Antimicrobial Activity of Fractions and Compounds from Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae/Guttiferae)

Abstract

Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae/Guttiferae) is a native Brazilian medicinal plant traditionally used against several diseases, including infectious pathologies. Crude methanolic extracts (CME) and two fractions, denoted non-polar (soluble in chloroform) and polar (nonsoluble in chloroform), were prepared from different parts of the plant (roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits) and studied. The following compounds were isolated and tested against pathogenic bacteria and yeasts by determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC): brasiliensic acid (1), gallic acid (2), epicatechin (3), protocatechuic acid (4), friedelin (5) and 1,5-dihydroxyxanthone (6). The results indicated that all the parts of the plant exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, which are selectively inhibited by components of C. brasiliense. No activity was observed against Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts tested. Regarding the isolated compounds, substance 4 showed antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms, whereas compound 6 exhibited antimicrobial activity only against Gram-positive bacteria. The results from the current study confirm and justify the popular use of this plant to treat infectious processes.

The Phytochemical Contents and Antimicrobial Activities of Malaysian <i>Calophyllum Rubiginosum</i>

“…Pretto and his co-authors showed that all the parts (roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits) of C. brasiliense exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and no activity was observed against Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts tested (Pretto et al, 2004). On the other hand, this difference in susceptibility between the bacteria is related to the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria.…”

“…Wide phytochemical studies have been reported that Calophyllum genus rich in xanthones, coumarins, biflavonoids, chalcones, benzofurans and triterpenes (Pretto et al, 2004;Taher et al, 2005). Some of these species are commonly employed in folk medicine, where it is used to treat bronchitis, gastric and hepatic disturbances, pain, inflammation, diabetes, hypertension, diarrhea, herpes, rheumatism, varicose, hemorrhoids and chronic ulcer, also it is used for treating toothache and to prevent wound infections by micro-organisms (Cottiglia et al, 2004;Pretto et al, 2004). As there is no data relative to phytochemical and biological activity of the rubiginosum species had been reported.…”

Antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties and zinc content of five south Portugal herbs

“…S. aureus can be inhibited by quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, gallic, coumaric, caffeic, ferulic, neochlorogenic, chlorogenic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids, a total of 11 different compounds. Among them the most powerful are kaempferol, chlorogenic, neochlorogenic and protocatechuic acids (Pretto et al 2004;Teffo et al 2010;Fiamegos et al 2011). From the tested plants C. monogyna was the plant with the highest number of them, 7, followed by G. purpureum with 6.…”

Antimicrobial screening of some medicinal plants from Mato Grosso Cerrado

“…The hexane and ethyl acetate stem bark extracts of Calophyllum brasiliense showed selective activity for gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus agalactiae with MIC values of 1000 µg/mL, but had no action against gramnegative bacteria (MICs >1000 µg/mL). Pretto et al (2004) demonstrated that methanol extract and polar and non-polar fractions from roots, stem, leaves, flowers and fruits from C. brasiliense exhibited selective antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria without effect against gram-negative bacteria. Corttiglia et al (2004) showed that secondary metabolites obtained from hexane and ethyl acetate stem bark extracts from C. brasiliense displayed antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria.…”