Antifungal and antibacterial activity and chemical composition of polar and non-polar extracts of Athrixia phylicoides determined using bioautography and HPLC

Lyndy Joy Mcgaw,Martin Steven Myer,Paul Anton Steenkamp,Victor Patrick Bagla,Jana Olivier,Gerda Fouche,Jacobus Nicolaas Eloff

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-13-356

Abstract

BackgroundAthrixia phylicoides DC. (Asteraceae) is used medicinally in South Africa to treat a plethora of ailments, including heart problems, diabetes, diarrhoea, sores and infected wounds. It is also prepared in the form of a tea (hot decoction) taken as a refreshing, pleasant-tasting beverage with commercialization potential.MethodsExtracts of the dried ground aerial parts were prepared using organic solvents (diethyl ether, dichloromethane/methanol, ethyl acetate and ethanol) and water. These extracts were subjected to HPLC, TLC and bioautography analysis with the aim of linking a range of peaks visualized in HPLC chromatography profiles to antibacterial and antifungal activity of the same extracts.ResultsHPLC revealed a group of compounds extracted by more than one solvent. Compounds identified include inositol, caffeic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin, hymenoxin and oleanolic acid. The organic extracts displayed similar TLC profiles, and bioautography indicated approximately five antibacterial compounds, but only two antifungal compounds in these extracts. Bioautography indicated that cold water extracted the least antimicrobial compounds.ConclusionsSeveral previously unknown compounds were identified in Athrixia phylicoides extracts, and bioautography indicated a number of antibacterial and antifungal compounds. There were notable differences in chemical composition and bioactivity between the organic and aqueous extracts. Further research is necessary to fully characterize the active components of the extracts.

Highlights

Athrixia phylicoides DC. (Asteraceae) is used medicinally in South Africa to treat a plethora of ailments, including heart problems, diabetes, diarrhoea, sores and infected wounds
A. phylicoides leaves and twigs are prepared as a hot decoction and drunk as a pleasant-tasting, non-medicinal tea by indigenous South Africans
The filtered samples were analyzed according to a variation of the High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method developed by Kamatou and co-workers [33], as well as by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and bioautography [30]

Summary

Introduction

Athrixia phylicoides DC. (Asteraceae) is used medicinally in South Africa to treat a plethora of ailments, including heart problems, diabetes, diarrhoea, sores and infected wounds. (Asteraceae) is used medicinally in South Africa to treat a plethora of ailments, including heart problems, diabetes, diarrhoea, sores and infected wounds. It is prepared in the form of a tea (hot decoction) taken as a refreshing, pleasant-tasting beverage with commercialization potential. Decoctions and infusions prepared from the leaves and twigs of A. phylicoides are widely used by rural people to treat a variety of ailments, including sores, boils, acne, infected wounds [10], hypertension, circulation and heart problems, diabetes, diarrhoea, vomiting and skin conditions [4]. A. phylicoides leaves and twigs are prepared as a hot decoction and drunk as a pleasant-tasting, non-medicinal tea by indigenous South Africans. According to a recent survey, more rural and urban respondents use the plant as a tea rather than for medicinal purposes [4]

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