Antibacterial Aromatic Isothiocyanates from the Essential Oil of Hippocratea welwitschii Roots

Maurice W. Iwu Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Nwaeze C. Unaeze Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Chris O. Okunji Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

David G. Corley American Cyanamid Company, Medical Research Division, Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, New York, 10965

Dale R. Sanson Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 65211

Michael S. Tempesta Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 65211

Abstract

The volatile oil obtained from the roots of Hippocratea welwitschii, a medicinal plant used in Igbo (Nigeria) ethnomedicine as an anti-infective agent, exhibited broad spectrum activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of the essential oil indicated the presence of two major aromatic isothiocyanates, benzyl isothiocyanate (1) and 4-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate (2) which were isolated characterized and bioassayed. The isothiocyanates were found to be antimicrobial, with MIC values of 60 to 200 jog/ml. Phytochemical tests on the crude drug indicated the presence of triterpenes, cyanogenic glycosides and saponins.

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Antibacterial Aromatic Isothiocyanates from the Essential Oil of Hippocratea welwitschii Roots

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Antibacterial Aromatic Isothiocyanates from the Essential Oil of Hippocratea welwitschii Roots

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