Flavonoid constituents from Morettia philaena and their antimicrobial activity

A successive petroleum ether, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol extracts of Morettia philaena (Delile) DC. (Cruciferae) flowering aerial parts were tested for their antimicrobial activity. The ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were found to be most effective against most of the tested organisms. The chemical investigation of these extracts afforded nine flavonoids using chromatographic techniques. These are kaempferol, kaempferol 3-O-β-glucoside, kaempferol 3,7 di-O-β-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-sophroside-7-O-β-glucoside, quercetin, quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-β-gentobioside, orientin and isoorientin. Their structures were established through chemical and spectral analysis. All flavonoids were evaluated to show a broad antimicrobial spectrum of activity on microorganisms including seven bacterial and two fungal species. Among them, the isolated aglycones had stronger bioactivity than their glycosides.

Acknowledgement: This work was financially supported by the Phytochemistry and Plant Systematic Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.