Elsevier

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Volume 23, Issues 2–3, July–August 1988, Pages 127-149
Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Review paper
Screening methods for natural products with antimicrobial activity: A review of the literature

https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(88)90001-3Get rights and content

Abstract

Diffusion and dilution methods have been employed to study the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants. A number of modifications have been made in the technique in order to obtain better results. Since some factors (culture medium composition, microorganisms tested, extractive method, pH, solubility of the sample in the culture medium, etc.) can change results, it is difficult using these methods to standardize a procedure for the study of antimicrobial plants. Bioautography is another method for studying antimicrobial activity. With it, previously chromatographed principles are diffused to the agar. The results can also change according to the method employed. All the various techniques are reviewed here and, in order to unify the different criteria and parameters, standard methods to study the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants are proposed.

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