Screening of Antimicrobial Activity against Enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli 0157 : H7 from Plants in Korea

We screened the methanol extracts from 133 plant species growing in Korea for antimicrobial activity against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli 0157 : H7. Those are selected from three plant grouping ; traditional medicinal herbs, edible plants, and flowers. They were tested by disk diffusion assay. From evaluation of the inhibition zone diameter of microbial growth, we found that the flower extract of Rhododendron Schilpenbachii Max had the most significant antimicrobial activity against this bacteria. Extracts from most of the vegetables and plants did not show antimicrobial activity except for the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. and seeds of Prunus Dallicina L. did not show antimicrobial activity except for the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. and the seeds of Prunus sallicina L.