Sophoraflavanone G from Sophora pachycarpa Enhanced the Antibacterial Activity of Gentamycin against Staphylococcus aureus

• Published in: Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C. A journal of biosciences Vol. 61; no. 9; pp. 769 - 772
• Main Authors: Fakhimi, Ali, Iranshahi, Mehrdad, Emami, Seyed Ahmad, Amin-Ar-Ramimeh, Esam, Zarrini, Gholamreza, Shahverdi, Ahmad Reza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung 01.09.2006
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial Activity; Chromatography; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Drug Synergism; Flavanones - isolation & purification; Flavanones - pharmacology; Gentamicins - pharmacology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Sophora - chemistry; Sophoraflavanone G; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Synergism
• ISSN: 0939-5075; 1865-7125
• DOI: 10.1515/znc-2006-9-1026

In this study the enhancement effect of Sophora pachycarpa roots’ acetone extract on the antibacterial activity of gentamycin was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus. Disc diffusion and broth dilution methods were used to determine the antibacterial activity of gentamycin in the absence and presence of plant extract and its various fractions separated by TLC. A clinical isolate of S. aureus was used as test strain. The active component of the plant extract involved in enhancement of gentamycin’s activity had R = 0.72 on a TLC plate. The spectral data ( H NMR, C NMR) of this compound revealed that this compound was 5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxy-8- lavandulylflavanone (sophoraflavanone G), previously isolated from Sophora exigua. In the presence of 0.03 μg/ mL of sophoraflavanone G the MIC value of gentamycin for S. aureus decreased from 32 to 8 μg/mL (a fourfold decrease). These results signify that the ultra-low concentration of sophoraflavanone G potentiates the antimicrobial action of gentamycin suggesting a possible utilization of this compound in combination therapy against Staphylococcus aureus.