A new antimicrobial peptide isolated from Oudneya africana seeds

Microbiol Immunol. 2009 Dec;53(12):658-66. doi: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2009.00183.x.

Abstract

Oudneya africana R. Br. (Brassicaceae), a wild-growing plant in the arid region of Tunisia, is used in ethno-medicinal treatment of microbial infections. Validation of ethno-therapeutic claims pertaining to the plant was sought by investigating its antimicrobial activity. A proteinaceous extract of the seeds, called AS-3000, showed activity against various organisms including L. monocytogenes, E. coli, B. subtilis, E. hirae, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans. Extract AS-3000 exhibited a synergistic effect against L. ivanovii when combined with vancomycin or chloramphenicol. The post-antibiotic inhibitory effect of the ampicillin/AS-3000 combination was 2.3-fold greater than for the antibiotic alone. The mode of action of AS-3000 on Listeria and Escherichia was visible using SEM. These results support the use of O. africana for treating microbial infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacillus subtilis / drug effects
  • Brassicaceae / chemistry*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Enterococcus / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Listeria / drug effects
  • Peptides / isolation & purification*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Pronase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects
  • Seeds / chemistry*
  • Trypsin Inhibitors / isolation & purification*
  • Trypsin Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Tunisia

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Peptides
  • Plant Extracts
  • Trypsin Inhibitors
  • Pronase