ANTIVIRAL, ANTIFUNGAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE CHINESE MEDICINAL PLANTS, HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA, LOBELIA CHINENSIS AND SELAGINELLA UNCINATA

Authors Sit, Nam Weng; Chan, Yik Sin; Chuah, Bee Ling; Cheng, Ri Jin; Leong, Wei Min; Khoo, Kong Soo

Journal SOUTHEAST ASIAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH , MAY 2017,3:48

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the extracts of Houttuynia cordata (Saururaceae), Lobelia chinensis (Campanulaceae) and Selaginella uncinata (Selaginellaceae) for their antimicrobial activities against Chikungunya virus, selected yeasts, filamentous fungi, and gram-positive and gram negative bacteria of medical importance. Fresh preparations of the studied plants were sequentially extracted to obtain six different extracts. The extracts were examined for cytopathic inhibition effect on African monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells co-infected with Chikungunya virus. The chloroform extract of L. chinensis had the highest cytopathic inhibition effect with mean (+/- SD) cell viability of 66.5% (+/- 2.1)% at 40 mu g/ml. The mean (+/- SD) 50% effective concentration and selectivity index for this extract were 28.4 (+/- 0.8) mu g/ml and 7.5, respectively. A colorimetric broth micro dilution assay revealed the hexane extract of H. cordata was the only extract with broad spectrum fungistatic activity against all six species of fungi evaluated, with mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.08 to 1.25 mg/ml. As for antibacterial activity, the chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of S. uncinata exhibited broad spectrum bacteriostatic activity against all six species of bacteria, with mean MIC ranges of 0.63-1.25 and 0.63-2.50 mg/ml, respectively. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were found to be dependent on the species of microorganisms, testing concentration, and extractant used. The leaf extracts of H. cordata and S. uncinata are potential sources of new antifungal or antibacterial agents with broad spectrum activity. The chloroform extract of L. chinensis warrants isolation of the compounds active against Chikungunya virus due to its potency.

Species covered 半边莲 Lobelia chinensis 翠云草 Selaginella uncinata 蕺菜 Houttuynia cordata