Growth-inhibiting effects of Paeonia lactiflora root steam distillate constituents and structurally related compounds on human intestinal bacteria.
The growth-inhibiting activities of Paeonia lactiflora (Paeoniaceae) root steam distillate constituents and structurally related compounds against nine harmful intestinal bacteria and eight lactic acid-producing bacteria were compared with those of two antibiotics, amoxicillin and tetracycline. Thymol, α-terpinolene, (-)-perilla alcohol and (1R)-(-)-myrtenol exhibited high to extremely high levels of growth inhibition of all the harmful bacteria, whereas thymol and α-terpinolene (except for Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393) inhibited the growth of all the beneficial bacteria (MIC, both 0.08-0.62 mg mL(-1)). Tetracycline and amoxicillin exhibited extremely high level of growth inhibition of all the test bacteria (MIC, <0.00002-0.001 mg mL(-1)). 1,8-Cineole, geraniol, (-)-borneol, (1S,2S,5S)-(-)-myrtanol, nerol, (S)-(-)-β-citronellol and (±)-lavandulol also exhibited inhibitory activity but with differing specificity and levels of activity. Structure-activity relationship indicates that structural characteristics, such as geometric isomerism, degrees of saturation, types of functional groups and types of carbon skeleton, appear to play a role in determining the growth-inhibiting activity of monoterpenoids. Global efforts to reduce the level of antibiotics justify further studies on naturally occurring P. lactiflora root-derived materials as potential preventive agents against various diseases caused by harmful intestinal bacteria such as clostridia.
Interdisciplinary Programme in Agriculture Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-921, Republic of Korea.
Luong Thi My
LT
Ngan
Joon-Kwan
JK
Moon
Jeong-Han
JH
Kim
Takayuki
T
Shibamoto
Young-Joon
YJ
Ahn
D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D056546:Lactobacillales / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D013227:Steam; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013227:Steam; D000658:Amoxicillin; D013752:Tetracycline