Antibacterial agents from the leaves of Crinum purpurascens herb (Amaryllidaceae)

Background: Typhoid fevers and urogenital infections continue to be serious health problems in developing countries. In our search for therapeutic agents from natural sources with potential for the treatment of typhoid fevers and urogenital infections, extract and compounds were obtained from Crinum purpurascens and tested. Methods: Two alkaloids (4,5-ethano-9,10-methylenedioxy-7-phenanthridone or hippadine (1) and 4,5-ethano-9-hydroxy- 10-methoxy-7-phenanthridone or pratorimine (2)) and one steroid (Beta-D -glucopyranoside of sitosterol (3)) were isolated from the CH2 Cl 2 /MeOH (1:1) leaf extract of Crinum purpurascens and screened for antibacterial activity using both agar diffusion and broth dilution techniques. Results: For the CH2 Cl 2 /MeOH extract, the MIC values obtained were 3 mg/ml (against P. aeruginosa), 4 mg/ml (against E. coli, K. pneumoniae and S. aureus) and 6 mg/ml (against S. typhi and S. paratyphi B), whereas the MBC values varied between 7 and 12 mg/ml. For compound 1, the MIC values varied between 200 and 250 µg/ml, whereas the MBC value was 300 µg/ml against all the bacteria strains used. Compound 2 did not show any antimicrobial activity against these bacteria strains. For compound 3, the MIC values varied between 250 and 300 µg/ml, whereas the MBC values were 300 µg/ml (against S. typhi and S. paratyphi B) and 300 µg/ml (against the other bacteria strains). Conclusion: These data suggest that C. purpurascens leaf extract contains antibacterial agents which could be used in the treatment of typhoid fevers and urogenital infections.