| Sumario: | Background and Objectives: Medicinal plants are among the largest agricultural resources. This study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Opuntia ficus-indica fruit extract as well as identifying its components. Methods: To conduct the study, the extraction process was accomplished by maceration in ethanol and methanol. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the plant was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method, and the investigation of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was processed using the microdilution method. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was also applied to identify the extracted components. The mean scores obtained by the ANOVA test were significant 5%. Results: Considering the antibacterial activity, both extracts at concentrations of 1000 mg/ml inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The same concentration of methanol extract was effective on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The MIC value of the methanol extract was calculated at 125 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 250 mg/ml against Escherichia coli. The concentrations of 250 and 500 mg/ml of ethanol extract inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, however, it did not affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore, the MBC value of methanol extract was 250 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 500 mg/ml against Escherichia coli. It was revealed that the MBC value of 500 mg/ml of ethanol extract was against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, nevertheless, this extract did not affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, butinoic acid, dihydroxypyran, ester compounds, and pentadecanetriol were detected in ethanol extracts. Acetic acid, furan-carboxaldehyde, furan dione, erythrofuranose, furfural, oxirane, thiirane, and pyrazine compounds were identified in methanol extracts. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the methanolic extract of Opuntia ficusindica and its active compounds are recommended for controlling human infections after the implementation of in virto tests.
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