Determination of the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of lyophilized cornelian cherry<i> (Cornus</i><i> mas</i> L.)

This study investigates the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of lyophilized Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) and its methanol extract against a range of clinically significant pathogens. The research aimed to evaluate the potential of these natural compounds as alternative antimicrobial agents, given the global rise in antimicrobial resistance. Antibacterial activity was assessed using agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods, while antibiofilm efficacy was determined through biofilm inhibition assays. The methanol extract exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, effectively inhibiting all tested bacterial strains, whereas the lyophilized form demonstrated no activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Both forms showed strong biofilm inhibition, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii, with inhibition increasing in a dose-dependent manner and peaking at the minimum inhibitory concentration. No antifungal activity was observed against the tested Candida species. The superior efficacy of the methanol extract may be attributed to a higher concentration of phenolic and anthocyanin compounds. These findings suggest that Cornelian cherry, particularly in its methanol-extracted form, holds promise as a natural antimicrobial and antibiofilm agent. Further research is warranted to explore its potential applications in clinical and industrial settings.