Phenolic content, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Erica herbacea L

Acta Pol Pharm. 2013 Nov-Dec;70(6):1021-6.

Abstract

Antibacterial and antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid concentrations of aqueous, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts from the leaves and flowers of Erica herbacea L. were studied. In vitro antibacterial activity of the extracts was determined by macrodilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) have been determined. Testing was performed on 30 clinical isolates, including different strains of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus vulgaris. The values for MIC were in the range from 2.5 mg/mL to 40 mg/mL. The most sensitive bacterial strains were Proteus vulgaris strains. The aqueous extract from E. herbacea was found the most active. The total phenolic content was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and ranged between 14.98 and 119.88 mg GA/g. The concentration of flavonoids in extracts was determined using spectrophotometric method with aluminium chloride and obtained results varied from 16.19 to 26.90 mg RU/g. Antioxidant activity was monitored spectrophotometrically using DPPH reagent. The highest capacity to neutralize DPPH radicals was found in the aqueous extract from E. herbacea. The results of the total phenolic content determination of the examined extracts indicate that E. herbacea extracts are a rich source of phenolic compounds and also possess a significant antioxidant activity and moderate antibacterial activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Biphenyl Compounds / chemistry
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enterococcus faecalis / drug effects
  • Enterococcus faecalis / growth & development
  • Ericaceae* / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / isolation & purification
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Flowers
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Phenols / isolation & purification
  • Phenols / pharmacology*
  • Phytotherapy
  • Picrates / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Leaves
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Proteus vulgaris / drug effects
  • Proteus vulgaris / growth & development

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Flavonoids
  • Phenols
  • Picrates
  • Plant Extracts
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl