Antimicrobial activity of saponins from Acacia auriculiformis

• Published in: Fitoterapia 2005-07, Vol.76 (5), p.462-465
• Main Authors: Mandal, P., Sinha Babu, S.P., Mandal, N.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acacia; Acaciaside A and B; Anti-Infective Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; Antibacterial; Antifungal; Aspergillus - drug effects; Bacillus megaterium - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; General pharmacology; Humans; Isocitrate dehydrogenase; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mitosporic Fungi - drug effects; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phosphofructokinase; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Salmonella typhimurium - drug effects; Saponins - administration & dosage; Saponins - pharmacology; Saponins - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0367-326X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2005.03.004

Acaciaside A and B, two acylated bisglycoside saponins originally isolated from the funicles of Acacia auriculiformis, are known to have antihelminthic activity. Their antifungal and antibacterial activities were investigated. Complete inhibition of conidial germination of Aspergillus ochraceous and Curvularia lunata was recorded at 300 μg/ml or less whereas to inhibit the growth of Bacillus megaterium, Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 700 μg/ml or higher concentrations of the mixture was required. Two catabolic enzymes, phosphofructokinase and isocitrate dehydrogenase, responded differentially in fungi and bacteria against sublethal concentrations of the compound when assayed from their cell free extracts. An increased specific activity of the enzymes in bacteria and a decrease activity in fungi indicate a possible different mechanism of inhibition of saponins on the organisms tested.