Comparison of in vivo antiseptic and in vitro antimicrobial effects of Peganum harmala L. seeds ethanolic extract with Betadine

Objective: To compare the antibacterial activity and antiseptic effect of ethanol extract of Peganum harmala L. (P. harmala) seeds and Betadine on eight reference strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus which are known to cause different types of skin infections, and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolated from an abscess on horse's neck. Methods: The antibacterial activity was assessed using a disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration was tested by serial dilution method and the percentage of bacterial growth inhibition by absorbance microplate reader device. The minimum bactericidal concentration was then recorded. Clinical outcomes were obtained through washed up healing time of longitudinal and surface skin on the back of 16 rats with concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 150 and 500 mg/mL of P. harmala extract. Results: The results of in vitro experiments showed that the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (0.68-1.3 mg/mL) and minimum bactericidal concentration (1.3-5 mg/mL) values were observed in the ethanol extract of P. harmala seeds. Also the results of in vivo experiment showed that wound healing in the concentration of 50 mg/mL of this plant extract was better and quicker than Betadine. Conclusions: This study confirmed that ethanol extract of P. harmala has appropriate effect on the microorganisms and the healing of skin wounds in comparison with Betadine.