Planta Med 2009; 75 - PG61
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234715

Comparative analysis of anti-microbe activity of species of genus Potentilla L. (P. anserina L., P. reptans L., P. palustris L. and P. tommassiniana F.W. Schultez) from Bosnia and Herzegovina (W. Balkan)

S Redzic 1, 2, S Pilipovic 3, A Redzic 4
  • 1Center of Ecology and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science University of Sarajevo, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • 2Academy of Sciences and Arts of B&H, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • 3Institute of drug control of F BiH, Sarajevo, 71 000 Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • 4Dep. of Biology and Human Genetics of the Medicinal Faculty University of Sarajevo, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Most species of order Potentilla contain tannin [1] as active principle. Due to extinguished medical function many of them are used in traditional medicine for treatment of inner and outer fevers, against diarrhea, hart diseases or for heeling of ponderous wounds [2]. High level of chlorophyll and carotenoides, in addition to dominating secondary metabolite, influence distinguished anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities [3,4].

In these researches, tested was anti-microbial activity of rhizome with small roots of widely spread species P. reptans, edible plant P. anserina, very rare species P. palustris and endemic Balkan plant P. tommassiniana. Plant material was gathered in September 2006 and it was dried at room temperature. Species P. tommasiniana was used to obtain dried extract with Soxhlet apparatus. Other species were used in obtaining ethanol mazzerato, obtained through double mazzeration. Also used were concentrate and attenuated extracts of mazzerato (%: 50, 0, 5 and 0, 1), while dried extract was used in attenuate (%): 0, 1, 0, 01 and 0, 05. Used were test micro-organisms: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) for dry and mazzerato extracts and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis for dry extracts of species P. tommassiniana. Diffuse method was used for developing an anti-biogram.

Best effects were obtained in inhibition of growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Treatment with mazzerato extracts provided zones of inhibition in range 4–11mm, and treatment with attenuated dried extracts provided extremely high zones of inhibition in range 11–13mm. Same extracts provide high zones of inhibitions with Proteus mirabilis (8–13mm) and species Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10–13mm). With Escherichia coli best effects are given by mazzerato extract of species Potentilla reptans (10–15mm). Candida albicans is resistant to all treated extracts.

Reference: [1] Tomczyk, M. and Latté, K.L. (2009)J. Ethnopharmacol. 122:184–204.

2. Redzic, S.S. (2007) Collegium Antropol. 31:869–90.

3. Redzic, S. et al. (2007) Planta Med. 73:887.

4. Pilipovic, S. et al. (2008) Planta Med. 74:989.