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. 2019 May 15;10:911. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00911

Table 2.

A summary of some of the main alkaloids found in Middle Eastern plants with antibacterial activity.

Plant name Common name Extract Species MIC (mg/ml) Disk difffusion (mm) Compound Country Citation
Datura stramonium Jimson weed or Devil's Snare Ethanolic E. col 1.8 Daturine alkaloid, scopolamine alkaloid acids, tannins and fatty oil Iraq Altameme et al., 2015
P. aeruginosa 1.4
S. aureus 1.3
P. mirabilis 2.01
K. pneumonia 1.7
Makhlaseh Aqueous and ethanolic Aqueous fraction/Ethanolic fraction Aqueous fraction/Ethanolic fra Alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and phenolics Iran Behbahani and Fooladi, 2018
S. pyogenes 8/4 13.60/14.30
S. epidermidis 8/4 13.40/14.30
S. aureus 16/8 13.20/13.70
E. aerogenes 32/16 9.20/11.90
E. coli 32/16 10.00/11.60
S. flexneri 16/16 11.30/12.70
Peganum harmala Wild rue, Syrian rue, African rue, Esfand or Harmel Methanolic MRSAB. anthracisE. coli S. typhi 0.625/0.625 2.5/1.25 0.625/0.625 0.625/0.625 Several alkaloids Middle East, Mediterranean, Pakistan, India, Iran, North Africa, introduced to Australia and America Darabpour et al., 2011
Peganum harmala Wild rue, Syrian rue, African rue, Esfand or Harmel Mixtures of harmala alkaloids fractionated from the methanolic extract Individual and binary mixtures of harmala alkaloids Mixtures of harmala alkaloids Around 2 to 6% of alkaloids are found in the seed of P. harmala, they are mostly β-carbolines such as harmaline, harman, harmalol, and harmine Middle East, Mediterranean, Pakistan, India, Iran, North Africa, introduced to Australia and America Nenaah, 2010
E. coli 0.333–1.5 Ranging from 10.5 to 31.5
P. vulgaris
S. aureus
B. subitilis
A. niger
C. albicans
Phoenix dactylifera L. Date Palm Water, methanolic, acetone Leaves (water, methanolic, acetone)/Pits (water, methanolic, acetone) Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, carbohydrates, and vitamins Majority of Arabian Peninsula Perveen et al., 2012
E. coli (5.7, 17, 16.3)/(7, 20.7, 18.3)
S. aureus (5.7, 15.7, 17.7)/(6, 21, 20)
B. subtilis (8.7, 20.7, 19.7)/(6.7, 23.7, 23.3)
S. pyogenes (7, 20.3, 20)/(7, 29.3, 29.3)
P. aeruginosa (nd, 19.7, 18.7)/(nd, 19.7, 14.3)
E. faecalis (nd,nd,nd)/(nd,nd,nd)
S. flexeneri (9.3, 17.7, 21)/(6, 19.3, 17)
Achillea Millefolium L. Yarrow Alcoholic and aqueous S. enterica enterica (typhimurium) Alcoholic/Aqueous Aerial parts are known to have volatile oil rich in alkaloids and sesquiterpene lactones Asia, North America, and Europe Hasson, 2011
9/12
S. flexneri 8/10
P. aeruginosa 30/12
S. aureus 24/nd
E. faecalis 8/nd
M. luteus 23/10
