Isolation and characterization of antimicrobial compounds from Cotinus coggygria Scop. ethyl acetate extract

Abstract

Background and Aims: Cotinus coggygria leaves are traditionally used in the treatment of various diseases, including theiruse for antifungal purposes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the extracts of C. coggygria andto discover compounds that may be responsible for the activity of the most active extract.Methods: The antimicrobial activities of extracts and compounds were assessed by the microbroth dilution technique. Majorcompounds of active extract were isolated using chromatographic methods and identified by spectroscopic methods.Results: Diethylether (CCD), ethyl acetate (CCEA), methanol (CCM), ethanol (CCE) and water (CCW) extracts of C. coggygria exhibited noticeable antifungal activities against Candida albicans with MIC values of 39, 4.9, 4.9, 4.9 and 9.8 μg/mL,respectively. Also, CCEA extract showed good antibacterial activity against Proteus mirabilis with an MIC value of 156 μg/mL.Two major compounds, gallic acid and methyl gallate, were isolated from CCEA, the most active extract. Gallic acid was foundto be highly active against C. albicans and C. tropicalis with an MIC value of 9.8 µg/mL (for both fungi). In addition, gallic acidshowed moderate antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and C. parapsilosis with MIC values of78, 156 and 156 µg/mL, respectively.Conclusion: This study is the first study to reveal the compounds responsible for the activity of CCEA extract with antifungalactivity. These results suggest that gallic acid, along with other phenolic compounds, is responsible for the antifungal activityof CCEA. Also, it confirms the ethnobotanical use of C. coggygria for antifungal purposes.