Antimicrobial Effects of Ferula persica Gum Extract and Gold Nanoparticles on Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background: In the treatment of bacterial infections, drug resistance is a global problem; Pseudomonas aeruginosa is no exception. This bacterium is among the important causes of nosocomial infections, especially burn wound infections, and it is resistant to most applicable antibiotics. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-bacterial effects of Ferula persica gum extract and gold nanoparticles on P. aeruginosa strains isolated from burn wound infections in Isfahan in ۲۰۱۲. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, ۱۵۰ P. aeruginosa strains carrying the blaSPM-۱ gene were isolated from burn wound infections and were confirmed by biochemical tests. The anti-microbial activities of Ferula persica gum extract and gold nanoparticles were evaluated by agar well-diffusion assay and microdilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests. The results were compared to ciprofloxacin. Results: The highest mean zone of inhibition (۱۸ mm) was observed in a concentration of ۲۵۰ mg/mL of F. persica extract, which was equal to that of ciprofloxacin. In the gold nanoparticles, the highest mean growth inhibition zone (۱۰.۱۸ mm) was observed in the dilution of ۵۰ ppm. The highest zone of inhibition of nanoparticle-extract synergy was observed in the dilution of ۱۲۵ mg/mL extract + ۲۵ ppm nanoparticle (۹.۸۹ mm). The MIC and MBC of the extract were ۶۹.۲۵ ± ۴۲.۳۶ mg/mL and ۱۰۲.۲۵ ± ۱۶.۷۶ mg/mL, respectively. The MIC and MBC of the nanoparticle-extract mixture were ۵۰.۷۸ ± ۱۹.۲۶ mg/mL and ۵۴.۱۱ ± ۱۹.۷۲ mg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that the extract of F. persica gum and the gold nanoparticles had antiPseudomonas aeruginosa effects, which were more pronounced when they were used separately.