• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.15-26
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• 2013

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate antimicrobial activity of Huanggeumjakyak- tang water extract against MRSA. Methods The antibacterial activities of Huanggeumjakyak-tang were evaluated against 3 strains of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 1 standard Methicillinsusceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strain by using the disc diffusion method, minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) assay, colorimetric assay using MTT test, checkerboard dilution test and time-kill assay was performed under dark. Results The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) of Huanggeumjakyak-tang water extract against S. aureus strains ranged from 1,000 to $2,000{\mu}g/ml$. So we confirmed that it has a strong antibacterial effect. Also the combinations of Huanggeumjakyak-tang water extract and conventional antibiotics exhibited improved inhibition of MRSA with synergy effect. Conclusions The results obtained in this study suggest that Huanggeumjakyak-tang water extract showed antibacterial effect against MRSA, and it also showed reducing effect on the side-effect problems that are the major weak points of traditional antibiotics.