Effect of Heavy Metal on In vitro Growth of Paronchia argentea and its Antimicrobial Activity

Paronchia argentea is traditionally being use for medicinal purposes in Jordan. The current investigation was designed to check in vitro efficacy of in vitro and ex vitro P. argentea against selected bacterial and fungal strains. Antimicrobial properties of in vitro plantlets and field (ex vitro) plant extracts of P. argentea were investigated against both bacteria and fungi, after and before heavy metals stress used. In this study four bacterial species were used: Listeria monocytogen and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive bacteria) Salmonella typhimurum and Coronobacter sakazakii (Gram negative bacteria) and Calvularia lunata as a mold. Our results revealed that in vitro grown plantlets with the supplemented of lead (Pb), copper (Cu) or Cobalt (Co) with methanol and aqueous extract showed significant inhibitory activities ranging between 6.7-30.0 mm zones of inhibition. All extracts of P. argentea had activity against fungi and bacteria tested. Maximum inhibition zone was found in Staphylococcus aureus (30 mm inhibition zone) in medium supplemented with 0.3 mg/L Cu followed by Calvularia lunata (30.0 mm inhibition zone). Methanolic and aqueous P. argentea extract convention that the solvent plays an important role in the solubility of the antimicrobial substance and also affects the activity of the microbe. Both field (ex vitro) and tissue culture plant extract showed similar antimicrobial activity. The present study could be used as an approach for the development of new, alternative and cheap antimicrobial drugs, particularly against infections caused by the tested microbes through tissue culture technology.