Antibacterial, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic effects of Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmanns. et Link leaves' fractions. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iauk, Liliana; Acquaviva, Rosaria; Mastrojeni, Silvana; Amodeo, Andrea; Pugliese, Michela; Ragusa, Monica; Loizzo, Monica R.; Menichini, Francesco; Tundis, Rosa
• Is Part Of: Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry. Volume 30:Number 3(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 360
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Enzyme inhibitors -- Periodicals; Enzyme Inhibitors -- periodicals; Biochemistry -- periodicals; 572.7
• DOI: 10.3109/14756366.2014.930453
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-6366

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The aim of this study was to examine the bioactivity of the methanol fraction (MF) and <italic>n</italic>-hexane fraction (HF) of <italic>Thymus capitatus</italic> leaves in relation to their constituents analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effects of <italic>T. capitatus</italic> on the growth of pathogenic bacteria associated with respiratory diseases (13 gram-positive and 4 gram-negative) were determined using a microdilution method. The MF was particularly effective on <italic>Streptococcus pneumoniae</italic> and <italic>Moraxella catarrhalis</italic>. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2, 2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), ferric-reducing antioxidant power and β-carotene bleaching assays. A strong activity using β-carotene bleaching test was observed with the MF (IC₅₀ of 0.7 μg/mL after 30 min of incubation). In the hypoglycaemic test, a selective α-amylase inhibitory activity was detected with the HF begging the most active (IC₅₀ of 422.5 μg/mL). <italic>T. capitatus</italic> may represent a source of natural bioactive compounds.</p> </abstract>