Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants play an important role in agricultural production due to their therapeutic significance, particularly in the treatment of various pathological conditions. METHODS: Active compounds in Eruca sativa were identified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Fifty isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria were obtained. The effect of Eruca sativa plant extract on biofilm formation of bacterial isolates was tested using the standard plate method. RESULTS: The highest percentage of S. aureus was found in wound samples, with 22 isolates (44%). The isolates showed variability in their ability to form biofilms. The efficacy test revealed that plants treated with different concentrations of brassinolide (0, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 mg/L) and Eruca sativa showed inhibition of S. aureus growth in isolates (S2, S7, S10, S15, S16, S31, S42, S48, S50) with alcohol concentrations (5, 25, 75 mg/ml). The effect of Eruca sativa plant extract was dependent on the concentration of brassinolide applied. The highest inhibition was observed with brassinolide concentration of 3.5 mg/L-1 and alcohol extract concentrations of 50 and 75 mg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The alcoholic extract from the leaves of Eruca sativa, combined with brassinolide, proved effective in inhibiting the growth and biofilm formation of S. aureus bacteria.