Tribulus terrestris L. Puncture Vine, Caltrop, Yellow Vine, Goathead Aqueous, ethanolic, and chloroform Fruits (aqueous, ethanolic, chloroform)/leaves (aqueous, ethanolic, chloroform)/roots (aqueous, ethanolic, chloroform) Mixture of beta-carboline alkaloids, flavonoid glycosides, furostanol, phytosterols, spirostanol saponins, and some amides Warm regions of Asia, Australia, Africa, America, and Europe Al-Bayati and Al-Mola, 2008
S. aureus (2.5, 0.62, 0.62)/(2.5, 1.25, 2.5)/(>5, 0.62, 0.31)
B. subtilis (1.25, 0.15, 0.31)/(1.25, 0.31, 0.31)/(2.5, 0.62, 0.31)
B. cereus (1.25, 0.15, 0.31)/(2.5, 0.62, 0.62)/(5, 1.25, 0.62)
C. diphtheriae (0.62, 0.15, 0.31)/(1.25, 0.62, 1.25)/(2.5, 1.25, 0.62)
P. vulgaris (>5, 0.15, 1.25)/(2.5, 0.31, 1.25)/(>5, 2.5, 1.25)
E. coli (1.25, 0.62, 0.62)/(2.5, 0.62, 1.25)/(>5, 2.5, 1.25)
S. marcescens (>5, 2.5, 2.5)/(>5, 5, >5)/(>5, >5, >5)
S. typhimurium (5, 1.25, 2.5)/(>5, 1.25, 5)/(>5, >5, 2.5)
K. pneumoniae (2.5, 1.25, 1.25)/(2.5, 0.31, 2.5)/(>5, 2.5, 1.25)
P. aeruginosa (>5, 1.25, 2.5)/(>5, 1.25, 2.5)/(5, 2.5, 1.25)
C. albicans (>5, 0.62, 2.5)/(>5, 1.25, 2.5)/(>5, 5, 2.5)
Tribulus terrestris L. Puncture Vine, Caltrop, Yellow Vine and Goathead Methanolic Methanolic (fruits/stems plus leaves/roots) Methanolic (fruits/stems plus leaves/roots) Alkaloids, saponins, amides, and diosgenins Warm regions of Asia, Australia, Africa, America, and Europe Kianbakht and Jahaniani, 2003
S. aureus 2/2/4 27.8/28.2/26.8
E. faecalis 2/2/4 14.6/15.7/14.3
E. coli 2/2/4 25.7/22.3/20.9
P. aeruginosa 2/2/2 26.2/23.8/21.3
Datura innoxia Thorn apple Methanolic Methanolic (2.5, 1.25, 0.75 mg/ml) Alkaloids and steroids Iran Eftekhar et al., 2005
B. subti 18, 14, 10
S. aureus 12, 8, 0
E. coli 9, 0, 0
E. faecalis 13, 10, 7
P. aeruginosa 0, 0, 0
Datura stramonium Jimson weed Methanolic Methanolic (2.5, 1.25, 0.75 mg/ml) Alkaloids and steroids Iran
B. subti 11, 8, 7
S. aureus 10, 7, 0
E. coli 0, 0, 0
E. faecalis 9, 0, 0
P. aeruginosa 0, 0, 0
Catharanthus roseus Rose periwinkle Ethanolic E. coli 11 Contains more than 130 different alkaloids Saudi Arabia Khalil, 2012
S. aureus 15
C. albicans 12
Bunium persicum Black zira Black Zira essential oil E. aerogenes 8 7.1 Its essential oils contain alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, tannins, and flavonoids Iran Noshad et al., 2018
P. aeruginosa 4 7.2
S. flexneri 2 7.9
E. coli 2 8.8
S. epidermidis 1 10
S. pyogenes 1 9.3
C. albicans 1 10.1
Solanum nigrum Black nightshade Alkaloid leaf methanolic K. pneumonia 1.8 Twenty three chemical alkaloids Iraq Jasim et al., 2015
P. aeruginosa 1.4
S. aureus 1.9
P. mirabilis 2.01
E. coli 1.7
Nigella sativa L. Black cumin Essential oils S. mitis 4.25 11.5 15 amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, both fixed oils (84% fatty acids, including linolenic and oleic) and volatile oils, alkaloids, saponins, crude fiber, as well as minerals, such as calcium, iron, sodium and potassium Tunisia Harzallah et al., 2011
