Comparative Antibacterial and Synergistic Effects of Garlic and Ginger Extracts with Silver Nanoparticles against Proteus mirabilis
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Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance represents a serious global health challenge, prompting the search for alternative antimicrobial strategies. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of aqueous garlic (Allium sativum) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) extracts, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and their synergistic combinations against Proteus mirabilis, an opportunistic pathogen commonly associated with urinary tract infections. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method, while minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices, and time–kill assays were employed to assess inhibitory, bactericidal, and synergistic effects. Garlic extract showed stronger antibacterial activity than ginger extract, with inhibition zones ranging from 11.2 ± 0.6 to 22.4 ± 0.9 mm, compared to 8.4 ± 0.5 to 18.1 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. Garlic extract exhibited lower MIC and MBC values (25 and 50 mg/mL) than ginger extract (50 and 75 mg/mL). Silver nanoparticles demonstrated the highest antibacterial efficacy, producing inhibition zones up to 26.8 ± 1.1 mm with MIC and MBC values of 12.5 and 25 mg/mL, respectively. Synergistic interactions were observed for garlic extract combined with AgNPs (FIC = 0.42) and for the triple combination of garlic, ginger, and AgNPs (FIC = 0.39). Time–kill assays confirmed synergistic bactericidal activity, showing a reduction of more than 3 log₁₀ CFU/mL within 24 h compared to individual treatments
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