Planta Med 2013; 79 - PN54
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1352397

Screening of Kazakhstan plants useful in the treatment of diabetic foot syndrome

TS Kustova 1, LK Mamonov 2, CL Cantrell 3, SA Ross 4
  • 1Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Almaty, Kazakhstan
  • 2Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Almaty, Kazakhstan
  • 3Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, USDA-ARS, University, USA
  • 4School of Pharmacy, NCNPR, The University of Mississippi, University, USA

One of the most serious complications of diabetes is the formation of diabetic foot syndrome. Neuropathy, vascular changes and infections are all contributors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of crude extracts isolated from plants growing in Kazakhstan (Vexibia alopecuroides (L.) Jakovl.; Rhodiola quadrifida (Pall.) Fish. et Mey.; Epilobium hirsutum L.; Rumex confertus Wiild.), which can be used to create products for the treatment of diabetic foot syndrome. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using NCCLS broth micro-dilution assays. 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphuric acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging assay was used to determine the antioxidant activity.

The results of the present investigation clearly indicate that the antibacterial and antifungal activities vary with the species of plant and only dichloromethane extracts produced favorable results in all assays. Epilobium hirsutum showed good activity against Candida glabrata (IC50 39.7 µg/ml), Rhodiola quadrifida showed strong activity against C. glabrata (IC50 2.9 µg/ml) and Candida krusei (IC50 9.2 µg/ml), Rumex confertus showed good activity against Staphylococcus aureus (IC50 10.8 µg/ml) and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (IC50 16.2 µg/ml) and C. glabrata (IC50 2.9 µg/ml). Among the plant extracts, the highest antibacterial activity was seen from Vexibia alopecuroides against S. aureus (IC50 3.05 µg/ml) and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (IC50 2.9 µg/ml), in spite of this fact Vexibia alopecuroides extract did not show any antioxidant activity. The other extracts showed a dose dependent ABTS scavenging activity. IC50 values were (6.6 µg/ml) Epilobium hirsutum; (4.5 µg/ml) Rumex confertus; (3.8 µg/ml) Rhodiola quadrifida. Thus, we have selected the most promising plant species for further investigation in the potential discovery of new natural bioactive compounds for treating diabetic foot syndrome.