Fitoterapia 74 (2003) 603605

Short report

Antibacterial activity of Pterocarpus indicus

M.R. Khan*, A.D. Omoloso
Department of Applied Sciences, Papua New Guinea University of Technology, P.M.B., Lae,
Papua New Guinea
Received 27 September 2002; accepted 20 May 2003

Abstract
The leaves, root and stem barks of Pterocarpus indicus were successively partitioned with
petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol. All the fractions exhibited a
wide spectrum of antibacterial activity. The activity was more pronounced in the butanol and
methanol fractions. None were active against the moulds.
2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Pterocarpus indicus; Antibacterial activity

Plant. Pterocarpus indicus Wild. (Leguminosae), leaves, stem and root barks
collected in December 2001, from Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea
(PNG). The plant was identified at the Forestry Department, PNG University of
Technology, Lae, where a voucher specimen is deposited.

Uses in traditional medicine. Used as antimalarial, antidysenteric, antidiarrheal,

astringent, purgative, mouthwash to treat thrush, diuresis, for sore throat, sores and
minor wounds w1x
Previously isolated classes of constituents. Tannins, pyrocatechins w1x.
*Corresponding author. Tel.: q675-473-4550; fax: q675-475-4558.
E-mail address: rkhan@dg.com.pg (M.R. Khan).
0367-326X/03/$ - see front matter 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/S0367-326X(03)00149-7

604

M.R. Khan, A.D. Omoloso / Fitoterapia 74 (2003) 603605

Tested material. The dried plant material (leaves, stem and root barks) were
successively fractionated with petrol (P) (6080 8C), CH2Cl2 (D), EtOAc (E),
butanol (B) and methanol (M). Yields (%) and positive tests on phytochemical
screening w2xleaves: P (0.73; sterols, triterpenoids), D (0.48; flavonoids, sterols,
tannins, triterpenoids), E (0.46; flavonoids, sterols, tannins, triterpenoids), B (0.58;
flavonoids, saponins, sterols, tannins, triterpenoids), M (6.42; flavonoids, saponins,
sterols, tannins, triterpenoids); stem bark: P (0.42; sterols, triterpenoids), D (0.68;
flavonoids, sterols, tannins, triterpenoids), E (0.32; flavonoids, sterols, tannins,
triterpenoids) B (0.30; flavonoids, saponins, sterols, tannins, triterpenoids), M (6.20;
flavonoids, saponins, sterols, tannins, triterpenoids); root bark: P (0.36; sterols,
triterpenoids), D (0.75; flavonoids, sterols, tannins, triterpenoids), E (0.26; flavonoids, saponins, tannins), B (0.42; flavonoids, tannins), M (2.5; flavonoids,
saponins, sterols, tannins, triterpenoids).
Table 1
Antimicrobial activity of extractives from P. indicusa
Microorganisms

Bacillus cereus
B. coagulans
B. megaterium
B. subtilis
Lactobacillus casei
Micrococcus luteus
M. roseus
Staphylococcus albus
S. aureus
S. epidermidis
Streptococcus faecalis
St. pneumoniae
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Citrobacter freundii
Enterobacter aerogenes
Escherichia coli
Klebsiella pneumonia
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Proteus mirabilis
P. vulgaris
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Salmonella typhi
Sa. typhymurium
Serratia marcescens
Trichomonas vaginalis
a

Leaves

Gq
Gq
Gq
Gq
Gq
Gq
Gq
Gq
Gq
Gq
Gq
Gq
Gy
Gy
Gy
Gy
Gy
Gy
Gy
Gy
Gy
Gy
Gy
Gy
Pz

Stem bark

Refb

Root bark

M P

E B

M P

E B

M Chl

12
10
12
10
12
10
10
12
12
12
12
10
10
12
12
10
12
10
10
12
12
10
10
10
12

12
14
14
16
14
16
14
16
14
16
16
14
16
14
14
16
14
14
14
14
14
16
16
14
14

14
14
14
16
14
16
14
16
14
16
14
14
16
14
14
16
16
14
14
14
14
16
14
14
16

18
16
16
16
18
16
18
18
16
18
16
16
18
18
18
16
16
18
16
18
18
18
16
16
18

16
16
18
16
16
16
18
16
18
16
18
16
16
16
18
16
18
18
16
18
18
16
16
16
18

12
10
10
12
10
10
10
12
12
10
10
12
10
12
12
10
10
10
10
12
12
10
10
10
12

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

18
18
16
18
18
16
18
18
16
18
18
16
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
16
18
16
18
18

8
10
10
8
8
10
10
8
8
10
8
10
10
8
8
10
8
10
10
8
8
10
8
10
12

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

18
16
16
16
18
18
18
18
16
18
18
18
18
16
18
16
18
18
18
18
18
18
16
18
18

10
12
12
10
12
12
10
10
12
12
10
12
12
12
10
12
12
10
12
12
12
10
10
10
12

16
18
16
16
18
16
16
18
16
16
16
16
18
16
18
18
18
18
18
18
16
18
16
18
18

16
14
14
16
16
16
16
16
14
16
16
14
16
14
14
16
14
14
16
14
14
16
14
14
16

16
16
18
16
18
16
18
16
16
18
18
18
16
16
18
16
18
18
16
18
18
16
16
16
18

16
18
16
16
18
16
6
16
18
0
0
18
12
16
18
18
0
18
16
18
24
16
16
0
16

Values are inhibition zone (mm) and an average of triplicate. P: petrol (6080 8C) fraction; D:
CH2Cl2 fraction; E: EtOAc; B: butanol fraction; M: methanol fraction (conc. 4 mgydisc); G: gram
reaction of bacterium; Pz: protozoa.
b
Chl, chloramphenicol (10 mg disc Oxoid B42960).

M.R. Khan, A.D. Omoloso / Fitoterapia 74 (2003) 603605

605

Studied activity. Antimicrobial activity by disk diffusion method w3,4x.

Used microorganisms. Bacteria, protozoan (listed in Table 1) and fungi (Aspergillus
niger, A. rubrum, A. versicolor, A. vitis, Candida albican, C. tropicalis, Cladosporium cladosporiods, Trychophyton mentagrophytes, T. tronsurum) obtained from the
stock cultures of the Microbiology Laboratory of the Department of Applied
Sciences in Lae.

Results. Reported in Table 1. Using 20 mgydisc of the fraction; no activity was

exhibited against the moulds.

Conclusions. All the fractions demonstrated a wide spectrum of activity against the
tested bacteria and protozoan. In all parts the polar fractions (B and M) and the
petrol fraction of the root bark were particularly active.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Mr J. Simaga of the Forestry Department, for the
identification of the plant and Mr S. Uhero for technical assistance.
References
w1x Perry LM. Medicinal plants of East and Southeast Asia: attributed properties and uses. Cambridge,
Massachusetts, and London: The MIT Press, 1980. p. 224.
w2x Harborne JB. Phytochemical methods. 2nd ed. LondonNew York: Chapman and Hall, 1984.
w3x Cruickshank R. 11th ed. Medical microbiology: a guide to diagnosis and control of infection.
Edinburgh and London: E. & S. Livingston Ltd, 1968. p. 888.
w4x Bauer AW, Kirby WMM, Sherries JC, Truck M. Am J Clin Pathol 1966;45:493.