title: Antibacterial properties and toxicity of Atuna racemosa extract depend on kernel maturity.
abstract: Through data mining a historic herbal text, we identified Atuna racemosa-Raf. as a plant with alleged antibacterial properties. We have shown that these purported antibacterial properties are most prominent in the kernel of the nut of the plant. While working with traditional healers in Samoa during a botanical collection trip, we identified a range of maturity stages of the kernel. Here we show that the antibacterial properties are different at different stages of kernel maturity, and that the immature kernels have a lower minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) than the mature kernels. Additionally, we show there is a negative correlation between the antibacterial properties and cytotoxic properties (a stronger antibiotic is less cytotoxic), suggesting there are two separate compounds with disparate characteristics. These findings have implications for the use of this natural product as an antibiotic and chemotherapeutic agent.
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA. buenz@biosciential.com
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Buenz
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tillner
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limburg
authors.forename: Brent A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011387:Prokaryotic Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D018947:Samoa; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts