Abstract
Fruits of Platycladus orientalis growing wild in Arar region, Saudi Arabia was investigated for its antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus. A bacterium associate with serious urinary tract infections (UTI) and cystitis in young human females. GC-MS analysis discloses the presence of some bioactive compounds, such as cupressene, podocarpa-8,11,13-triene, kauran-16-ol, kerruginol, glycoside compounds, cymarin and Periplocymarin which could be attributed to the antibacterial efficacy of that plant product. The extract showed remarkable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus, the disc diffusion test recorded 16.0 +/- 1.0mm zone of inhibition, with relative percentage inhibition (RPI) of Platycladus orientalis extract was 66.6% compared with the chloramphenicol. The MIC and MBC values were 12.5 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml, respectively. The MBC/MIC ratio was 4, indicating that the extract has a good bacteriostatic effect. Therefore, the fruits of Platycladus orientalis could be used in the formulation of antibacterial drugs against Staphylococcus saprophyticus associated with UTI infections.