title: Antibacterial, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic effects of Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmanns. et Link leaves' fractions.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the bioactivity of the methanol fraction (MF) and n-hexane fraction (HF) of Thymus capitatus leaves in relation to their constituents analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effects of T. capitatus on the growth of pathogenic bacteria associated with respiratory diseases (13 gram-positive and 4 gram-negative) were determined using a microdilution method. The MF was particularly effective on Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), ferric-reducing antioxidant power and β-carotene bleaching assays. A strong activity using β-carotene bleaching test was observed with the MF (IC50 of 0.7 μg/mL after 30 min of incubation). In the hypoglycaemic test, a selective α-amylase inhibitory activity was detected with the HF begging the most active (IC50 of 422.5 μg/mL). T. capitatus may represent a source of natural bioactive compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Microbiology Section and.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iauk
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Acquaviva
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mastrojeni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amodeo
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ragusa
authors.forename: Monica R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Loizzo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tundis
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000516:alpha-Amylases
keywords: Antibacterial properties; GC-MS analysis; Thymus capitatus; antioxidant; hypoglycaemic