Antibacterial and antimycobacterial lignans and flavonoids from Larrea tridentata

Phytother Res. 2012 Dec;26(12):1957-60. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4660. Epub 2012 Mar 15.

Abstract

Three lignans and four flavonoids were isolated and characterized from Larrea tridentata and compounds were tested against 16 bacterial species/strains. Results showed that: dihydroguaiaretic acid (1) had activity towards methicillin resistant (MR) Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 50 µg/mL) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MIC 12.5-50 µg/mL); 4-epi-larreatricin (2) was active against Enterobacter cloacae (MIC 12.5 µg/mL), as well as sensitive (MIC 50 µg/mL) and MDR strains of M. tuberculosis (MIC 25 µg/mL). 3'-Demethoxy-6-O-demethylisoguaiacin (3) displayed activity against sensitive and resistant S. aureus (MIC 25 µg/mL), Enterococcus faecalis (MIC 12.5 µg/mL), Escherichia coli (MIC 50 µg/mL), E. cloacae (MIC 12.5 µg/mL) and MDR strains of M. tuberculosis (MIC 12.5 µg/mL). 5,4'-Dihydroxy-3,7,8,3'-tetramethoxyflavone (4) and 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (5) were active against M. tuberculosis MDR strains having MIC values of 25 and 25-50 µg/mL, respectively, while 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (6) was active against S. aureus (MIC 50 µg/mL) and E. faecalis (MIC 50 µg/mL). We concluded that lignan 3 is the main compound responsible for the antibacterial activity of L. tridentata. Lignans 1 and 2 as well as flavonoid 6 contribute with some degree of antibacterial activity. On the other hand, compounds 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 contributed to the antimycobacterial activity found in L. tridentata.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Flavonoids / isolation & purification
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Larrea / chemistry*
  • Lignans / isolation & purification
  • Lignans / pharmacology*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Flavonoids
  • Lignans
  • Plant Extracts