On the Antibacterial Substances in the Roots of Solidago altissima L.

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to refer to the existence of the antibacterial substances in the roots of Solidago altissima L. The methanol extracts obtained from the roots were tested. czs-Dehydromatricaria ester (1) was obtained from the extracts by the steam distillation. Compound 1 was not active, but the essential oil had the antibacterial ability for four typical bacteria used in this test. Further, the seasonal variation of the amounts of compound 1 contained in the roots was investigated. The residues of steam distillation were extracted with ethyl acetate following ether. The acidic and phenolic fractions in the ether extracts and the ethyl acetate extracts were active for the gram positive bacteria. By silica gel column chromatography, kolavenic acid (2) was obtained as the crystal from the acidic fraction. Compound 2 was active, and its minimum inhibitory concentration was 6~10ppm. For the several compounds derived from compound 2, the antibacterial properties were investigated. It seemed that the ring structure of kolevane skeleton and the α, β-unsaturated carboxyl group in the side chain in compound 2 were relation to the antibacterial activities. © 1977, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.