achilleakellalensis Boiss.‎ and Cuminun cyminum L. were screened against Vibrio parahaemolyticusand Vibrio harveyi local isolated from ‎infected fishes and shrimps by serial dilution assay. The essential oils of S. bachtiarica, S. khuzestanica‎, T. ‎daenensis and Z. multiflora showed antibacterial activities against V. ‎‎parahaemolyticus and V. harveyi. The highest level of antibacterial activity against V. ‎parahaemolyticus was demonstrated by the essential oil of T. daenensis (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 7 μg/ml), and the highest level of antibacterial activity against V. harveyi ‎was ‎demonstrated by the essential oil of S. bachtiarica (MIC = 15 μg/ml). The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) for V. parahaemolyticus and V. harveyi was demonstrated by the essential oil of S. bachtiarica(MBC = 31 μg/ml). This is the first report of an inhibitory activity of Iranian medicinal plants, on strains of V. parahaemolyticus and V. harveyi.   Key words: Iranian medicinal plants, antibacterial activity, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi.