title: Antibacterial activities of cryptotanshinone and dihydrotanshinone I from a medicinal herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge.
abstract: Cryptotanshinone and dihydrotanshinone I, constituents of a medicinal plant, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, had antibacterial activity against a broad range of Gram positive bacteria. These compounds generated superoxide radicals in Bacillus subtilis lysates. A recombination-deficient mutant strain of B. subtilis was 2- to 8-fold more sensitive than a wild strain, and this hypersensitivity was reduced in the presence of dithiothreitol as an antioxidant. DNA, RNA, and protein syntheses in B. subtilis were non-selectively inhibited by these compounds. These results suggest that superoxide radicals are important in the antibacterial actions of the agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Science, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, Korea. ddong@acs1.riken.go.jp
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005663:Furans; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011809:Quinones; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005663:Furans; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D011809:Quinones; D013481:Superoxides; C000713095:dihydrotanshinone I; C037886:cryptotanshinone; D004229:Dithiothreitol