Quercus infectoria Bark Extract Shows Antibacterial Activity Against Staphylococcus Species

Background: Quercus infectoria bark is known for its various medicinal characteristics, including its phenolic compounds that exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Methods: Fifty Staphylococcus spp. samples were collected from hospitals in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf province, and Quercus infectoria bark extract was prepared in different concentrations. The inhibitory efficacy of the extracts against bacterial growth was assessed using the well diffusion method. Additionally, the effect of the extracts on bacterial adherence to epithelial cells was evaluated. Results: Both hot aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Quercus infectoria bark demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on bacterial isolates, with higher concentrations showing greater efficacy. The alcoholic extract exhibited superior inhibitory activity compared to the aqueous extract. Moreover, the extracts reduced the adhesion of bacterial isolates to epithelial cells, indicating their potential to prevent bacterial colonization and infection. Conclusion: Quercus infectoria bark extract showed promising inhibitory capabilities against Staphylococcus spp. isolates and effectively reduced bacterial adherence to epithelial cells. These findings suggest the potential of Quercus infectoria bark as a natural antimicrobial agent for combating bacterial infections. Further research is warranted to explore its effectiveness against other bacterial species and its clinical applications.