Planta Med 2013; 79 - PF1
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1348584

Antimicrobial and Antileishmanial Compounds from Maclura pomifera Fruits

HRW Dharmaratne 1, M Jacob 1, BL Tekwani 1, NPD Nanayakkara 1
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, the University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677

A methylene chloride extract of fruits of Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C.K. Schneid, also known as osage orange, showed good in vitro antimicrobial and antileishmanial activities. Activity-guided fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of previously identified isoflavones, osajin (1) and pomiferin (2) as the active compounds. Osajin (1) showed potent activity against Cryptococcus neoformans (IC50 < 0.8 µg/mL) and moderate activities against methicillin-susceptible (IC50 4.11 µg/mL) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) (IC50 4.11 µg/mL) Staphylococcus aureus. Pomiferin (2) showed good MRSA activity (IC50 2.21 µg/mL). Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited activity against Leishmania donovani promastigotes (IC50 6.33 and 6.64 µg/mL, respectively). These compounds have previously been reported to have antimicrobial activity.