Objective: To identify the antimicrobial components present in Microglossa angolensis following fractionation of the methylene chloride extract of the aerial part of this plant.
Materials and methods: The plant was dried and extracted by percolation with methylene chloride. The dry extract was fractionated and purified by silica gel column chromatography. The isolated compounds were identified by comparison of their Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectral data with those reported in the literature. Antimicrobial activity was assayed by broth macro dilution method.
Results: The crude extract of M. angolensis displayed significant antifungal and antibacterial activities (MIC = 312.50-1250mug/ml). 6beta-(2-methylbut-2(Z)-enoyl)-3alpha,4alpha,15,16-bis-epoxy-8beta,10betaH-ent-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-20,12-olide and spinasterol were the most active compounds (MIC = 1.56-100mug/ml) and the most sensitive microorganisms were Enterococcus faecalis and Candida tropicalis for bacteria and yeasts respectively.
Conclusion: The isolation of these active antibacterial and antifungal principles supports the use of M. angolensis in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders.
Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Microglossa angolensis; chemical investigation; clerodane diterpenoids; compositae.