Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of several extracts and fractions of Salvia verbenaca L. (Lamiaceae) was investigated by disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods against Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P, Klebsiella pneumoniae UC57, Micrococcus luteus La 2971, Micrococcus flavus ATCC 14452, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 8427, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19115, Mycobacterium smegmatis CCM 2067, Bacillus cereus ATCC 7064, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC 90112, Kluyveromyces fragilis NRRL 2415 and Rhodotorula rubra DSM 70403. The methanol extract, butanol and chloroform fractions have shown potential antimicrobial effects against some bacteria and the yeast cultures tested, with grown inhibition area diameters in the range 10.8 – 22.4 mm, and MIC values between 0.03 and 0.34 μL/mL. The results of the study support the use of the plant in traditional medicine.