Antibacterial and antifungal efficacy of fatty acid methyl esters from the leaves of Sesuvium portulacastrum L

• Published in: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences Vol. 15; no. 7; p. 775
• Main Authors: Chandrasekaran, M, Senthilkumar, A, Venkatesalu, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01-07-2011
• Subjects: Aizoaceae - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antifungal Agents - isolation & purification; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacteria - growth & development; Chromatography, Gas; Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; Esters - isolation & purification; Esters - pharmacology; Fatty Acids - isolation & purification; Fatty Acids - pharmacology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mitosporic Fungi - drug effects; Mitosporic Fungi - growth & development; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves
• ISSN: 1128-3602

The fatty acid methyl esters (FAME extract) from Sesuvium (S.) portulacastrum was studied for its fatty acid composition and antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic microorganisms.
The gas chromatographic analysis of FAME extract revealed the presence of palmitic acid with the highest relative percentage (31.18%), followed by oleic acid (21.15%), linolenic acid (14.18%) linoleic acid (10.63%), myristic acid (6.91%) and behenic acid (2.42%). The saturated fatty acids were higher than the unsaturated fatty acids. FAME extract showed the highest antibacterial and anticandidal activities and moderate antifungal activity against the tested microorganisms. The highest mean zone of inhibition (16.3 mm) and the lowest MIC (0.25 mg/ml) and MBC (0.5 mg/ml) values were recorded against Bacillus subtilis. The lowest mean zone of inhibition (8.8 mm) and the highest MIC (8 mg/ml) and MFC (16 mg/ml) values were recorded against Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger.
The results of the present study justify the use of S. portulacastrum in traditional medicine and the FAME extract can be used as a potential antimicrobial agent against the tested human pathogenic microorganisms.