Antibacterial activity of linoleic and oleic acids isolated from Helichrysum pedunculatum: a plant used during circumcision rites.
The antibacterial activity-guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract of leaves of Helichrysum pedunculatum resulted in the isolation of linoleic and oleic acids. Linoleic acid inhibited the growth of all the Gram-positive bacterial species tested with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) varying between 0.01 and 1.0 mg/ml. Oleic acid was active against three of the five Gram-positive bacteria at a MIC of 1.0 mg/ml. Both compounds were inactive against the Gram-negative species tested. A synergistic effect between the two fatty acids was observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus kristinae.
Department of Botany, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
F
F
Dilika
P D
PD
Bremner
J J
JJ
Meyer
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae; D002944:Circumcision, Male; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019301:Oleic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid