CARDUUS ACANTHOIDES FOLIUM TINCTURE: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY AND SYNERGISTIC / ANTAGONIST EFFECT IN COMBINATION WITH ANTIBIOTICS

Analysis of the Carduus acanthoides folium (CAF) tincture in UV-Vis spectra shows the presence of the maximum absorbance for chlorophyll a (i.e., lambda = 640-670 nm) and two maximum absorbances at wavelengths 530-540 nm and 600-610 nm, probably due to flavonoids. The vibrations in the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of the tincture are attributed to the polyphenol compounds (flavonoids, polyphenolcarboxylic acids), carotenoids (beta-carotene, carotenoid esters), triglycerides, phytosterols, and amino acids. The current study aimed, also, to investigate the antimicrobial potential of CAF tincture against five bacterial strains. The synergistic / antagonistic effect on the association between the tincture and the antibiotics of choice was tested. Following the research it was observed that the tincture has antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, the bacterias being classified as sensitive. The combination of tincture with the antibiotics of choice leads to the reduction of the antibacterial effect, and their association is not recommended.