Grasses are a valuable group of monocotyledonous plants, used as nourishing foods and as remedies against diseases for both humans and livestock. Phytochemical profiles of 13 medicinal grasses were quantified, using spectrophotometric methods and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), while the antioxidant activity was done using DPPH and ferric-reducing-power assays. The phytochemical analysis included the total soluble phenolic content, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, iridoids and phenolic acids. Among the 13 grasses, the root methanolic extracts of Cymbopogon spp., Cymbopogon nardus and Cenchrus ciliaris contained the highest concentrations of total soluble phenolics (27-31 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoids (4-13 mg CE/g DW). Condensed tannins and total iridoid content were highest (2.3 mg CCE/g DW and 3.2 mg HE/g DW, respectively) in Cymbopogon nardus. The most common phenolic compounds in the grass species included ρ-coumaric, ferulic, salicylic and vanillic acids. In the DPPH radical scavenging assay, the EC50 values ranged from 0.02 to 0.11 mg/mL for the different grasses. The best EC50 activity (lowest) was exhibited by Cymbopogon nardus roots (0.02 mg/mL) and inflorescences (0.04 mg/mL), Cymbopogon spp. roots (0.04 mg/mL) and Vetiveria zizanioides leaves (0.06 mg/mL). The highest ferric-reducing power was detected in the whole plant extract of Cynodon dactylon (0.085 ± 0.45; r2 = 0.898). The observed antioxidant activity in the various parts of the grasses may be due to their rich pool of phytochemicals. Thus, some of these grasses provide a source of natural antioxidants and phytochemicals that can be explored for their therapeutic purposes.

• Klíčová slova
• Poaceae, UHPLC, flavonoids, medicinal plants, phenolic acids, secondary metabolites,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

In order to determine the existence of synergism of the bacteriostatic action of flavonoids against G(+) bacteria between a clinically interesting conventional antibiotic and a flavonoid, combinations of oxacillin (OXC) and 2,4-dihydroxychalcone (DCH) as enhancer were assayed against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29 213 and methicillin-resistant S. aureus ATCC 43 300. Using a kinetic-turbidimetric method, growth kinetics was monitored in a broth containing variable amounts of OXC alone and combinations of variable OXC-constant DCH. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of OXC alone and in combination with DCH were evaluated. For the 29 213 strain, OXC MIC was 25 microg/mL, while combinations of 2-8 microg/mL OXC with 10 microg/mL of DCH totally inhibited growth and showed synergism. The resistance of the 43 300 strain in the presence of OXC was verified; OXC-DCH combinations decreased bacterial growth by 35 %. DCH augments the action of OXC against methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and therefore constitutes a good bacteriostatic agent for methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky farmakologie   MeSH
• chalkonoidy farmakologie   MeSH
• lékové interakce MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
• nefelometrie a turbidimetrie MeSH
• oxacilin farmakologie   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus účinky léků   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2',4'-dihydroxychalcone MeSH Prohlížeč
• antibakteriální látky MeSH
• chalkonoidy MeSH
• oxacilin MeSH