Planta Med 2008; 74 - PA14
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084013

The anti-staphylococcal activity of new diterpenes from Pycnostachys urticofolia

K Bascombe 1, S Gibbons 1
  • 1Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotheraphy, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX

The increasing incidence of infection and deaths caused by the emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been comprehensively observed and recorded worldwide [1,2]. Ongoing phytochemical studies on medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae family, has resulted in the isolation of anti-staphylococcal metabolites from Pycnostachys urticifolia. This genus is represented by 81 species and is traditionally used in the treatment of high blood pressure and a number of gastrointestinal conditions [3].

From the aerial parts of this species, five known compounds and two new diterpenes were isolated. The structures of these natural products were elucidated from a series of 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Both compounds were determined to be substituted 17(15→16) abeo-abietanes. The anti-staphylococcal activity of these metabolites was assessed against a panel of standard and multi-drug resistant (MDR) S. aureus strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 64–512µg/ml.

Acknowledgements: Stiefel Laboratories.

References: 1. European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (2006), Annual Report (2006) 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007). Emerging Infectious Diseases 13, 12. 3. Leistner O.A (2000) Seed plants from Africa: families and genera. Strelitzia 10