title: Antimicrobial activities of hexane extract and decussatin from stembark extract of Ficus congensis.
abstract: Ficus congensis (Moraceae) is used traditionally in the treatment of various diseases including infectious diseases, infertility, and gastrointestinal disorders. Investigation of hexane extract of the stem bark using chromatographic techniques led to isolation of a xanthone, 1-hydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyxanthone (Decussatin). The compound was elucidated based on spectroscopic methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), UV, IR, and mass spectrometry (MS). Decussatin and the hexane extract were screened in vitro for antibacterial and antifungal activities using broth microdilution (MHB) and disc Agar diffusion (DAD) techniques against Escheichia coli, Bacilus substilis, Klebsiela pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans. Hexane extracts showed potent antibacterial activity against E. coli and B. subtilis with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 8 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL, respectively, while Decussatin of the highest concentration (8 mg/mL) used in this study showed no appreciable antimicrobial activity. Only hexane extract was active against C. albicans with a MIC of 1 mg/mL.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, 234, Nigeria; E-Mails: habcoker@yahoo.com (H.A.B.C.); oyetayo68@yahoo.com (G.A.).
authors: Chinwendum Stephenie
authors: CS
authors: Alaribe
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Shode
authors: Herbert A B
authors: HA
authors: Coker
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Ayoola
authors: Adesegun
authors: A
authors: Sunday
authors: Nisha
authors: N
authors: Singh
authors: Silva
authors: S
authors: Iwuanyanwu
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006586:Hexanes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044004:Xanthones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D006586:Hexanes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044004:Xanthones; C508659:decussatin; C026385:n-hexane