Planta Med 2010; 76 - P443
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264741

Anti-MRSA and anti-VRE of some traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) plants

S Mulyaningsih 1, J Reichling 1, M Wink 1
  • 1Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Biology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69214 Heidelberg, Germany

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) are the most important resistant pathogens which cause nosocomial infections [1–2]. Antimicrobial activity of methanol and dichloromethane extracts of 84 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plants was investigated against 10 strains of MRSA and 5 strains of VRE (references strains and clinical isolates). Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (Fabaceae) exerted a substantial activity against all strains of MRSA and VRE. All MRSA strains were inhibited by dichloromethane extracts of G. glabra (MIC range 16–32µg/ml) and E. globulus (MIC range 8–16µg/ml). Anti-VRE activity was also observed for dichloromethane extracts of G. glabra and E. globulus with MIC values range 32–250 and 8–16µg/ml, respectively. In addition, methanol extracts of E. globulus also exhibited a strong inhibition against MRSA and VRE with MIC values range 16–32µg/ml. The dichloromethane extracts were generally more active than methanol extracts against the bacteria tested. In this study, we have demonstrated that some TCM plants exerted a promising activity as anti-MRSA and anti-VRE agents.

References: 1. Jones RN. (2001) Chest 119:397S-404S.

2. Ma XX, et al. (2002) Antimicrob Agents Chemother 46:1147–1152.