Isolation of antibacterial fatty acids from Schotia brachypetala.
In southern Africa, the roots of Schotia brachypetala are used by traditional healers to treat dysentery and diarrhoea. Activity-directed fractionation of the ethanol extract of the dried leaves yielded 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic (linolenic) acid and methyl-5,11,14,17-eicosatetraenoate. These fatty acids displayed antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus and to a lesser extent, against the Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
McGaw
L J
LJ
Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Botany and Zoology, University of Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, 3209, Scottsville, South Africa.
Jäger
A K
AK
van Staden
J
J
D000353:Africa, Southern; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D014197:Trees
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids