Antimicrobial activity of wax and hexane extracts from Citrus spp. peels

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2007 Sep;102(6):681-5. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762007005000087.

Abstract

Antibacterial and antifungal properties of wax and hexane extracts of Citrus spp. peels were tested using bioautographic and microdilution techniques against three plant pathogenic fungi (Penicillium digitatum, Curvularia sp., and Colletotrichum sp.), two human pathogens (Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis), and two opportunistic bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus). Two polymethoxylated flavonoids and a coumarin derivative, were isolated and identified from peel extracts, which presented antimicrobial activity especially against M. canis and T. mentagrophytes: 4',5,6,7,8-pentamethoxyflavone (tangeritin) and 3',4',5,6,7,8-hexamethoxyflavone (nobiletin) from C. reticulata; and 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin (also known as escoparone, scoparone or scoparin) from C. limon.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Citrus / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects*
  • Hexanes / chemistry
  • Hexanes / isolation & purification
  • Hexanes / pharmacology*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mitosporic Fungi / drug effects*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Waxes / chemistry
  • Waxes / isolation & purification
  • Waxes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Hexanes
  • Plant Extracts
  • Waxes