Planta Med 2008; 74 - PI34
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084942

Activities of the essential oil fraction of Artemisia capillaris and its main component, vulgarone B against antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria

EY Chung 1, JY Lee 1, HS Chung 2, YH Lee 3, S Shin 1
  • 1College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women's University, 132–714, Korea
  • 2College of Natural Sciences, Duksung Women's University, 132–714, Korea
  • 3College of Natural Sciences, Seoul Women's University, 132–714, Korea

Artemisia species are important sources for anti-microbial drugs [1]. Artemisia capillaris (Asteraceae) is known as the representative plant source for 'Injin', used in cases of various liver diseases. The essential oil was obtained by steam distillation, using a simultaneous steam distillation-extraction apparatus, from the above ground parts of plants cultivated in the province of Hongchun, Korea. A voucher specimen has been deposited at the Herbarium of Duksung Women's University. The compositions of the oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and compared. Additionally, their inhibiting activities were investigated by broth dilution method against antibiotic-susceptible and -resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria [2,3]. It was found that there was remarkable diversity in the composition of essential oils according to the cultivars. Vulgarone B, the main component of the oil was isolated by silica gel column chromatography. Its structure was elucidated by Mass-spectrometry, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. The tested essential oils significantly inhibited the growth of the tested strains of pathogenic bacteria with minimal inhibition concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.5 to 4mg/ml.

vulgarone B

Acknowledgements: This study was supported by a grant from Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF, R01–2006–000–10732–0).

References: 1. Shin, S. (2007) Yakhak Hoeji 31: 355–360.

2. Kim, Ji-Hyun and Shin, S. (2007) Nat. Prod. Sci. 13: 258–262.

3. Shin, S. (2005) Arch. Pharm. Res. 28: 765–769.