title: Antibacterial activities of four Thai medicinal plants.
abstract: Medicinal plants have long been used and prescribed in Thailand for centuries. Some of them have been used for treating various diseases including infectious diseases. Pouzolzia pentandra Benn., Gelonium multiflorum A. Juss., Erycibe elliptilimba Merr. and Chun., Balanophora abbreviate Bl. are Thai medicinal plants from the Thai pharmacopoeia that have been prescribed for treating unknown fevers including some specific infectious diseases. This investigation demonstrated the effects of these Thai medicinal plants for their antibacterial activities by using the macrodilution assay. Based on the present study, the water methanol fraction (fraction 2) of Balanophora abbreviate Bl. showed the antibacterial activity at the MIC level of 250 microg/ml but the activity was bacteriostatic in its effects. Therefore, the use of these medicinal plants in controlling fever and infectious diseases appears to be justified and further investigations may be required to obtain more information.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Suwanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trakulsomboon
authors.forename: Tanawan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kummalue
authors.forename: Weena
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiratchariyakul
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031111:Balanophoraceae / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010938:Plant Oils; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils