title: Antimicrobial activity of Blumea balsamifera (Lin.) DC. extracts and essential oil.
abstract: Leaves of Blumea balsamifera (Lin.) DC. are used in traditional Thai and Chinese medicine for the treatment of septic wounds and other infections. In this study, the essential oil, hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of these leaves were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities using the disc diffusion assay and agar microdilution method. The essential oil was the most potent, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 150 µg mL⁻¹ against Bacillus cereus and an MIC of 1.2 mg mL⁻¹ against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Activity was also detected from the hexane extract against Enterobacter cloacae and S. aureus. Minimum bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations were typically equal to or two-fold higher than the MICs for both extracts, indicating microbicidal activity. The present data show that B. balsamifera extracts have activity against various infectious and toxin-producing microorganisms. This plant's active constituents could potentially be developed for use in the treatment and/or prevention of microbial disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham 44150, Thailand. uthai.s@msu.ac.th
authors.forename: Uthai
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sakee
authors.forename: Sujira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maneerat
authors.forename: T P Tim
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Cushnie
authors.forename: Wanchai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De-Eknamkul
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000187:drug effects; D006586:Hexanes; D000432:Methanol; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006586:Hexanes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D000432:Methanol