Pharmaceutical Biology

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Note Antibacterial Activity of Medicinal Plants

from the Philippines

L.G. Lirio, M.L. Hermano & M.Q. Fontanilla

To cite this article: L.G. Lirio, M.L. Hermano & M.Q. Fontanilla (1998) Note Antibacterial Activity
of Medicinal Plants from the Philippines, Pharmaceutical Biology, 36:5, 357-359, DOI: 10.1076/
phbi.36.5.357.4656

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1076/phbi.36.5.357.4656

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Pharmaceutical Biology
1998, Vol. 36, No. 5, pp. 357–359
NOTE
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS
FROM THE PHILIPPINES
L.G. Lirio, M.L. Hermano and M.Q. Fontanilla
Biocontrol Laboratory, HORTI Institute, Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Aqueous extracts of 36 plant species were screened for
antibacterial activity against Erwinia carotovora pv
carotovora, Xanthomonas camprestris pv capestris and
Pseudomonas solanacearum. Twenty-one of the plant
species showed antibacterial activity, with Allium cepa,
A. porrum, A. sativum, Euphorbia tirucalli, and Piper
betel being active against all test pathogens.
INTRODUCTION
Plants have developed highly sophisticated defense
systems which encompass a complex array of chemi-
cals. The presence of antimicrobial compounds in plant
tissues has long been recognized as an important factor
in disease resistance (Muller, 1958; Fawcett & Spencer,
1970; Kuc, 1982); such compounds may also serve as
botanical pesticides (Tewari & Dath, 1984; Dubey &
Kishore, 1988; Morallo-Rejesus et al., 1993; Radcliffe
et al., 1991), or as bactericidal agents active against
pathogens of human diseases (Cosar & Cubukcu, 1990;
Rao et al., 1992; Onu & Aliyu, 1995; Carson & Riley,
1995).
As there are vast, renewable resources containing
diverse natural products, the search for novel defense
compounds from plants continues. Development of
such plant-based compounds for pest control is of inter-
Keywords: Medicinal plants, Phillippines, antibacterial activity.
Address correspondence to: Dr. L.G. Lirio, Biocontrol Labo-
ratory, HORTI Institute, Benguet State University, La
Trinidad, Benguet, 2601 Philippines.
1388-0209/98/3605-0357$12.00
© Swets & Zeitlinger
est to developing countries where an extensive indige-
nous flora remains unexplored. The present investiga-
tion screens plants of Benguet, Philippines for
bioactive compounds that might control bacterial dis-
eases of crucifers and potatoes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant Material
Plant species (Table 1) were identified by referring to
the Flora of Manilla (Meril, 1974) and Medicinal Plants
of the Philippines (Quisumbing, 1978). Voucher speci-
mens are deposited in the University Herbarium,
Department of Biology, Benguet State University.
Preparation of Extracts
Fresh parts (20 g) of each plant species collected from
various sites in Benguet, Philippines, were surface-ster-
ilized with 1% NaOCl, and then repeatedly rinsed with
sterile distilled water. Leaves were macerated in 20 ml
of sterile distilled water using a mortar and pestle. The
extract was prepared by pressing the macerate through
a sterilized cheesecloth. The aqueous extract was
screened for antibacterial activity.
Test Culture
Three test organisms, namely, Erwinia carotovora pv
carotovora, Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris,
and Pseudomonas solanacearum, were used for
antibacterial activity screening. These were isolated
from infected host plants and identified through Gram
staining and colony appearance. Pure cultures were
obtained by reisolation from respective selection
media: D-3 for Erwinia, casamino peptone glucose for
358 L.G. LIRIO ET AL.

TABLE 1. Inhibition of bacterial growth by aqueous plant extracts.

