Antimicrobial activity of terpenoids from Trichodesma amplexicaule Roth.

T. amplexicaule Roth. has been investigated phytochemically for biologically active constituents from the benzene extract. This yielded a mixture of terpenoids: beta-sitosterol, alpha-amyrin, lupeol, hexacosanoic acid, ceryl alcohol and hexacosane. The sequential extracts, isolated terpenoids and reference antibiotics were screened for their possible bioactivities against selected pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium chrysogenum etc. Out of the sequential extracts, the benzene extract was more potent against S. aureus (IZ = 10.36) and R. phaseoli (IZ = 10.69). The inhibition zones of isolated terpenoids were also recorded and the activity index was calculated and it was found that hexacosane was more active (IZ = 13.39) against E. coli and hexacosanoic acid had greater activity against A. flavus (IZ = 11.56). The present study deals with antimicrobial screening of sequential extracts and isolated terpenoids. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.