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

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. 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 2012. In this experimental study, 150 P. aeruginosa strains carrying the blaSPM-1 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. The highest mean zone of inhibition (18 mm) was observed in a concentration of 250 mg/mL of F. persica extract, which was equal to that of ciprofloxacin. In the gold nanoparticles, the highest mean growth inhibition zone (10.18 mm) was observed in the dilution of 50 ppm. The highest zone of inhibition of nanoparticle-extract synergy was observed in the dilution of 125 mg/mL extract + 25 ppm nanoparticle (9.89 mm). The MIC and MBC of the extract were 69.25 ± 42.36 mg/mL and 102.25 ± 16.76 mg/mL, respectively. The MIC and MBC of the nanoparticle-extract mixture were 50.78 ± 19.26 mg/mL and 54.11 ± 19.72 mg/mL, respectively. The results of the present study showed that the extract of F. persica gum and the gold nanoparticles had anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa effects, which were more pronounced when they were used separately.