Fitoterapia 75 (2004) 228–230

Short report

Antibacterial compounds from the seeds of

Psoralea corylifolia
Naznin A. Khatunea, M. Ekramul Islama, M. Ekramul Haquea,
Proma Khondkara, M. Mukhlesur Rahmanb,1,*
a
Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, University of Rajshahi,
Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
b
Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
University of Strathclyde, SIBS Building, 27 Taylor Street, Glasgow G4 ONR Scotland, UK

Received 29 October 2002; accepted 18 December 2003

Abstract

Psoralidin, bakuchicin, psoralin and angelicin, isolated from the seeds of Psoralea
corylifolia, showed significant antibacterial activities against a number of Gram (q) and
Gram (y) bacteria.
䊚 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Psoralea corylifolia; Antibacterial activity

Plant. Psoralea corylifolia L. (Papilionaceae) w1–3x, seeds collected from the

adjoining areas of Rajshahi University Campus, Bangladesh in March–April 1998.
The plant was identified by Prof. A.T.M. Naderuzzaman, Department of Botany,
University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh where a voucher specimen was deposited.

Uses in traditional medicines. Seeds effective against leucoderma, leprosy, psoria-

sis, asthma, as stomachic, anthelmintic, diuretic and diaphoretic w2–4x.
*Corresponding author. Tel.: q880-721-570041y4110; fax: q880-721-570064.
E-mail address: mukhlesurrah@yahoo.co.uk (M. Mukhlesur Rahman).
1
Present addressDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh.

0367-326X/04/$ - see front matter 䊚 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2003.12.018
 N.A. Khatune et al. / Fitoterapia 75 (2004) 228–230 229

Table 1
In vitro antibacterial activities of compounds 1–4

Bacteria Compound 1 Compound 2 Compound 3 and K*

4
(1:1)
200 400 200 400 200 400 30
mgydisc mgydisc mgydisc mgydisc mgydisc mgydisc mgydisc
Gram (q)
Bacillus subltilis 15 16 12 16 17 22 12
B. cerius 12 13 10 13 15 18 20
B. megatrium 12 14 8 12 13 16 17
Staphylococcus aureus 18 20 9 12 23 27 26
Sarcina lutea 9 13 9 12 14 17 20
Streptococcus 13 9 10 14 13 16 18
b-haemolyticus
Gram (y)
Escherichia coli 17 22 9 12 18 21 23
Shigella dysenteriae 15 19 10 13 17 23 19
S. shiga 14 18 9 13 15 18 22
S. boydii 11 17 8 14 13 17 18
S. flexneri 15 22 9 14 15 18 20
S. sonnei 15 22 9 14 15 18 23
S. sarcinaceae 16 21 10 13 16 19 24
Pseudomonas aeruginosa 16 20 10 13 16 18 25
*
KsKanamycin.

Previous isolated class of constituents. Chalcone derivatives w5x, coumestan

derivatives w6x, coumarins w7x.

Tested materials. Psoralidin (1) w8x, bakuchicin (2), w9x, mixture (1:1) of psoralen
(3) and angelicin (4) w10x.

Studied activity. Antibacterial activity by disc diffusion method w11–13x.

Used microorganisms. Listed in Table 1.

Results. The results of the antibacterial activity of compounds 1–4 are presented in
Table 1.

Conclusion. Compounds 1–4 showed significant activities against all test organisms.
Compound 1 showed stronger activity against Gram (y) Shigella sonnei and S.
230 N.A. Khatune et al. / Fitoterapia 75 (2004) 228–230

flexneri. Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited the highest activity against Gram (q)
Staphylococcus aureus.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Prof. A.T.M. Naderuzzaman, Department of Botany,

University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh for the identification of the plant.

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