The present study focuses on the chemical and biological analysis of hydro-alcoholic extracts from the fruits, leaves and branches of Amorpha fruticosa L. (false indigo bush), Fabaceae family.

The plant material was collected in October-November 2011 from the outskirts of Iasi and air-dried. Extracts were prepared by percolation with 70% ethanol on a 1:5 drug to solvent ratio. The free radical scavenging activity of the extracts was measured by the DPPH method and the content of total phenolic compounds was assessed by Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method. Twelve polyphenolic compounds have been studied in Amorpha fruticosa extracts by HPLC-MS. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar disc diffusion method.

Bianca Ivănescu1, Cristina Lungu1, Laurian Vlase2, Cristina Tuchiluş3, Andreia Corciovă4

1 Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, UMF “Grigore T. Popa”, Iaşi2 Faculty of Pharmacy, UMF ”Iuliu Hațieganu”, Cluj-Napoca

3 Department of Mycrobiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, UMF “Grigore T. Popa”, Iaşi5Department of Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, UMF “Grigore T. Popa”, Iaşi

Fig. 1. Total phenolic content (mg/g) in Amorpha extracts

Table 1. Polyphenol compounds in Amorpha fruticosa extracts

nt – not tested

a values are mean ± SD of three determinations

OBJECTIVES

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

1. Kim YS, Ryu BY et al. Food Chem Toxicol. 2011; 49:1849–1856.2. Zheleva-Dimitrova DZ. Pharmacogn Mag. 2013; 9(34):109-113.3. Dat, NT, Lee, JH et al. J. Nat. Prod. 2008;71(10):1696–1700.4. Borchardt JR, Wyse DL et al. J Med Plants Res. 2008; 2(4):081-093.5. Diao YP, Li K et al. Chinese Chem Lett. 2009; 20:942–944.

BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL RESEARCHES ON AMORPHA FRUTICOSA L. SPECIES

 Poliphenols

Amorpha extractbranches leaves fruits

UV MSConc. mg/g UV MS Conc. mg/g UV MS

Conc. mg/g

Gentisic acid - * - - * - - * -Caffeic acid - * - - * - - * -

Chlorogenic acid - * - - * - - * -p-coumaric acid * * 0.0232 * * - * * 0.0557

Ferulic acid * * 0.0081 * * 0.0121 * * 0.0233Hyperoside * * - * * 0.2402 * * 0.0122

Isoquercitrin * * - * * 9.4476 * * 0.1765Rutoside * * 0.5931 * * 11.8603 * * 0.2754Quercitrin * * 0.0117 * * 0.3139 - - -Quercetin * * 0.0089 * * 0.0641 - - -Luteolin * * 0.0162 * * 0.0093 * * 0.0688

Kaempferol - - - * * 0.0202 * * 0.1595

Amorpha fruticosa extracts / Positive control EC50a ( µg/mL)

Leaves extract 38.03 ± 0.75

Fruits extract 18.8 ± 0.2

Branches extract 221.16 ± 1.7

Quercetin 2.2 ± 0.0

  Microorganism

Diameter of inhibition zone (mm)

Branches extract

Leaves extract

Fruits extract

Ampicillin (25 µg/disc)

Chloramphenicol

(30 µg/disc)

Nystatin (100

µg/disc)

Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 16 21 19 26 24 ntSarcina lutea ATCC 9341 15 22 25 28 26 ntBacillus cereus ATCC 14579 0 0 16 0 21 ntBacillus subtilis 0 0 17 26 29 ntEscherichia coli ATCC 25922 0 0 0 21 29 ntPseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 0 0 0 0 16 ntCandida albicans ATCC 10231 0 0 0 nt nt 18Candida glabrata ATCC MYA 2950 0 0 0 nt nt 19Candida sake 0 0 0 nt nt 20

Table 3. DPPH radical scavenging activities of Amorpha fruticosa extracts

The content of total phenolic compounds was highest in leaves extract followed by fruits extract and branches extract. The results of HPLC analysis indicated the presence of ferulic acid, luteolin and rutoside in all samples. The highest scavenging effect was observed in Amorpha fruticosa fruits extract, followed by leaves extract and branches extract. The tested samples, especially the fruits extracts, inhibited the growth of gram positive bacteria. The content of polyphenolic compounds within extracts is correlated with their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.

Table 2. Antimicrobial activity of Amorpha fruticosa extracts

branches leaves fruits0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

14.08

159.5

122.1