Abstract
An extract from Salvia officinalis (Sage) leaves showed antimicrobial activity against vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). We isolated the effective compound and identified it as oleanolic acid, a triterpenoid. We also tested antimicrobial activity of similar triterpenoids, ursolic acid, uvaol, betulinic acid and betulin. We found that ursolic acid also showed antimicrobial activity against VRE. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were 8 and 4 μg/ml, respectively. These two compounds also showed antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These compounds showed bactericidal activity against VRE at least for 48 h when added at concentrations that were two-times higher than their MICs.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1147-1149 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Bactericidal activity
- Oleanolic acid
- Sage
- Ursolic acid
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceutical Science