Research Article - (2020) Volume 11, Issue 3
Biology Department, Science College, Basrah University, Iraq
Received Date: October 21, 2019; Accepted Date: June 05, 2020; Published Date: June 12, 2020
Citation: Jafer FN, Naser LA (2020) The Biological Activity of Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Juglans regia on Yeasts and Pathologic Bacteria. Arch Clin Microbiol Vol. 11 No. 3:113
Copyright: © 2020 Jafer FN, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Background: The plant extract can be used as a natural alternative to control of pathogenic yeasts and bacteria in general and to reduce the risk of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Methods: Diffusion agar method was used to examine the antifungal and antibacterial activity of both aqueous and methanolic Juglans regia extracts. For yeasts, The MIC values were determined by the standard serial dilution assay using serial dilutions of the aqueous and methanolic extracts (300,200,100, 50, 25) µg/L). The MIC for bacteria was done using Muller-Hinton agar. The concentrations of the extracts tested were (500, 250, 100, 50) µg/ml. Results: Juglans regia extracts showed activities against Malassezia furfur yeast, Methanolic extract exhibits more activity than aqueous extract. The Minimum Inhibition Concentrated rate (MIC) for Malassezia furfur methanolic extract was 75 µg/ml. The extracts also examined on Candida albicans opportunistic yeast in the mouth and found to be more active than M. furfur were MIC 50 µg/ml. The biological activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts were also examined against six pathogenic bacteria isolated from patients suffering from different diseases from several hospitals in Basrah, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis, pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The Methanolic extract showed an effective effect in inhibiting all bacterial species compared with the aqueous extract. Conclusion: This study provides the possibility of using a natural plant such as Juglans regia as antimicrobial agent for many pathogenic yeasts and bacteria.
Keywords
Juglans regia; Activity; Antifungal; Antibacterial
Introduction
Some fungi found on human skin and scalp, such as Malassezia, and are found in some human cavities such in the mouth and vagina such as Candida. Malassezia is yeast that is naturally found on the skin of healthy human and warmblooded animals and can become a pathogen and cause skin diseases such as Pityriasis versicolor [1-4].
This yeast tends to fat, therefore called lipophilic and all sexrelated species of the seven species considered to be lipophilic, except M. Pachyderms. Therefore, the medium used to isolate should contain fatty acids [5-7]. Olive oil is one of the most common fats used to isolate this yeast. The most important characteristic of this yeast is the possession of the enzyme Lipase [8]. Candida is bivalent yeast that is co-existent in warm-blooded animals, including humans. It colonizes the mucous surfaces of the mouth, vagina, and digestive tract. It can cause various infections, according to the host. The infection caused by Candida is called Candidiasis and was two types oral (Thrash) and vaginal candidiasis. Candida is dimorphic yeast it has two phases, yeast phase, and the filament phase and is transformed from one phase to another depending on PH and temperature and the presence of other compounds such as Acetylglucosamine [9-12].
Some primitive methods of decoration are used, such as the use of Juglans regia to whiten the teeth and apply dye to the lips [13].
The walnut trees live in northern Iran, the Caucasus, Baluchistan, and Armenia, and these perennial trees date back to 500 years [14]. It was used as an antifungal agent especially in the treatment of ringworm infections for the first time in 1950 by the world Dorlan. The extract successfully used in inhibiting yeast growth Candida albicans [15].
The plant extract can be used as a natural alternative to control of pathogenic bacteria in general and to reduce the risk of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in particular [16].
In a study carried out by Sharafati [17], the Juglans regia extract showed a wide spectrum effect against bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The discovery of antibiotics in the last century led to a decrease in disease rates and deaths due to infectious diseases, but the inappropriate use of these antibiotics resulted from the emergence of groups of resistant bacteria that threaten human health, especially with immunocompromised patients, creating the need to research new types of natural anti-microbial substances to control on different diseases and has led to an increase in interest in medicinal plants where 25-50% of the current pharmaceuticals derived from plants because chemically manufactured drugs have side effects, while there is no such effects in medical alternatives such as plant extracts [18].
Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the antimicrobial effect of Juglans regia extract (aqueous and Methanolic) on yeasts and pathogenic bacteria isolated from patients suffering from different diseases in Basrah hospitals.
Materials and Methods
Preparation of aqueous and methanolic Juglans regia extracts: 20 gm of the powdered dry bark of Juglans regia were weight separately in different flasks, one of them percolated with 200 ml of methanol this flask was proper sealed with aluminum foil and left with stirring magnetic stirrer for 24 hours at room temperature. The solution was then filtered using a funnel filled in a filter paper and the methanol extracts collected in Petri dishes and dried at room temperature. The above procedure was repeated with the use of 200 ml of distilled water to prepare the aqueous extract [19].
Isolation of yeasts
Malassezia yeast isolated from person with pityriasis versicolor by used of skin scraping that cultured in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) medium supplemented with 20 ml of olive oil per liter, 0.01 cyclohexamide and 10 drops of tween 20. The isolated Malassezia classified as Malassezia furfur While Candida yeast isolated from person with mouth candidiasis infection.
Oral swab used and cultured in (SDA) both yeasts incubated in 32?C the isolated Candida classified as Candida albicans by using of germ tube test.
Study the effect of alternative oils on the Malassezia yeast growth
Appropriate medium for the growth of Malassezia is the added to some oils communally olive oil and Tween 80 as mentioned in the introduction, but in this experiment has been replaced olive oil with some oils such as sunflower oil and castor oil and olive oil treatment compared to add to use a combination of the three types as an independent treatment, the previous oils were added by 20 ml per liter of SDA media. Each of the cultivars was poured into the dishes. The yeast was then planted on the medium in a streaking manner, taking into consideration three replicates per treatment and incubated at 32?C.
Antifungal activity test
Diffusion agar method was used to examine the antifungal activity of both aqueous and methanolic extracts toward Malassezia furfur and Candida albicans using (SDA) medium , 10 μl of each yeast suspension add on the surface of the medium then spread with sterile L-shape glass rod, after drying, two 5 mm diameter pores was made in the center of plates ,100 μl of both crud extracts was add separately in the pores of plates with used of control treatment for each yeast , cultures were incubated at 32?C for 2 days after incubation period the diameter of the inhibition zones were evaluated in millimeters [20].
The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test for yeast
The MIC values were determined by the standard serial dilution assay using serial dilutions of the aqueous and methanolic extracts (300,200,100, 50, 25), μg/L). The suspensions of yeasts were prepared and standardized to a turbidity equivalent to that of 0.5 MacFerland scale (1×106 cfu/ml). 100 μl of yeast suspension add on the surface of the media then media incubated in 32?C, The MIC values in this assay were indicated by the absence of yeast growth at the minimal concentration of the extract.
Antibacterial activity test
The Muller Hinton agar was used for the purpose of measuring the biological efficacy of six types of pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were isolated from patients suffering from different diseases admitted to Al Fayhaa General Hospital and Al Shifa General Hospital in Basrah. The well-diffusion methods were used by Bansode and Chavan [21] 0.1 ml of the bacteria was distributed in the Muller Hinton agar dish using a sterile swab and then holes were made in the center of the plates using a cork borer. 100 μl of both aqueous and methanolic crude extracts were placed separately in each hole. One distilled water was placed in a single hole as a control. The dishes were then left for half an hour after being placed in the incubator for 24 hours at 37?C. The effectiveness of the two extracts was determined by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone formed around the hole mm.
