Skip to main content
Log in

Antimicrobial activity of vascular plants

  • Published:
Economic Botany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Numerous surveys have demonstrated the wide occurrence of active antimicrobial substances in higher plants. The array of compounds with unique structures which plants produce has served as a stimulus to continued search for useful antibiotics. Reports referred to in the table indicate that active substances have been found in plants from 157 families.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Anchel, M. The chemical nature of ‘cassic acirs’; its identification as rhein. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club75: 581. 1948.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. —. Identification of the antibiotic substance fromCassia reticulata as 4,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid. Jour. Biol. Chem.177: 169–177. 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Anderson, A. B., and J. Gripenberg. Antiobiotic substances from the heart wood ofThuja plicata D. Don. IV. The con-stitution of β-Thuiaplicin. Acta. Chem. Scand.2: 644–650. 1948.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Atkinson, N., and K. M. Rainsford. Antibacterial substances produced by flower-ing plants. I. Preliminary survey. Aust. Jour. Exp. Biol. and Med. Sci. 24: 49–51. 1946.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Azarowicz, E. N., J. E. Hughes, and C. L. Perkins. Antibiotics in plants of Southern California active againstMyco-bacterium tuberculosis 607 andAspergillus niger. Antibiotics and Chemotherapy 2: 532–536. 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Baer, H., M. Holden, and B. C. Seegal. The nature of the antibacterial agent fromAnemone pulsatilla. Jour. Biol. Chem.162: 65–68. 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Barry, V. C., M. L. Conalty, H. J. Rylance, and F. R. Smith. Antitubercu-lar effect of an extract ofAdhatoda vasica. Nature176: 119–120. 1955.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Beck, S. D., E. T. Kaske, and E. E. Smissman. Quantitative estimation of the resistance factor, 6-Methoxybenzoxazoli-none, in corn plant tissue Jour. Agri. and Food Chem.5: 933–935. 1957.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bhatnagar, S. S., and P. P. Diverkar. Pristimerin, the antibacterial principle ofPristimera indica. I. Isolation, toxici-ty, and antibacterial action. Jour. Sci. Indust. Res.10B: 56–61. 1951.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bishop, C. J., and R. E. MacDonald. A survey of higher plants for antibacterial substances. Can. Jour. Bot.29: 260–269. 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Boll, P. M., H. A. Lillevik, R. Y. Gottshall, and E. H. Lucas. Antibacterial substances in seed plants active against Tubercle bacilli. III. Solano-capsine, the antibacterial alkaloid ofSola-num pseudocapsicum. Antibiotics Annual1955-56: 255–259. 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Brink, N. G., and K. Folkers. Isolation of tomatidine from the roots of the Rut-gers tomato plant. Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc.73: 4018. 1951.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bruckner, B. H., H. H. McKay, P. S. Schaffer, and T. D. Fontaine. The partial purification and properties of anti-biotic substances from the sweet potato plant (Ipomoea batatas). Jour. Clin. In-vest.28: 894–898. 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Carlson, H. J., and H. G. Douglas. Antibiotic agents separated from the root of lace-leaved leptotaenia. Jour. Bact.55: 615–621. 1948.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. ——,, and H. D. Bissell. Antibiotic substances separated from sumac. Jour. Bact.55: 607–614. 1948.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. ——,, and J. Robertson. Antibacterial substances separated from plants. Jour. Bact.55: 241–248. 1948.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Cavallito, C. J., and J. H. Bailey. Allicin-the antibacterial principle ofAllium sativum. I. Isolation, physical proper-tics and antibacterial action. Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc.66: 1950–1951. 1944.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. —, —. Antibacterial sub-stances fromAsarum canadensis. I. Isolation, physical properties and antibacterial action. Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc.68: 489–492. 1946.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. —, —. An antibacterial principle fromCentaurea maculosa. Jour. Bact.57: 207–212. 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. —, and F. K. Kirchner. The antibacterial principle ofArctium minus. II. The unsaturated lactone structure. Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc.69: 3030–3032. 1947.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. —, J. H. Bailey, and F. K. Kirchner. The antibacterial principle ofArctium minus. I. Isolation, physical properties and antibacterial action. Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc.67: 948–950. 1945.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Cercos, A. P. Actividad antimicrobiana de la vinalina, alcaloide del vinal (Prosopis ruscifolia Griseb.). Rev. Arg. Agron.18: 200–209. 1951.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Chang, N. C.In vitro antibacterial ac-tion of extracts fromCoptis roots. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med.69: 141–143.

