In vitro activity of eugenol, an active component from Ocimum sanctum , against multiresistant and susceptible strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

• Published in: International journal of antimicrobial agents 2008-08, Vol.32 (2), p.174-179
• Main Authors: Shokeen, P, Bala, M, Singh, M, Tandon, V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antigonorrhoeal activity; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the genital system; Bioassay-guided purification; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Eugenol; Eugenol - pharmacology; General aspects; Gonorrhoea; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Neisseria gonorrhoeae - drug effects; Ocimum - chemistry; Ocimum sanctum; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Leaves - chemistry
• ISSN: 0924-8579; 1872-7913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2008.03.018

Abstract In view of the widespread emergence of resistant isolates, an attempt was made to isolate and characterise the component(s) of Ocimum sanctum with activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Bioassay-guided purification of the hexane extract of leaves of O. sanctum was carried out, which yielded H12c as the active compound. H12c was characterised and was determined to be eugenol, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 85–256 mg/L. The antigonorrhoeal efficacy of H12c was better against multiresistant strains. The 50% lethal dose (LD50 ) of H12c was found to be 2 g/kg body weight in rats. In view of its efficacy and lower toxicity, eugenol may be a potentially suitable molecule to be developed clinically in response to emerging resistant isolates of N. gonorrhoeae.