title: Antimicrobial activity of fractions and compounds from Calophyllumbrasiliense (Clusiaceae/Guttiferae).
abstract: Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae/Guttiferae) is a native Brazilian medicinal plant traditionally used against several diseases, including infectious pathologies. Crude methanolic extracts (CME) and two fractions, denoted non-polar (soluble in chloroform) and polar (nonsoluble in chloroform), were prepared from different parts of the plant (roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits) and studied. The following compounds were isolated and tested against pathogenic bacteria and yeasts by determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC): brasiliensic acid (1), gallic acid (2), epicatechin (3), protocatechuic acid (4), friedelin (5) and 1,5-dihydroxyxanthone (6). The results indicated that all the parts of the plant exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, which are selectively inhibited by components of C. brasiliense. No activity was observed against Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts tested. Regarding the isolated compounds, substance 4 showed antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms, whereas compound 6 exhibited antimicrobial activity only against Gram-positive bacteria. The results from the current study confirm and justify the popular use of this plant to treat infectious processes.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Mestrado em Ciências Farmacêuticas (PMCF) e Núcleo de Investigações Químico Farmacêuticas, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI), 88.302-202, Itajai, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pretto
authors.forename: Valdir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cechinel-Filho
authors.forename: Vânia F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Noldin
authors.forename: Mara R K
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.forename: Daniela E B
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Isaias
authors.forename: Alexandre Bella
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cruz
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D029759:Calophyllum / Q000737:chemistry*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D000432:Methanol; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000432:Methanol