The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test for bacteria
The MIC of different concentrations of Methanolic and aqueous Juglans regia extracts against tested bacterial isolates were done using Muller-Hinton agar. The concentrations of the extracts tested were (500, 250, 100, 50) μg/ml, the assays were performed three times for each bacterium. Plates were inoculated with 0.1 ml of the bacterial suspension was distributed in the Muller Hinton agar dish using a sterile swab and then holes were made using a cork borer. Different extract was placed in each hole. The plates then left for half an hour after being placed in the incubator for 24 hours at 37°C. The highest dilution of extract that showed no visible bacterial growth per hole was considered as MIC Standards.
Results
Preparation of aqueous and methanolic Juglans regia extracts
After the preparation of the extract it was observed that the aqueous extract is characterized by viscous nature while the methanolic extract appeared in the crystalline nature due to the difference in the type of chemical compounds extracted from each one.
Isolation and Diagnosis of Yeast
After the Malassezia Yeast isolate from the Skin infection pityriasis versicolor the colony was raised and smooth initially and get dry and wrinkle in time the color of colony was creamy to a slightly yellowish-colored. The microscopic examination indicated that it represented the M. furfur.
Species M. furfur is an ellipsoids yeast with small collarets and contains a bud or scar from one side as a characteristic feature.
The other yeast isolate was Candida albicans, which had a cream glistening and sometime waxy surface is smooth. The microscopic examination of Candida albicans was small oval with single budding sometime this yeast was give positive germ tube test.
Study the effect of alternative oils on the Malassezia yeast growth
Experiment showed that the best growth of Malassezia furfur was in the medium containing olive oil and sunflower oil. Either the medium with other treatment of castor oil appeared weak growing of Malassezia furfur, mixing oils as results of castor oil (Figure 1).
Figure 1: The growth of Malassezia furfur, on the medium containing different oils A-Olive oil B-Sunflower oil C-Castor oil D-Oil mixture
Antifungal activity test
Both aqueous and methanolic extracts showed effectiveness in inhibiting the growth of both yeasts. However, the effect of the extracts was higher with respect to the yeast C. albicans compared with the yeast M. furfur. The diameters of the inhibitory zone were 20 mm and 25 mm respectively for the aqueous and methanolic extracts. C. albicans (45) mm for aqueous extract and (3) mm for methanolic extracts (Table 1 and Figure 2).
Table 1 The diameter of the inhibition zones of extracts toward yeasts
| Inhibition zone diameter(mm) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Yeast | Aqueous extract | Methanolic extract |
| M. furfur | 20 | 25 |
| C. albicans | 45 | 30 |
Figure 2: Indicate the diameters of the inhibition zone of C. albicans in the effect of the extracts A-Control B-Aqueous extract C-Methanolic extract
The MIC test for yeast
The concentrations of 200 and 300 μg/ml showed a lack of growth for both extracts, MIC for C. albicans yeast 50 μg/ml in the aqueous extract and 75 μg/ml in the Methanolic extract. MIC for M. furfur yeast in the treatment of the aqueous extract was 100 μg/ml and 75 μg/ml in methanolic extract obtained (Table 2).
Table 2 MIC of extracts toward yeasts.
| MIC value (µg/ml) | ||
|---|---|---|
| yeast | Aqueous extracts | Methanolic extracts |
| M. furfur | 100 | 75 |
| C. albicans | 50 | 75 |
Antibacterial activity test
Two positive and negative Gram bacteria were selected to determine the effect of Juglans regia extracts on them. Methanolic extract showed a clear and almost fatal effect on most bacterial species (Table 3). Staphylococcus aureus showed the most sensitive germs, followed by Salmonella typhi.
