Planta Med 2009; 75 - PJ114
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234919

Antibacterial activity of phenolic compounds from Mongolian plants

G Odontuya 1, T Oyunjargal 2, B Sukhkhuu 1, SY Ryu 3, YS Kim 3, J Batkhuu 2
  • 1Natural Product Chemistry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, The 4
  • thbuilding, 13330 Peace ave., Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
  • 2Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Biology, National University of Mongolia, P.O.B-617, Ulaanbaatar 46A, Mongolia
  • 3Medicinal Plant Phytochemistry Laboratory, Korean Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, 305–600, Korea

Fourty seven pure compounds such as flavonol derivatives (20), simple penolics (9), xanthone derivatives (13), luteolin, cynaroside, prunasin, euscaphic acid and (z)-hexenyl-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-(1–6)-β-D-glucopyranoside isolated from Mongolian some medicinal plants have been tested against bacterial strains as Staphylococcus aureus (Sa), Micrococcus luteus (Ml), Enterococcus faecalis (Ef), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) and Escherichia coli (Ec) by the disk diffusion method, respectively. Kanamycin was used as a standard antibiotic. From tested compounds only kaempferol, quercetin, ethylgallate, gallic acid and desmethylbellidifolin exhibited at the dose of 200µg/disk a significant inhibition of the growth of Sa, while luteolin was active only at the high dose 750µg/disk. Ethylgallate demonstrated a great activity against the growth of Ml at the dose of 20µg/disk, while desmethylbellidifolin was active at 200µg/disk. Quercetin showed activity against Ml only at the high dose of 750µg/disk. Moreover, ethylgallate significantly inhibited the growth of Ef at 200µg/disk and was faint against Pa only at the high dose of 1000µg/disk. Whereas, desmethylbellidifolin was active against the growth of Ef and Ec only at the high dose 750µg/disk. It has been determined that kaempferol, quercetin, gallic acid and luteolin did not show any activity against the growth of Ef, Ec and Pa even at the highest dose 1500µg/disk. However, all other compounds including flavonol, flavone and xanthone glycosides even at the highest dose 1500µg/disk were found not active against the growth of all bacterial strains. This evidence confirmed that antibacterial activity of aglycones of phenolic compounds are much higher than the related glycosides [1,2]. In particular, ethylgallate, the simple phenol, exhibited more prominent activity than all other tested compounds.

References: [1] Rigano, D. et al (2007) Phytoter. Res. 21:395–397.

[2] Gatto, M.T. et al (2002) Bioorg. Med. Chem. 10:269–272.