  24. Chin, Y. C., H. H. Anderson, G. Alderton, and J. C. Lewis. Antituberculosis activi-ty and toxicity of lupulon for the mouse. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med.70: 158–162. 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. —, N. C. Chang, and H. H. Anderson. The antibiotic activity of lupulone. Jour. Clin. Invest.28: 909–915. 1949.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Chopra, I. C., K. C. Gupta, and B. N. Nazir. Preliminary study of antibacterial substances fromMelia azidirachta. Ind. Jour. Med. Res.40: 511. 1952.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. —, B. N. Khajuria, and C. L. Chopra. Antibacterial properties of volatile princi-ples fromAlpinia galanga andAcorus calamus. Antibiotics and Chemotherapy. 7: 378–383. 1957.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Dannenberg, H., H. Stickl, and F. Wenzel. Über den antimikrobisch wirkenden Stoff der Kapuziknerkresse (Tropaeolum maius). Hoppe-Seyler’s Zeitschr. Physiol. Chem.303: 248–256. 1956.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Datta, N. L., A. Krishnamurthi, and S. Siddiqui. Antibiotic principles ofAllium sativum. Jour. Sci. Ind. Res. (India) 7B: 42. 1948.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Dosa, A. The effect of raphanin on the colonies of common pathogenic fungi. Experientia6: 18–19. 1950.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Dull, G. G., J. L. Fairley, R. Y. Gottshall, and E. H. Lucas. Antibacterial sub-stances in seed plants active against Tubercle Bacilli. IV The antibacterial sesquiterpenes ofPopulus tacamahaca. Antibiotics Annual1956-57: 682–686. 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Erdtman, H., and J. Gripenberg. Anti-biotic substances from the heart-wood ofThuja plicata Don. Nature161: 719. 1948.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. —. Antibiotic substances from the heart-wood ofThuja plicata D. Don. II. The constitution of γ-Thujaplicin. Acta. Chem. Scand.2: 625–638. 1948.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Felklova, M. Antibakterielle Eigenschaften der Extrakte ausPlantago lanceolata L. Pharm. Zentralhalle f. Deutschland97: 61–65. 1958.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Fischer, G. A phagicidal and virucidal agent in maple fruit (Acer platanoides L) preparations. Acta. Path. et Microbiol. Scand.31: 433–447. 1952.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. —. Presence de substances antiviro-tiques dans differentes parties de plantes. Ann. Inst. Pasteur82: 119–120. 1952.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. —. Further investigations on the virucidal and anti-virotic effect of a maple-fruit preparation-acerin (AC50), performed with a coli culture and its bac-terial virus. Acta. Path. et Microbiol. Scand.34: 482–492. 1954.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Fontaine, T. D., G. W. Irving, and S. P. Doolittle. Partial purification and prop-erties of tomatin, an antibiotic agent from the tomato plant. Arch. Biochem.12: 395–404. 1947.

