In this study, the antibacterial activity of disesquiterpene coumarin and sesquiterpene coumarins obtained from Ferula pseudalliacea roots was evaluated by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration using the broth micro-dilution method against seven pathogenic bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25,923, vancomycin resistant clinical strain of Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus cereus PTCC 1015, Escherichia coli ATCC 25,922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PTCC 1430, clinical strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae and a clinical strain of Helicobacter pylori). The overall inhibitory activities of the compounds were higher against Gram positive tested bacteria. Sanandajin and ethyl galbanate demonstrated significant activity against H. pylori strain, as well as S. aureus strain in concentration of 64 μg/ml. Methyl galbanate inhibited vancomycin resistant strain of E. faecium in concentration of 64 μg/ml. The results of the present investigation indicated that disesquiterpene and sesquiterpene coumarins isolated from F. pseudalliacea root extract can be considered as potent antibacterial agents for pharmaceutical and food industries.
Keywords: Antibacterial; disesquiterpene coumarin; medicinal plant.