Rosmarinus officinalis and Zataria multiflora extracts enhanced antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The study investigates the antibacterial potential of hydroalcoholic extracts from Rosmarinus officinalis and Zataria multiflora, combined with ciprofloxacin, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Initial screening showed promising results, leading to further exploration of the synergistic effect of the extracts and ciprofloxacin. The combination of the two extracts had an additive effect, while the combination of each extract with ciprofloxacin resulted in partial synergism. The most significant synergistic effect was observed against MRSA 9, with a 3200-fold reduction in the MIC value of ciprofloxacin. The similar inhibitory concentration of the extracts for all MRSA strains suggests these non-antibiotic agents have a broad spectrum of activity against MRSA. This offers a promising avenue for developing new therapeutic approaches to tackle drug-resistant bacterial infections. The results highlight the potential of combining R. officinalis and Z. multiflora extracts with ciprofloxacin to enhance antibacterial efficacy against MRSA strains.