Razieh Zaker - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Rashid Jamei - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Nima Shaykh-Baygloo - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

Background and Aim : Infectious diseases are always a serious threat to health. With the discovery of antibiotics, deaths from infectious diseases have been significantly reduced; but with the misuse of antibiotics and resistance to them, these diseases are returning. Due to the increasing resistance to antibiotics, the world is in dire need of changing its consumption pattern and finding new sources of antimicrobials. The development of various alternative drugs is one way to reduce antibiotic resistance. Today, the use of plant-active compounds to treat microbial infections has attracted the attention of many researchers. Anthocyanins are plant-active metabolites that can be tested for antimicrobial properties. Plums contain five different anthocyanins, and the aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial properties of anthocyanins extracted from plums.Methods : Anthocyanins were extracted from plums using acidic ethanol solvent. Total anthocyanin and monomeric anthocyanin were measured by pH differential method at pH ۱.۰ and ۴.۵ and using UV-Vis spectrophotometer at ۵۲۰ and ۷۰۰ nm. The antibacterial effects of the extracted anthocyanins were also investigated by broth microdilution assay and spot test.Results : Plum anthocyanins showed significant antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible strain to anthocyanin.Conclusion : The results of this study indicated that, plums can be used as a rich source of anthocyanins with antibacterial activity against bacterial infections.

Plum, Anthocyanin, Antimicrobial, Resistance.