Antibacterial activity of Helleborus bocconei Ten. subsp. siculus root extracts |
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Authors: | S Puglisi A Speciale R Acquaviva G Ferlito S Ragusa R De Pasquale L Iauk |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Microbiological and Gynaecological Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, I-95124 Catania, Italy;2. Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy;3. Regional Forest Corps Detachment of Catania-Nicolosi, Catania, Italy;4. Department of Pharmacobiological Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy;5. Pharmacobiological Department, University of Messina, Messina, Italy |
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Abstract: | Aim of the studyRoots of Helleborus bocconei Ten. subsp. siculus (Schiffner) Merxm. & Podl. are widely used in veterinary folk medicine in Sicily (Italy) to diagnose and cure lower respiratory tract infections in cattle. This study intended to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of the methanolic root extract of Helleborus bocconei Ten. subsp. siculus, and of the bufadienolide and ecdysteroid fractions extracted from its roots, against strains belonging to species commonly associated with respiratory tract infections.Materials and methodsThe phytochemical screening of the previously prepared plant extracts was carried out by chemical, thin-layer chromatography and spectroscopic methods. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the extracts against seven different standard bacterial strains was evaluated by broth microdilution.ResultsAccording to the present study, Helleborus bocconei Ten. subsp. siculus roots contain bufadienolides and ecdysteroids, and the extracts containing these compounds, as well as the crude methanolic root extract, show antibacterial activity against microorganisms responsible for respiratory infections. In particular, the bufadienolide extract has the highest inhibitory activity against all the tested organisms, and, as the other extracts, shows the lowest MIC values (100 μg/ml) against Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae.ConclusionsSince the roots of Helleborus bocconei Ten. subsp. siculus contain substances with antibacterial activity, the traditional use of this plant may also derive from its antibacterial properties. |
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Keywords: | Helleborus bocconei Ten Bufadienolides Ecdysteroids Antibacterial activity |
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