TITLE:
In Vitro Efficacy of Crataegus oxycantha L. (Hawthorn) and Its Major Components against ATCC and Clinical Strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum
AUTHORS:
Carlo Bisignano, Pio Maria Furneri, Giuseppina Mandalari
KEYWORDS:
Crataegus oxycantha, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Flavonoids, Antimicrobial
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Microbiology,
Vol.6 No.12,
October
18,
2016
ABSTRACT: Crataegus oxycantha L., commonly known as hawthorn, has traditionally been used for its beneficial
effect on cardiovascular health, which is related to its flavonoid content. The
aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of a
fluid extract and a hydro-ethanolic macerate from buds of Crataegus oxycantha against clinical isolates of Ureaplasma urealyticum. The major purified flavonoids present in the
extracts were also tested against ATCC strains and clinical isolates. Both the fluid extract and the hydro-ethanolic
macerate were active against thirty-due clinical strains of U. urealyticum, with MIC ranges between
15.6 and 250 μg/ml and 15.6 and 62.5 μg/ml, respectively. All pure organic
compounds, with the exception of rutin, showed activity against the strains
tested, luteolin 3,7-diglucoside being the most active compound (MICs in the
range of 0.48 and 1.95 μg/ml), followed by apigenin-7-O-glucoside (MICs in the range of 0.48 and 3.9 μg/ml). The activity of the pure flavonoids was
greater against the clinical isolates compared to the ATCC strains. The data
presented here demonstrate that flavonoids present in Crataegus oxycantha are effective against clinical isolates of U. urealyticum and could be used in
combination with antibiotics in order to combat resistance.