title: In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity of Pogostone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our pervious antibacterial studies on several traditional Chinese medicines have found that Patchouli oil from Pogostemon cablin had significant antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which has spread worldwide and infected innumerable people. In order to find the more active natural substances in Patchouli oil, one of the major components, Pogostone, was isolated and its antibacterial activity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro test, Pogostone was screened for antimicrobial properties against 83 bacteria comprising 35 gram positive and 48 gram negative bacteria strains via the agar double dilution method. In vivo test, specific pathogen free (SPF) strain of both male and female white Kunming mice, weighing 18-22 g, were used to test the protective ability of Pogostone after being injected with the median lethal doses (MLDs) of the tested strains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro test, Pogostone could inhibit both gram negative bacteria (0.098-1 600 µg/ml) and gram positive bacteria (0.098-800 µg/ml). For Corynebacterium xerosis and some Chryseobacterium indologenes, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of Pogostone were extremely low (<0.098 µg/ml). It was significant that Pogostone was also active against some drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA. Furthermore, Pogostone showed antibacterial activity in vivo against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and MRSA via intraperitoneal injection. Ninety percent of the mice infected with E. coil could be protected at the concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/kg, and 60% of the mice at 25 mg/kg, while the rate of protection for the mice infected with MRSA was 60% and 50% at doses of 100 and 50 mg/kg, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pogostone could be developed as a potential antibacterial agent for clinical therapy.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, China; Chengdu Huasun Group Inc. Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, China; Chengdu Huasun Group Inc. Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, China. Email: pengchengchengdu@126.com.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, China; Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C483658:Pogostone