Antimicrobial activity of xanthones from Calophyllum species, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Abstract

During the past 5 years, a considerable number of known and new xanthones from the Calophyllum species of Sri Lanka have been isolated and characterized. We have investigated the antimicrobial activity of Calophyllum xanthones, with a special reference to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These activity studies were carried out using the agar plate method. Calozeloxanthone, a xanthone which has been isolated from C. moonii and C. lankensis, showed the highest activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains at a concentration of 8.3 microg/ml. Hence, calozeyloxanthone appears to hold promise as an antimicrobial agent in the treatment of infections with S. aureus, including methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MRSA), and should be investigated further.

• Authors: H R Dharmaratne, W M Wijesinghe, V Thevanasem
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 66 Issue 3 Pg. 339-42 (Sep 1999) ISSN: 0378-8741 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 10473182 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Penicillins
• Plant Extracts
• Xanthenes
• Xanthones
• calozeloxanthone
• calozeyloxanthone
• Methicillin

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (pharmacology)
• Drug Resistance, Microbial
• Methicillin (pharmacology)
• Penicillins (pharmacology)
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Species Specificity
• Staphylococcus aureus (classification, drug effects)
• Xanthenes (pharmacology)
• Xanthones