Antimicrobial Potential of 2’,4’- Dihydroxy-4-Prenyloxychalcone Combined with Ciprofloxacin and Fluconazole

doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v3i9.1

Abstract

Infectious diseases caused by bacteria and fungi affects millions of people worldwide. Antibiotics have been effective in treating infectious diseases; increased use of these drugs has led to an increased resistance by the microorganisms. This study examined the antibacterial and antifungal activities of 2’,4’-dihydroxy-4-prenyloxychalcone isolated from the aerial parts of Indigofera pulchra (willd) and its synergistic potential when combined with ciprofloxacin and fluconazole. The aerial parts of the plant were subjected to cold maceration using ethanol to afford the extract which was further fractionated using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol. Extensive phytochemical investigation of chloroform fraction using silica gel column chromatography followed by preparative thin layer chromatography led to the isolation of 2’,4’- dihydroxy-4-prenyloxychalcone. The structure was elucidated using IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and DEPT techniques. Results of the antimicrobial study indicated that the isolated compound inhibited the growth of the test microorganisms (MRSA, S. aureus, E. coli, P. mirabilis, C. albicans and C. tropicalis) with zone of inhibition range of 29 – 37 mm, and was found to be greater than that observed for ciprofloxacin and fluconazole (25 – 33 mm). Synergistic effect of the isolated compound was observed when combined with ciprofloxacin and fluconazole resulting in an increase in zones of inhibition of the drugs to a range of 25 – 40 mm. The result of this study had justified the use of Indigofera pulchra in ethno-medicine for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections and the isolated compound might be a potential lead with antibacterial and antifungal activities.