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The antibacterial principle of Caesalpina sappan
Author(s) -
Xu HongXi,
Lee Song F.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.1524
Subject(s) - staphylococcus aureus , microbiology and biotechnology , antibacterial activity , minimum inhibitory concentration , antibiotics , bacteria , antibacterial agent , burkholderia , trypan blue , minimum bactericidal concentration , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , chemistry , biology , traditional medicine , medicine , in vitro , biochemistry , genetics
Abstract Using a bioassay‐directed purication scheme, the active antibacterial principle from Caesalpina sappan was isolated and identied to be brasilin. This compound showed potent activity against antibiotic‐resistant bacteria, notably methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin‐resistant enterococci (VRE), multi‐drug resistant Burkholderia cepacia as well as a number of other bacteria. The minimal inhibitory concentrations ranged from 4 to 32 µg/mL. The results from time‐kill studies showed that brasilin is bactericidal against MRSA. The addition of brasilin to growing MRSA cells resulted in a rapid inhibition of incorporation of [ 3 H] thymidine or [ 3 H] serine into DNA and proteins, respectively. Exposure of MRSA to a sub‐MIC level of brasilin for ten consecutive subcultures did not induce resistance to the compound. The Trypan blue dye exclusion test showed that brasilin lacked cytotoxicity against Vero cells. In conclusion, brasilin is an antibacterial principle from C. sappan and it has the potential to be developed into an antibiotic. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.