The antimicrobial activity of some ethanolic extracts obtained from Ficus spp. leaves against Aeromonas hydrophila

Nowadays numerous medicinal plants possessing antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic activities have a significant role in aquaculture as prophylactic and therapeutic agents against fish pathogens. This prompted us to determine the in vitro antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts from leaves of various Ficus species (Moraceae) against the bacterial strain of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated locally from infected rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with the aim of providing a scientific proof for the use of the plants in the treatment of bacterial infections induced by Aeromonas spp. in fish. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done on Muller-Hinton agar by disc diffusion method. Our results indicated that extracts offer a promising alternative to the use of antibiotics in controlling A. hydrophila growth. In our study, most ethanolic extracts obtained from Ficus spp. proved effective against the bacterial strain of Gram-negative A. hydrophila tested, with 10–12 mm zones of inhibition being observed. A. hydrophila demonstrated the highest susceptibility against F. pumila. Among various species of Ficus with moderate activity against A. hydrophila, the highest antibacterial activity for F. benghalensis, F. benjamina, F. deltoidea, F. hispida, F. lyrata was displayed. Thus, Ficus spp. leaves possess great medicinal potential for the therapy of bacterial and fungal infections and may be used as a natural antiseptic and antimicrobial agent in veterinary. It is concluded from the present study that these products can be used in aquaculture as therapeutic and prophylactic agents against fish pathogens, with antimicrobial and immunostimulant properties. Further investigation is necessary to identify those bioactive compounds, which will be a platform for further pharmacological studies and clinical applications