Background and objectives: Foodborne pathogens can significantly affect the public health and cause medical, social,
and economic burden. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella -enterica, and Yersinia enterocolitica are important foodborne
pathogens that can cause various diseases. Plant-derived compounds are promising bioactive substances with inhibitory
effects against bacteria. Perovskia abrotanoides Kar. is a medical plant with broad therapeutic activities. In the present study, we
aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of P. abrotanoides extracts against some foodborne pathogens.
Methods: Flowering branches of P. abrotanoides were collected in 2018 and 2019 from three different habitats in the
eastern Alborz Mountains, Iran. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated using the agar well diffusion test. The
minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts were
determined against L. monocytogenes, S. enterica, and Y. enterocolitica. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the extracts
was investigated by the DPPH test.
Results: The lowest MIC (200 µg/ml) and MBC (400 µg/ml) values against Y. enterocolitica were related to the ethyl
acetate extract of plants collected from habitat 1 in 2019. The lowest MIC (50 µg/ml) and MBC (400 µg/ml) values against L.
monocytogenes were related to the dichloromethane extract of plants collected from habitat 1 in 2019. All extracts showed
antioxidant properties. Results of one-way ANOVA indicated that the DPPH scavenging activity of extracts from plants
collected in 2019 was greater than that of those collected in 2018.
In most cases, the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed more radical scavenging potential.
Conclusion: It seems that P. abrotanoides is a rich source of antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds with great
potential for use in the pharmaceutical and food industries.