Planta Med 2011; 77 - PL21
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282670

Sanguisorba hybrida: pharmacognostic and antimicrobial activity evaluation

I Moreira 1, AM Madureira 1, A Duarte 1, MD Feijão 2, AI Correia 3, G Teixeira 4
  • 1Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia de Lisboa, iMed Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649–003, Lisboa, Portugal
  • 2Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, C2, Campo Grande, 1749–016 Lisboa, Portugal
  • 3Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental, C2, Campo Grande, 1749–016, Lisboa, Portugal
  • 4Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Avenida Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649–003, Lisboa, Portugal

Sanguisorba L. is a Rosaceae distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. Some species are known to show hypoglycemic and hemostatic properties (1), antimicrobial (2) and antiviral activities (3). Sanguisorba hybrida (L.) Nordborg is endemic in Portugal (4) and was selected for pharmacognostic studies including a preliminary phytochemical survey and an evaluation of its potential against human pathogens. Samples were collected in SW Portugal (38° 8' N –8° 33' W) during 2009–10 and identified at LISU. Under microscopy techniques non glandular and glandular multicellular trichomes were seen on both leaf surfaces. With histochemical tests the terpenoids and phenols were the most relevant compounds detected.

Powdered plant material was extracted with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. Their phytochemical survey, through TLC on silica gel plates and the proper reagents, was performed and the previous tests were confirmed. All extracts were tested against reference and multiresistant bacterial strains: Gram-positive (Enteroccocus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Mycobacterium smegmatis); Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and the yeast Candida albicans. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by the serial broth microdilution method. Appropriated antibiotics were used as controls. The methanol and water extracts showed better antimicrobial activity than n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate extracts. Gram-positive bacteria were the most sensitive and the MIC values of 3.50–1.75µg/mL were obtained using those polar extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, including strains resistant to meticillin (MRSA- Meticillin Resistance Staphylococcus aureus).

Acknowledgement: Telmo Nunes

References: 1. Reher G et al. (1991) Planta Med 57: A 57–58.

2. Kokoska L et al. (2002)J Etnopharmacol 82: 51–53.

3. Kim T et al. (2001) Phytother Res 15: 718–720.

4. Navarro C, Garmendia F (1998) Flora Iberica, Sanguisorba. Vol. VI. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC. Madrid.