Selective antimicrobial activities of Mitracarpus scaber Zucc. against Candida and Staphylococcus sp.

Different extracts of Mitracarpus scaber aerial parts were investigated for in vitro antibacterical and antimycotic activities against strains of laboratory microorganisms and clinical isolates responsible for skin infections. The diethyl ether extract possesses a rather good activity: the minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 15.6–31.25 μg/ml against standard strains of Candida sp. and from 7.8–125 μg/ml against clinical isolates strains. Staphylococci were inhibited at 3.9–62.5 μg/ml (standard strains) and at 1.9–15.6 μg/ml (clinical isolates). The results confirm the rationale of the folkloric use of Mitracarpus in treating fungal and bacterial infections.