In vitro antigonococcal activity of Coscinium fenestratum stem extract.
BACKGROUND
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which originates from bacteria, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is still one of the major health problems worldwide in both men and women. Many medicinal plants have been recorded in Thai folk medicine for relieving STD but there is no scientific report of these plants for antigonococcal activity.


OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to evaluate antigonococcal activity of 22 Thai medicinal plants selected from the plants popularly used in Thai folk medicine for treatment of gonorrhea.


METHODS
This study was performed by disc diffusion and agar dilution methods against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Active compound was investigated by bioautographic assay.


RESULTS
Among the selected plants, Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. extract showed the most effective activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae ATCC 49226 with MIC value of 47.39 microg/ml. Bioautographic assay revealed that berberine was the active compound of Coscinium fenestratum against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The average MIC values of purified berberine against Neisseria gonorrhoeae ATCC 49226 and 11 clinical isolates were 13.51 and 17.66 microg/ml, respectively while average MIC value of the crude extract of Coscinium fenestratum against all clinical isolates was about 56.39 microg/ml. There was no acute toxicity detected at the dose of 5g of Coscinium fenestratum crude extract per kilogram.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide theoretical support for ethnopharmacological relevance of antigonococcal activity of Coscinium fenestratum and its active compound.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Mullika Traidej
MT
Chomnawang
Chutimaporn
C
Trinapakul
Wandee
W
Gritsanapan
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001599:Berberine / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D029583:Menispermaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018547:Plant Stems; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001599:Berberine