Antibacterial and Antiparasitic Activity of Oleanolic Acid and its Glycosides isolated from Marigold (Calendula officinalis)

Abstract

The antibacterial and antiparasitic activities of free oleanolic acid and its glucosides and glucuronides isolated from marigold (Calendula officinalis) were investigated. The MIC of oleanolic acid and the effect on bacterial growth were estimated by A600 measurements. Oleanolic acid's influence on bacterial survival and the ability to induce autolysis were measured by counting the number of cfu. Cell morphology and the presence of endospores were observed under electron and light microscopy, respectively. Oleanolic acid inhibited bacterial growth and survival, influenced cell morphology and enhanced the autolysis of Gram-positive bacteria suggesting that bacterial envelopes are the target of its activity. On the other hand, glycosides of oleanolic acid inhibited the development of L3 Heligmosomoides polygyrus larvae, the infective stage of this intestinal parasitic nematode. In addition, both oleanolic acid and its glycosides reduced the rate of L3 survival during prolonged storage, but only oleanolic acid glucuronides affected nematode infectivity. The presented results suggest that oleanolic acid and its glycosides can be considered as potential therapeutic agents.

Antibacterial activity of oleanolic and ursolic acids and their derivatives

“…The previously described results of Szakiel and coworkers [31] demonstrated that OA not only acted as a potent inhibitor of the growth and survival of several species but it also influenced bacterial shape. E. coli cells appeared several-fold longer, in contrast B. megaterium cells became shorter after an overnight incubation with OA at a concentration of 0.7 x MIC.…”

“…All other species studied by Szakiel and Escherichia coli were moderately susceptible to OA [31] (Table 1). Gu and coworkers evaluated the antitubercular activity of OA extracted from Quinchamalium majus (Santalaceae), using the microplate alarm blue assay (MABA) system [32] and discussed structure-activity relationships.…”

“…A recent study from our group demonstrated that OA isolated from marigold, Calendula officinalis (Asteraceae) was active against many bacterial species, especially Staphylococcus epidermidis (Table 1). Oleanolic acid was also shown to be more active than its 3-O-monoglucoside and other glucosides and glucuronides, indicating that the aglycone structure appears necessary and sufficient for antibacterial activity [31].…”

“…Poor activity of OA against Klebsiella pneumoniae [31], E. coli and other Gramnegative bacteria [44], and several clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa [21] have been reported (Table 1). Cai and Wu were unable to identify any activity of OA isolated from a methanol extract of the clove Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae) against the Gram-negative anaerobic periodontal pathogens Porhyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia or the Gram-positive cariogenic oral bacteria S. mutans and Actinomyces viscosus [45].…”

A Novel Eudesmane Glycosides Sesquiterpene from <i>Calendula</i> <i>officinalis</i> L.

“…In the Flora of Syria, this genus is represented by 8 species [1]. Previous studies demonstrated therapeutic potentialities of Calendula officinalis L. such as anti-inflammatory activity [2][3][4][5], immunomodulatory [6][7], Hepatoprotective [8], wound-healing [9], antioxidant [10][11][12], antibacterial and antiparasitic activity [13][14][15][16]. The essential oil from C. officinalis has been also investigated [17][18][19][20][21][22].…”