The Effect of Alcoholic Extracts of Strawberries and Green Tea on Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections

Abstract

Plant extracts contain active substances that exhibit antibacterial effects. Our study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of alcoholic extracts (acetone, methanol, and ethanol) of strawberries and green tea against Enterococcus spp. We collected 30 samples from individuals suffering from urinary tract infections. Initially, we identified 8 (26%) isolates outwardly; subsequent confirmatory molecular diagnostics resulted in one isolate, registered at the National Center for Biotechnology Information as AsAw1, marking a global first. The strawberry extract exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on Enterococcus spp., with a zone of inhibition measuring 23 and 26 mm. Conversely, the green tea extract demonstrated a weaker inhibitory effect, with a zone of inhibition measuring 19 mm. These findings underscore the potential of ethanolic strawberry extract as a natural antibacterial agent against Enterococcus spp., offering insights for further research and potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by these bacteria. KEYWORDS acetone, catechin, flavonoids, gelatinase, hemolytic, vancomycin