title: Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of a hexane extract of Tunisian caprifig latex from the unripe fruit of Ficus carica.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The plant kingdom has become a target in the search for new drugs and biologically active lead compounds. The common Jrani Tunisian caprifig Ficus carica L. (Moraceae) is one of the large number of plant species that are used in folklore medicine yet to be investigated for the treatment of many diseases, including those of infectious nature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Hexane extract of the Tunisian common Jrani caprifig latex was assayed for antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Chemical composition of the extract was also investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hexane extract was obtained from Tunisian Jrani caprifig latex by maceration, and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The extract was tested in vitro for antibacterial activity by the disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was also determined for all the test cultures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six compounds of the extract were identified, 90.56% of the total area of peaks were coumarins. A strong bactericidal effect was demonstrated. The most sensitive bacteria were Staphylococcus saprophyticus clinical isolate, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, with a MIC of 19 µg/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate an effective in vitro antibacterial activity of the hexane extract of caprifig latex.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bio ressources (UR 03ES09), Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie, Monastir, Tunisie. ibrahimhoudarf@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Houda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lazreg-Aref
authors.forename: Massoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mars
authors.forename: Abdelwaheb
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fekih
authors.forename: Mahjoub
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aouni
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Said
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D003374:Coumarins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry; D005638:Fruit; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006586:Hexanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D007840:Latex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D057790:Staphylococcus saprophyticus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003374:Coumarins; D006586:Hexanes; D007840:Latex; D012997:Solvents