Planta Med 2007; 73 - P_172
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-986953

Antibacterial, anti-diarrheal activity of Daniellia oliveri and Ficus sycomorus and their constituents

AA Ahmadu 1, A Agunu 2, JO Enhimidu 3, P Magiatis 4, AL Skaltsounis 4
  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical and medicinal Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria
  • 3Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharm.Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria
  • 4Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Universityof Athens, Greece

In our continuing search for bioactive compounds from Nigerian medicinal plants, the leaves of Daniellia oliveri Hutch and Dalz, and Ficus sycomorus L. were investigated. Both plants are used in traditional medicine of Northern Nigeria to treat diarrhea, skin infection, inflammation, wounds and diabetes [1, 2]. The ethanol and n-butanol extracts of leaves of both plants were screened for antimicrobial activity by agar diffusion technique [3]).The n-butanol extracts of both plants inhibited the growth of standard bacteria and fungal species which include S.aureus, E.coli, Ps.aeruginosa, B.subtilis T.rubrum and C.albicans. The zones of inhibition for D. oliveri were: S.aureus 20.0mm, E.coli 21.0mm, Ps.aeruginosa 15.5mm, T.rubrum 10.5mm while both C.albicans and B.subtilis showed no activity. Zones of inhibition for F. sycomorus were: S.aureus 26.00mm, E.coli 25.5mm, Ps. aeruginosa 25.0mm, B.subtilis 27.5mm and C.albicans 16.5mm. Both extracts exhibited significant antidiarrheal activity using castor oil induced diarrhea in mice [4]. The LD50 of both extracts were found to be >5000mg/kg for Daniellia and 1161.4mg/kg for Ficus sycomorus. Fractionation of the n-butanol extract of D. oliveri over silica gel G and Sephadex LH-20 gave flavonoids identified as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, quercitrin, quercimeritrin and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy and by comparison with data reported in the literature [5, 6], while the dichloromethane soluble part of the ethanol leaf extract of F. sycomorus gave lupenone, lupenol, β-amyrin and stigmasterol, their structures were elucidated by comparison of their NMR spectra with that reported in the literature.

References:

[1] Hutchinson, J and Dalziel, J.M(1957) Flora of West Tropical Africa. A crown agent for oversea Publication, London. 110–114

[2] Onwukeama, DN and Udoh, F(1999). Nig. Journ. of Nat. Products and Medicine. Vol.3 39–41

[3] Collins, H and Patricia, NL(1970) Microbiological methods.

[4] Agunu, A et al(2005). Journ of Ethnopharm. 61, 209–213

[5] Anderson, M.O and Markham, K.R(2005) Flavonoids, chemistry, Biochemistry and application. 54–62

[6] Mabry, T.J et al(1970) The Systematic identification of Flavonoids. 296–301