Planta Med 2009; 75 - PJ38
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234843

Antimicrobial activity of selected extracts and some compounds from Ruscus aculeatus L., R. hypoglossum L. and R. alexandrinus Garsault (Ruscaceae)

N Hadžifejzović 1, M Soković 2, J Glamočlija 2, D Stojković 2, S Petrović 3, J Kukić-Marković 3, A Nahrstedt 4
  • 1MADAUS GmbH, Colonia Allee 15, 51067 Köln, Germany
  • 2Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković“, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
  • 3Institute of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
  • 4Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Hittorfstrasse 56, 48149Münster, Germany

Here we report on the antimicrobial activity of some polar extracts of Ruscus aculeatus (MeOH, EtOAc and BuOH herb extracts and MeOH rhizome extract), the MeOH extracts of the R. hypoglossum and R. alexandrinus herbs, as well as of some compounds previously isolated from these Ruscus extracts (rutin, p-coumaric, caffeic, and dimethoxycinnamic acid) [1]. The modified microdilution technique [2,3] was used for testing on eight bacterial strains: Escherichia coli (ATCC 35210), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 13311), Enterobacter cloacae (humane isolate), Listeria monocytogenes (NCTC 7973), Bacillus cereus (humane isolate), Micrococcus flavus (ATCC 10240), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), and five fungi: Aspergillus versicolor (ATCC 11730), Aspergillus niger (ATCC 6275), Aspergillus fumigatus (ATCC 9142), Penicillium funiculosum (ATCC 36839), and Trichoderma viride (IAM 5061).

All tested extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity in a wide range of concentrations (0.1–4mg/ml). Values of MICs and MBCs against bacterial strains were 0.1 to 2mg/mL and 0.2 to 4mg/mL, respectively. Antifungal activity was almost in the same range (MICs 0.25 to 2mg/mL, and MFCs 0.5 to 3mg/mL). EtOAc extract of R. aculeatus herb had the best antimicrobial effect. The four isolated compounds showed much better activity against tested microorganisms (MICs, MBCs and MFCs in a range 0.05–0.3mg/mL, 0.05–0.4mg/mL, and 0.1–0.3mg/mL, respectively). Activity of isolated compounds was comparable with the activity of standard antibiotics: streptomycin (MICs and MBCs in a range 0.05 to 0.3mg/mL) and ampicillin (MICs and MBCs in a range 0.1 to 0.5mg/mL) and fungicides: bifonazole (MBCs and MFCs in a range 0.1 to 0.25mg/mL) and ketoconazole (MICs and MFCs in a range 0.2 to 3mg/mL, respectively). Results pointed out that these compounds mainly contribute to the obtained antimicrobial effects of the investigated Ruscus extracts.

References: [1] Hadžifejzović, N. (2006) PhD Thesis. University of Münster, Germany.

[2] Hanel, H. and Raether, W. (1998) Mycoses 31:148–154.

[3] Daouk, R.K. et al. (1995)J. Food Protect. 58:1147–1149.