S. mitis 2.13 15.5
S. mitis 2.13 14.5
S. mitis 4.25 11.5
S. mitis 2.13 14.5
S. mutans 2.13 14.5
S. mutans 2.13 15.5
S. mutans 2.13 15
S. mutans 2.13 14
S. constellatus 2.13 14.5
S. constellatus 4.25 15.5
S. constellatus 4.25 11.5
S. constellatus 4.25 14.5
S. oralis 2.13 13.5
S. oralis 4.25 15.5
S. oralis 4.25 14.5
S. anginosus 4.25 11.5
S. anginosus 8.5 12.5
S. anginosus 4.25 12.5
E. faecalis 8.5 0
E. faecalis >8.5 0
E. faecalis >8.5 0
E. faecalis >8.5 0
S. salivarius 4.25 0
S. salivarius 4.25 0
G. haemolysans 2.13 10.5
G. haemolysans 4.25 15.5
G. morbillorum 2.13 14.5
S. sanguis 8.5 10.5
S. sanguis 8.5 11.5
N. sativa L. Black cumin Alkaloid B. subtilis 0.064 Contains alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, proteins, minerals, and volatile oils in its seeds Middle East, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa Shohayeb and Halawani, 2012
S. aureus 0.064
M. phlei 4
P. aeruginosa 2
E. coli 8
K. pneumoniae 8
S. flexneri 4
S. typhimurium 4
Juniperus excels Greek juniper Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, hydroalcoholic Hexane/Chloroform/Ethyl acetate/Hydroalcoholic Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, triterpenoids, glycosides, and tannins Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and other Balkan countries Weli et al., 2014
E. coli nd/8/7/nd
S. aureus 13/8/11/9
P. aeruginosa 8/10/10/7
Prosopis farcta Syrian mesquite Aqueous E. coli 0.0015 8 Alkaloids, glycosides, and tannins Iraq Al-Ameri, 2006
P. aeruginosa 0.0015 9
S. aureus 0.0015 9.3
S. pyogenes 0.025 6.6
C. albicans 0.0015 11.6
C. cladosporioides 0.0062 7
C. neoformans 0.0007 9
T. mentagrophytes 0.0062 8.3
T. violaceum 0.0007 8.3
Conocarpus lancifolius Engl. Alkaloid B. subtilis 0.02 16 Alkaloid Yemen, Somalia, and Djibouti Ali et al., 2013
B. cereus 0.02 13
S. aureus 0.05 12
P. aeruginosa 0.05 14
S. marcescens 0.05 15
E. coli 0.01 16
A. tumefaciens 0.02 17
E. amylovora > 0.2 nd
Oliveria decumbens Mooshkorok Essential oil P. aeruginosa (clinical strain) 8 7 Its essential oils contain alkaloids, flavones, saponins, and phenolics Grows in the warm area of west and south Iran Behbahani et al., 2018
E. coli (clinical strain) 4 9.2
S. epidermidis (clinical strain) 2 10.8
S. pyogenes (clinical strain) 1 12.1
P. aeruginosa (standard strain) 4 8.6
E. coli (standard strain) 4 9.9
S. epidermidis (standard strain) 1 11.9
S. pyogenes (standard strain) 1 13.2
Ficus sycomorus Fig mulberry Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanolic, methanolic, water Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl acetate, Butanol, Methanolic, W Alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins Oman Al-Matani et al., 2015
E. coli 9/10/7/7/7/7
