Planta Med 2008; 74 - PI45
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084953

Growth inhibiting activity of volatile terpenoids from Cistus creticus L. against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss) in vitro

HW Rauwald 1, A Hutschenreuther 1, C Rusch 1, C Birkemeyer 2, RK Straubinger 3
  • 1Department for Pharmacy, Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 21–23, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
  • 2Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
  • 3Institute for Immunology, College for Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 11, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

Plants of the genus Cistus have been traditionally used as a remedy for bacterial infections since the classical Greek period. In recent years borreliosis patients from Saxonian self-help groups have reported significant relief from their sufferings after ingestion of tea infusions from Cistus creticus L. [1]. The aqueous, methanolic, ethyl acetate and hexane extracts as well as the volatile oil fraction from steam distillation were tested for their activity against Bbss in vitro. Among these individual substance fractions the volatile oil exerted the strongest growth inhibitory effect. Even concentrations of 0.02% essential oil in cultivation media reduced the total number of bacteria to 2% in comparison to control after an eight-day cultivation period. Furthermore, incubation with the hexane and ethyl acetate extract also resulted in a reduction of bacterial growth. The main components of the three active extracts were analysed by GC-MS. This analysis revealed an extraordinary high concentration of labdan-type diterpenes in the volatile oil of Cistus creticus L., which might correlate with known antimicrobial activity of this substance group from Cistus species [2,3].

References:

1. Rauwald, H.W. (2007) in: Informationsblatt der Sächsischen Landesapothekerkammer 02/07. Dresden

2. Demetzos, D. et al. (1994) Planta Med. 65:76–78

3. Güvenc, A. et al. (2005) Pharm. Biol. 43:178–183