Table 3 Results of the inhibitory effect and diameters of the inhibition zones in (mm) for the aqueous and Methanolic extract against 6 bacterial isolates.
| Pathogenic Bacteria | Diameters of mm inhibition zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic extract Mm/mg | Water extract Mm/mg | |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 22.5 | 15.5 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 7 | 8 |
| Vibrio parahaemolyticus | 12.5 | R |
| Salmonella typhi | 20 | 10 |
| Proteus mirabilis | 11 | 10 |
| Escherichia coli | 17.5 | 15.5 |
Where R means resistance
The MIC for pathogenic bacteria
Concentrations showed 50 micrograms/ml growth loss for all bacterial pathogens in both extracts. MIC for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 500 μg/ml in the water extract were 250 μg/ml in the alcohol extract. MIC for Staphylococcus aureus showed a concentration of 50 μg/ml growth in the treatment of aqueous and methanolic extract and Table 4 shows this.
Table 4 The MIC of the pathogenic bacteria under study towards aqueous and alcohol extract.
| Bacteria | 500 | 250 | 100 | 50 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | W | C | W | C | W | C | W | |
| Staphylococcus aureus | + | + | + | + | + | + | - | - |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | + | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Escherichia coli | + | + | + | + | + | - | - | - |
| Vibrio parahaemolyticus | + | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Salmonella typhi | + | + | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Proteus mirabilis | + | + | + | - | - | - | - | - |
Discussion
The experiment demonstrated that olive oil and sunflower oil were comparable in their effectiveness to support the growth of M. furfur compared to castor oil [8] because it is high in density and complex structure which is difficult to digest into simple fatty acids by Lipase enzyme and contains a protein called Resin inhibits protein building in the cell.
The extract of Juglans regia was tested against M. furfur as tested for yeast C. albicans, and extract is used as a cosmetic to beautify the lips and whiten teeth in the mouth [13].
The use of plant extracts is still common due to the resistance of many types of yeast to antifungal agents. The extract of Artemisia abrotanum has been successfully used to inhibit the growth of yeast M. furfur and C. albicans [22].
Essential oils derived from orange and lemon has been found to be effective against the fungus M. furfur, which causes varicose veins [23].
Juglans regia is used as an extract in the inhibition of the growth of many skin fungi and with high efficiency such as Epidermophyton flocosum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and C. albicans. Al-Khawaja [13] noted that the use of Juglans regia plant in the mouth to clean the teeth and adornment increases the acidic function of the PH saliva, which leads to an antimicrobial action. The experiment proved superior to the aqueous than methanolic extract in the antimicrobial activity experiment on C. albicans and has a higher MIC, this is due to the ability of water to pull many compounds and active ingredients (alkaloids, tannins and amino acids) from their plant source [24]. While the result was reflected in the yeast of M. furfur in the effectiveness of antifungal activity and MIC, the methanolic extract was more effective in inhibition of the growth this is because to the fact that mehanol is able to extract flavonoids that may affect this yeast [25]. This is agreement with Qadan [26] found that phenolic compounds such as flavonoids have anti-fungal effects. Buttery noted that Juglans regia is containing terpenes and hydrocarbons Esters that have antifungal and antioxidants action such as phenolic compounds.
It is recognized that antibacterial resistance to antibiotics has been rising to dangerous levels around the world. Antibiotic resistance leads to prolonged hospital stay, high medical costs and increased mortality. New resistance mechanisms are emerging and spreading globally and threaten our ability to treat common infectious diseases [27-33].
Conclusion
Antibiotic resistance increases and spreads in cases where the over-the-counter purchase of antibiotics is considered for human or animal use. All these things called for rethinking the return to natural resources.
The results of the test of the efficacy of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Juglans regia as an anti-bacterial agent showed that gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria were affected by the both extracts used. Juglans regia methanolic extract showed zone of inhibition against all tested bacterial strains, while the aqueous extract was active with relatively smaller inhibition zones, which is consistent. S. aureus and Salmonella typhi showed that they were the most sensitive species for the effect of methanolic extracts for the extract of water of the Juglans regia, bacteria S. aureus showed high sensitivity while Salmonella appeared less sensitive.
The results showed that bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus were sensitive to the alcohol extract, while the aqueous dermis showed no efficacy against them.
Financial Support and Sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of Interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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