Proteus spp. 7/7/7/6/7/7
S. aureus 9/6/8/7/8/10
H. influenzae 8/6/nd/nd/nd/5
Papaver rhoeas L. Corn rose Methanolic and alkaloid Methanol (Plant 1 to Plant11)/Alkaloid (Plant 1 to Plant11) Alkaloids Turkey and and Cyprus Çoban et al., 2017
S. aureus (nd to 1.25)/(nd to 0.312)
S. epidermidis (nd to 0.625)/(nd to 0.625)
K. pneumoniae (nd to 0.312)/(nd to 0.039)
P. mirabilis (nd)/(nd)
E. coli (nd)/(nd to 0.312)
P. aeruginosa (nd to 0.312)/(nd to 0.156)
C. albicans (nd to 0.312)/(nd to 0.625)
Amaryllis belladonna L. Jersey lily Alkaloids (-)-Lycorine/(-)-Amarbellisine/(-)-Hippeastrine/(-)-Pancracine/(+)-Vittatine/(+)-11-Hydroxyvittatine (-)-Lycorine/(-)-Amarbellisine/(-)-Hippeastrine/(-)-Pancracine/(+)-Vittatine/(+)-11-Hydroxyvittatin Exclusive source of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids Egypt Evidente et al., 2004
S. aureus nd/0.125/0.125/0.188/0.063/0.219 nd/22/nd/22/19/17
E. coli nd/22/nd/nd/nd/22/nd
P. aeruginosa nd/nd/nd/ 16/nd/ nd
C. albicans 0.039/0.063/0.125/0.188/0.031/0.156 40/24/25/15/17/20
Zingiber officinale Ginger Aqueous and methanolic Aqueous/Methanolic Alkaloids, carbohydrates and saponins Saudi Arabia Al-Daihan et al., 2013
S. pyogenes 10/12
S. aureus 10/12
E. coli 9/10
P. aeruginosa 14/12
Commiphora molmol Myrrh gum Aqueous and methanolic Aqueous/Methanolic Alkaloids, carbohydrates and saponins Saudi Arabia
S. pyogenes 12/8.5
S. aureus 14/19
E. coli 9/9
P. aeruginosa 12/13
Polygonum aviculare L Knotgrass Water, acetone, chloroform, and ethanolic Stem chloroform fraction/Leaf chloroform fraction Stem (Water, Acetone, Chloroform, Ethanolic) and Leaf (Water, Acetone, Chloroform, Ethanolic) Alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and sesquiterpenes Egypt Salama and Marraiki, 2010
E. coli 15/18 (22, 18, 27, 23)/(9, 7, 11, 7)
P. mirabilis 15/20 (24, 15, 28, 23)/(8, 5, 8, 4)
P. aeruginosa 15/18 (21, 19, 23, 22)/(7, 5, 9, 5)
S. typhi 10/15 (22, 14, 24, 23)/(8, 5, 11, 7)
S. paratyphi 8/15 (23, 15, 23, 20)/(5, 7, 12, 8)
S. flexneri 8/10 (19, 16, 21, 16)/(6, 4, 11, 6)
S. aureus 18/20 (22, 17, 24, 21)/(7, 2, 10, 8)
B. subtilis 8/18 (25, 20, 25, 22)/(5, 5, 8, 7)
S. pyogenes 10/15 (18, 15, 23, 20)/(4, 8, 12, 9)
A. flavus 5/8 (14, 10, 17, 13)/(6, 6, 10, 9)
A. fumigatus 1/5 (15, 8, 18, 14)/(3, 4, 9, 8)
A. niger 1/5 (13, 7, 14, 15)/(2, 5, 8, 6)
C. albicans 0/0 (0, 0, 0, 0)/(0, 0, 0, 0)
Chamomilla recutita Chamomile Methanolic B. subtilis nd Alkaloids, triterpenes, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, and saponins Egypt Abdel-Hameed et al., 2008
E. coli 14
S. aureus nd
C. albicans 14
A. niger nd
Buddleja hybrida Summer lilac Methanolic B. subtilis 14 Egypt
E. coli 16
S. aureus 16
C. albicans nd
A. niger nd
Glinus lotoides Damascisa Methanolic B. subtilis 8 Egypt
E. coli 12
S. aureus 8
C. albicans 10
A. niger 18