HPLC analysis and antimicrobial potential of plant extracts.

Abstract

The use of plant and its products has a long history that began with folk medicine and through the years has been incorporated into traditional and allopathic medicine. The therapeutic effect of these plants is related to the content of many biologically active compounds, including flavonoids, phenols and tannins. Although there were several hundred thousand plant species around the globe, only a small proportion has been investigated both phytochemically and pharmacologically. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine polyphenolic compounds and antimicrobial potential of acetone extract of Echium italicum and Anchusa officinalis. The plants belong to the family Boraginaceae, and have long been used in folk medicine. Determination of polyphenolic compounds in tested extracts was performed by HPLC analysis. The antimicrobial potential of acetone extracts was examined by the microdilution method. HPLC analysis of examined extracts of A. officinalis and E. italicum confirmed the presence of the following polyphenolic compounds: p-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapinic acid, rutin, lutein glycoside, apigenin glycoside, rosmarinic acid, quercetin, lutein, naringenin and kaempferol. Acetone extracts of the tested plants showed extremely good antimicrobial potential compared to the standard antibiotic amracin. The maximum antimicrobial activity showed by the acetone extract of E. italicum in the control of S. enteritidis (3.91 μg/ml) and P. vulgaris (7.81 μg/ml), and acetone extract of A. officinalis in the control of E. aerogenes and L. ivanovii (31.25 μg/ml). This study showed that acetone extracts had a significant amount of polyphenolic compounds with extremely good antimicrobial potential