Plant species Family Part Bacteria

Ecc Xcc Ps
Allamanda cathartica Linn. Apocynaceae Flowers – – +
Allium cepa Linn. Liliaceae Leaves + + +
Allium porrum Linn. Liliaceae Leaves + ++ ++
Allium sativum L. Liliaceae Leaves + ++ ++
Aloe vera L. Liliaceae Leaves – – –
Amaranthus spinosus L. Amaranthaceae Leaves – – –
Artemisia vulgaris L. Compositae Leaves – – –
Capsicum frutescens L. Solanaceae Leaves – – –
Catharanthus roseus (L.) Don Apocynaceae Leaves + – –
Corchorius olitorius L. Tiliaceae Leaves – – –
Chrysanthemum indicum L. Compositae Flowers – + –
Coleus amboinicus Lour. Labiatae Leaves – + –
Coleus blumei Benth. Labiatae Leaves – – –
Curcuma longa L. Zingiberaceae Rhizome – – –
Datura metel L. Solanaceae Flowers + + –
Euphorbia pulcherrima L. Euphorbiaceae Leaves – ++ –
Euphorbia tirucalli L. Euphorbiaceae Stems ++ + ++
Eucalyptus sp. Smith Myrtaceae Leaves + ++ –
Ficus benjamina L. Moraceae Leaves – – –
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Malavaceae Flowers ++ + –
Impatiens balsamina L. Balsaminaceae Leaves – – –
Leucaena leucocephala (L.) Benth. Leguminosae Leaves – – –
Manihot esculenta Crantz. Euphorbiaceae Barks – + +
Mentha arvensis L. Labiatae Leaves – – +
Mimosa pudica L. Leguminosae Leaves – ++ –
Morus alba L. Moraceae Leaves – – –
Moringa oleifera L. Moringaceae Leaves – – –
Nicotiana tabacum L. Solanaceae Leaves – – +
Piper betel L. Piperaceae Leaves ++ ++ +
Plumeria acuminata L. Apocynaceae Flowers + – –
Psidium guajava L. Myrtaceae Leaves – +++ –
Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae Leaves – – –
Plantago major L. Plantaginaceae Leaves – – –
Tagetes erecta L. Compositae Flowers – – –
Taraxacum officinale Weber Compositae Leaves + ++ –
Tinosphora rumphii Boerl. Menispermaceae Barks + – +

Ecc – Erwinia carotaovara pv carotaovara – (no inhibition)

Xcc – Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris + (zone of inhibition 1–2 mm)
Ps – Pseudomonas solanacearum ++ (zone of inhibition 2–4 mm)
+++ (zone of inhibition >4 mm)

Xanthomonas, and nutrient agar for Pseudomonas
(Kado & Heskett, 1970; Fahy & Hayward, 1983).
Freshly prepared bacterial suspensions containing
approximately 107 cells/ml (50% transmission with a
Spectronic 20 colorimeter using a blue filter) were used
for inoculation.
Antibacterial Bioassay
Plant extracts were evaluated employing the agar dif-
fusion method. Inocula (1 ml) were placed on nutrient
agar plates which were rotated to ensure uniform dis-
tribution in the medium. Three filter paper discs were
impregnated with the specific plant extract and asepti-
cally transferred to the surface of the inoculated plates,
in duplicate. Sterile distilled water and streptomycin
(1 mg/ml) were used as controls. The plates were incu-
bated at 30°C for 24 h and growth inhibition zones
around the paper discs were measured. For this investi-
gation, antibacterial activity was assessed qualitatively
as: (–), no inhibition; (1), zone of inhibition 1–2 mm;
(11), zone of inhibition 2–4 mm; (111), zone of
inhibition . 4 mm.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This is a first attempt to screen plants growing in
Benguet, Philippines for antibacterial activities against
phytopathogenic organisms. Of the 36 plants tested, 21
exhibit antibacterial action against Erwinia carotovora
 ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES
pv carotovora, Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris
and on Pseudomonas solanacearum, the pathogens of
soft rot, black rot and bacterial wilt of crucifers and
potatoes. It is interesting to note that Allium cepa, A.
porrum, A. sativum, Euphorbia tirucalli, and Piper
betel, were active against all three pathogens tested.
Most of the plants evaluated in this study are of
known medicinal value (Quisumbing, 1978). Antibacte-
rial activity is probably due to the presence of bioactive
compounds, such as phenol pyrocatechol, essential oils
and polygalacturonases inhibitor proteins (Favaron et al.,
1993), which are present in the genus Allium, and known
to be potent antimicrobial agents. Work is in progress
using solvent extracts of plants showing broad anti-
microbial activity. We are particularly interested in Piper
betel. This plant is widely used by elderly people as a
masticatory, indicating that it is not toxic for humans.
Isolation of the bioactive components is underway.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are grateful to the Philippine Council for
Advanced Science and Technology Research and Develop-
ment (PCASTRD), Philippines, for financial support.
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Accepted: May 28, 1998