Antimicrobial Effect of Sophora angustifolia Extracts on Food-Borne Pathogens

This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial effect of Sophora angustifolia extracts against food-borne pathogens. First, Sophora angustifolia was extracted with methanol at room temperature, and the methanol extracts from Sophora angustifolia were fractionated using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The antimicrobial activity of the Sophora angustifolia extracts was determined using the paper disc method against food-borne pathogens and food spoilage bacteria. The methanol extracts of Sophora angustifolia showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium. A synergistic effect was found in the combined extracts of Sophora angustifolia and Portulaca oleracea, compared to the activity of each extract alone. Finally, the growth inhibition curve was determined using the methanol extracts of Sophora angustifolia against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium. The methanol extract of Sophora angustifolia showed strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 5,000 ppm. The 5,000 ppm methanol extract from Sophora angustifolia retarded the growth of S. aureus for more than 24 hours and of Salmonella typhimurium for up to 12 hours.