Abstract
Dichloromethane extracts of the stembark and root of Oroxylum indicum were found to have antimicrobial activities against Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus), Gramnegative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a yeast (Candida albicans). Bioassay-guided chromatographic fractionation led to the isolation of flavonoids (bacailein and chrysin) and a naphthoquinone, lapachol. Lapachol was found active against the Gram-positive bacteria, 5 μg giving a zone of inhibition equivalent to that shown by 5 μg streptomycin, whereas 5 μg chrysin gave inhibition zones of equal size to 5 μg streptomycin against Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The inhibitory activity of lapachol from O. indicum root against soya 5-lipoxygenase (IC(50) 0.79 μg/ml) was equivalent to that of the positive control fisetin (IC(50) 0.97 μg/ml) and 50 μg/ml of the dichloromethane extract of the rootbark gave 100% inhibition of leukocyte lipoxygenase. These activities might indicate an antiinflammatory effect for the dichloromethane extract, mainly due to the lapachol content.
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