ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF PENTACYCLIC TRITERPENES ISOLATED FROM ACACIA MELLIFERA

Authors

  • Charles Mutai Kenya Medical Research Institute
  • Christine Bii Kenya Medical Research Institute
  • Geoffrey Rukunga Kenya Medical Research Institute
  • J. Ondicho University of Athens
  • P. Mwitari University of Athens
  • D. Abatis Kenya Medical Training College
  • C. Vagias
  • V. Roussis
  • J. Kirui

Keywords:

Antimicrobial pentacyclic triterpenes, Kenya medicinal plant.

Abstract

Acacia mellifera has been used widely in traditional African medicines against various diseases. Among the Kipsigis community of Kenya, water extracts from the plant is used for the treatment of skin diseases, coughs and gastrointestinal ailments. The aim of the study was to provide scientific rationale for the use of the plant in traditional medicine through bioassay-guided fractionation of A. mellifera stem bark. Bioactivity testing was done against selected microbes using disc diffusion technique as outlined in Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). Structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was based primarily on 1D and 2D NMR analyses, including HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY correlations. Fractionation yielded three triterpenoids; (20S)-oxolupane-30-al, (20R)-oxolupane-30-al, and betulinic acid. The three compounds were active against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and only (20S)-oxolupane-30-al against clinical isolate of Microsporum gypseum. The three compounds had no activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Enterococcus feacalis, Candida albicans ATCC 90028, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton mentagrophyte, Candida krusei, Microsporum gypseum, and Sacharomyces cerevisiae. These results explain and support the use of A. mellifera stem barks for the treatment of infectious diseases in traditional Kenya medicine.It also shows that the antimicrobial activity is concentrated in the triterpenoid fractions

Author Biographies

Charles Mutai, Kenya Medical Research Institute

Center for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Senior Research Scientist

Christine Bii, Kenya Medical Research Institute

Center for Microbiology, Senior Research Scientist

Geoffrey Rukunga, Kenya Medical Research Institute

Center for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Chief Research Scientist

J. Ondicho, University of Athens

Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products

P. Mwitari, University of Athens

Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products

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Published

2008-10-25

How to Cite

Mutai, C., Bii, C., Rukunga, G., Ondicho, J., Mwitari, P., Abatis, D., Vagias, C., Roussis, V., & Kirui, J. (2008). ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF PENTACYCLIC TRITERPENES ISOLATED FROM ACACIA MELLIFERA. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 6(1), 42–48. Retrieved from https://journals.athmsi.org/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/378

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2009)

Section

Research Papers

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