Planta Med 2000; 66(4): 361-363
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-8536
Letter
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Antimicrobial Activity of 9-O-Acyl- and 9-O-Benzoyl-Substituted Berberrubines

Sa Weon Hong1 , Sung Han Kim1 , Jung Ae Jeun1 , Sang Jun Lee2 , Sung Uk Kim2 , Jung Han Kim1,*
  • 1 Department of Biotechnology, Bioproducts Research Center, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
  • 2 Plant Protectants RU., Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Taejon, Korea
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Abstract

In the course of a structure-activity relationship study on berberrubine derivatives, a series of compounds bearing 9-O-acyl- (4 - 6) and 9-O-benzoyl- (7) substituents was synthesized with the expectation of increasing the antimicrobial activity. One of the berberrubine derivatives, 9-lauroylberberrubine chloride was the most active against Gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis as well as the Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae in comparison to berberine, the currently used antibiotic in clinic. This result suggested that the presence of lipophilic substituents of certain structures and sizes might be crucial for the optimal antimicrobial activity.

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Dr. J. H. Kim

Department of Biotechnology College of Engineering Yonsei University

134 Shinchon-dong

Seoul 120-749

Korea

Email: junghan@bubble.yonsei.ac.kr

Phone: +822-362-7265