title: Isolation of antibacterial fatty acids from Schotia brachypetala.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Botany and Zoology, University of Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, 3209, Scottsville, South Africa.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McGaw
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Staden
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids