Journal article
Antibacterial properties of flavonoids from kino of the eucalypt tree, Corymbia torelliana
Plants, Vol.6(3), 39
2017
Abstract
Traditional medicine and ecological cues can both help to reveal bioactive natural compounds. Indigenous Australians have long used kino from trunks of the eucalypt tree, Corymbia citriodora, in traditional medicine. A closely related eucalypt, C. torelliana, produces a fruit resin with antimicrobial properties that is highly attractive to stingless bees. We tested the antimicrobial activity of extracts from kino of C. citriodora, C. torelliana × C. citriodora, and C. torelliana against three Gram-negative and two Gram-positive bacteria and the unicellular fungus, Candida albicans. All extracts were active against all microbes, with the highest activity observed against P. aeruginosa. We tested the activity of seven flavonoids from the kino of C. torelliana against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. All flavonoids were active against P. aeruginosa, and one compound, (+)-(2S)-40 ,5,7-trihydroxy-6-methylflavanone, was active against S. aureus. Another compound, 4 0 ,5,7-trihydroxy-6,8-dimethylflavanone, greatly increased biofilm formation by both P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. The presence or absence of methyl groups at positions 6 and 8 in the flavonoid A ring determined their anti-Staphylococcus and biofilm-stimulating activity. One of the most abundant and active compounds, 3,40 ,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone, was tested further against P. aeruginosa and was found to be bacteriostatic at its minimum inhibitory concentration of 200 µg/mL. This flavanonol reduced adhesion of P. aeruginosa cells while inducing no cytotoxic effects in Vero cells. This study demonstrated the antimicrobial properties of flavonoids in eucalypt kino and highlighted that traditional medicinal knowledge and ecological cues can reveal valuable natural compounds.
Details
- Title
- Antibacterial properties of flavonoids from kino of the eucalypt tree, Corymbia torelliana
- Authors
- Motahareh Nobakht (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringStephen J Trueman (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringHelen M Wallace (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringPeter R Brooks (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringKlrissa Streeter (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringMohammad Katouli (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- Plants, Vol.6(3), 39; 15
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Date published
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.3390/plants6030039
- ISSN
- 2223-7747; 2223-7747
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2017 The Authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. (CC BY 4.0).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450465602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
- Research Statement
- false
Metrics
77 File views/ downloads
1543 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Web Of Science research areas
- Plant Sciences
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites