Title:Phytochemical Investigation of the Antisalmonellal Effect of Cyperus sphacelatus Rottb. (Cyperaceae)
Volume: 1
Issue: 3
Author(s): Napoleon A. Mfonku, Gabriel T. Kamsu, Norbert Kodjio, Jie Ren, James A. Mbah*, Donatien Gatsing and Jixun Zhan*
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemistry, University of Buea, Box 63, Buea,Cameroon
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, 4105 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-4105,United States
Keywords:
Cyperus sphacelatus, rhizomes, scabequinon-6(14)-ene, antibacterial activity, Salmonella, minimal inhibitoryconcentration.
Abstract: Background: Typhoid fever is a major health burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conventional
anti-typhoid drugs are becoming more and more unavailable to most patients in Africa due to
the increased costs and emerging drug resistance. Therefore, there is a need for the discovery of new
antimicrobial agents to combat typhoid fever.
Objective: This work aimed to investigate the bioactive components in Cyperus sphacelatus Rottb.
(Cyperaceae) and test the antisalmonellal activity of the isolated compounds.
Methods: Compound purification was done through column chromatography. Structure elucidation
was accomplished based on the 1D and 2D NMR, IR and mass spectra. The biological assay was
done using five bacterial strains, including Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica sérovars Typhi
ATCC 6539 (STS), S. enterica subsp. enterica sérovars Typhi (ST), S. enteritidis (STE), S. enterica
subsp. enterica sérovars Typhimurim (STM), and a resistant isolate of S. enterica subsp. enterica
sérovars Typhi (ST566).
Results: Three natural products were isolated from the methylene chloride extract of the rhizomes
of C. sphacelatus, including a new furanoquinone, scabequinon-6(14)-ene (1) and two known compounds,
cyperotundone (2) and vanillin (3). Compound 1 showed moderate antisalmonellal activity,
with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 32 μg/mL against STM and STS. The best inhibitory
result was obtained with compound 2 on STM with a MIC of 8 μg/mL. Compound 2 also gave
the best minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 32 μg/mL on the STM strain.
Conclusion: The discovery of the three antisalmonellal compounds from C. sphacelatus supports
the addition of this plant to typhoid fever preparations.
