title: Antiplasmid activity of 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate from Alpinia galanga against multi-drug resistant bacteria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alpinia galanga (L.) Swartz is traditionally used in the treatment of various ailments across India, China, and Southeast Asian countries. In India it is a reputed drug in indigenous system of medicine and largely used as antibacterial and antiseptic. In southern India the rhizomes has been used as a domestic remedy against bacterial infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify a potential antiplasmid compound from Alpinia galanga against multi-drug resistant bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The crude rhizome extract of Alpinia galanga was prepared in acetone. Antibacterial activity was checked by MIC and antiplasmid activity was checked by SIC. The principal compound responsible for the antiplasmid activity, in the crude extract, was identified by bioassay guided fractionation using hexane-acetone. Antibiotic resistance profile of plasmid harboring strains and plasmid cured strains was determined by disc diffusion method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The crude acetone extract of the rhizomes of Alpinia galanga exhibited antiplasmid activity against Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis with an efficiency of 92%, 82% and 8% respectively at 400 microg/ml SIC. The principal compound responsible for the activity was identified as 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate. 1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate demonstrated the ability to cure plasmid encoded antibiotic resistance in various multi-drug resistant bacterial strains of clinical isolates such as Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus with curing efficiency of 66%, 75%, 70%, 32% and 6% respectively at SIC of 400-800 microg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate mediated R-plasmid curing significantly reduced the minimal inhibitory concentration of antibiotics required to inhibit growth of bacteria, thus making the antibiotic treatment more effective.
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry Technology, National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Latha
authors.forename: Varsha D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Shriram
authors.forename: Sheetal S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jahagirdar
authors.forename: Prashant K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Dhakephalkar
authors.forename: Supada R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rojatkar
mesh_terms: D032429:Alpinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D010957:Plasmids / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D027343:Rhizome
chemical_list: D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D010936:Plant Extracts; C047948:1'-acetoxychavicol acetate