Anti microbial activities of leaves and stems of Ulmus minor Miller subsp. minor

Ulmus L. (Ulmaceae) is represented by three species in Turkey. Ulmus minor Mill. subsp. minor is a tree to 30m but often much smaller, suckering. Twigs glabrous or sparsely pubescent [1]. Although there are no reports of the medicinal uses of Ulmus minor Miller subsp. minor in Turkey, the bark of the root and stem of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica has been used as a traditional Korean medicine to treat inflammatory disorders. This plant reportedly exhibits antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects [2]. Ulmus species contain biologically active compounds, such as sesquiterpenoids, triterpenes and flavonoids [3,4].

In this study, n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and methanol:water (20:80) extracts of leaves and stems of Ulmus minor subsp. minor were tested separately against selected Gram-positive, Gram negative bacteria and Candida albicans, an unicellular yeast, using a broth microdulition broth susceptibility assay. All of the extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella thyphimirium resulting MIC values 0,81 and 25mg/ml. Ethyl acetate extract of the stems of the plant was found to be active against all tested microorganisms with a range of MIC values extended from the concentration of 6, 25–0, 2mg/ml.

Keywords: Ulmus minor, Ulmaceae, antimicrobial activity

References: 1. Davis PH (1982) Flora of Turkey and East Aegean Islands, University Press, Edinburgh.

2. Choi SY et al. (2010)J Med Food 13: 1019–1023.

3. Zheng MS et al. (2010) Biomol Ther 18: 321–328.

4. Lee GY et al. (2008) Planta Med 74: 1800–1802.