    Google Scholar 

  39. — R. Ma, J. B. Poole, and S. P. Doolittle. Isolation and partial characterization of crystalline tomatine, an antibiotic agent from the tomato plant. Arch. Biochem.18: 467–475. 1948.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Freerksen, E., and R. B.:onicke. Über antibakterielle Prinzipien in höheren Pflan-zen. I. Zeitschr.f.Hygiene132: 417–449. 1951.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Frisby, A., R. Y. Gottshall, J. C. Jennings, and E. H. Lucas. The occurrence of an-tibacterial substances in seed plants with special reference toMycobacterium tuber-culosis. (Fourth Report). Mich. Agri. Exp. Sta. Quart. Bull.36: 477–488. 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  42. —, J. M. Roberts, J. C. Jennings, R. Y. Gottshall, and E. H. Lucas. The occurrence of antibacterial substances in seed plants with special reference toMycobacterium tuberculosis (Third Report). Mich. Agri. Exp. Sta. Quart. Bull.35: 392–404. 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Galanti, M., and P. Manil. Action antibiotique d’extraits de plantes superieures. Quelques observations experimentales sur le genreGeranium. Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol. (Paris)148: 1892–1894. 1954.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Gangadharam, P. R. J., S. Natarajan, T. K. Wadhwani, K. V. Giri, N. L. Naray-anamurthy, and B. H. Iyer. Antituber-cular activity of sesamin. Jour. Ind. Inst. Sci.35A: 69–76. 1953.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Gerretsen, F. C., and N. Haagsma. Occurrence of antifungal substances inBras-sica rapa, Brassica oleracea andBeta vul-garis. Nature168: 659. 1951.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Gilliver, K. Inhibitory action of anti-biotic on plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Ann. Bot.10: 271–282. 1946.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Goncalves de Lima, O., and J. Moreira Caldas. Alamandina, novo antibiotico ativo contra protozoarios, isolado deAl-lamanda violacea (Apocynaceae). An. Soc. Bio. Pernambuco. (Recife)12: 19–26. 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  48. —, W. Keller-Schierlein, and V. Pre-log. Über das Biflorin. Helv. Chim. Acta41: 1386–1390. 1958.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. —, I. Leoncio d’Albuquerque, and P. Loureiro. Novas observacoes shobre a biflorina-antibiotico isolado daCapraria biflora L. (Scrophulariaceae). An. Soc. Biol. Pernambuco (Recife)11: 3–9. 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  50. —, C. Larios, M. Zapata, and U. Daiendzielewsky. Primeras observaciones sobre un antibiotic aislado de la planta denominada “raiz de indio”,Aristolochia sp. Ciencia12: 31–33. 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  51. —, I. Leoncio d’Albuquerque, P. Loureiro, C. Larios Carmona, and M. Zapata Benard. Biflorina, novo antibio-tico isolado daCapraria biflora (Scrop-phulariaceae). Rev. Quim. Ind.22: 1–3. 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  52. —, —, — L. deAlbuquerque Araujo, and A. Andrade. Selovincina, novo antibiotico isolado deCroton sellowii Baill. An. Soc. Biol. Pernambuco (Re-cife)12: 27–31. 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  53. —, —, M. Pinheiro Machado, G. Pereira Pinto, and M. Glauce Maciel, Uma nova substancia anti-biotica isolada do “pau d’arco”,Tabebuia sp. An. Soc. Biol. Pernambuco (Recife)14: 136–140. 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  54. —, —, —, E. Silva, and G. Pereira Pinto. Primeiras observacoes sobre a acao antimicrobiana do lapachol. An. Soc. Biol. Pernambuco (Recife)14: 129–135. 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Gottshall, R. Y., E. H. Lucas, A. Lick-feldt, and J. M. Roberts. The occurrence of antibacterial substances active againstMycobacterium tuberculosis in seed plants. Jour. Clin. Invest.28: 920–923. 1949.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. —, J. C. Jennings, L. E. Weller, C. T. Redemznn. E. H. Lucas, and H. M. Sell. Antibacterial substances in seed plants ac-tive against tubercle bacilli. Amer. Rev. Tuberc.62: 475–480. 1950.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Gripenberg, J. Antibiotic substances from the heart wood ofThuja plicata D. Don. III. The constitution of α-Thujaplicin. Acta Chem. Scand.2: 639–643. 1948.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Guerra, F., G. Varela, and F. Mata. Actividad antibiotica de plantas mexicanas. Rev. Inst. Salub. y Enferm. Trop.7: 201–205. 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Gupta, K. C., and I. C. Chopra. Tuberculostatic activity ofLeea hirta Roxb. Ind. Jour. Med. Res.41: 427–428. 1953a.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. —, —. A short note on Antibacterial properties of chaksine: an alkaloid fromCassia absus Linn. Ind. Jour. Med. Res.41: 459–460. 1953b.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. —, —. Antitubercular effect of an extract ofAdhatoda vasica. Nature173: 1194. 1954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. —, and R. Viswanathan.In vitro study of antitubercular substances fromAllium species. Part I.Allium schoeno-prasum. Part II.Allium cepa. Anti-biotics and Chemotherapy5: 18–21. 1955a.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. —, —. A short note on antitu-bercular substance fromOcimum sanctum. Antibiotics and Chemotherapy 5: 22–23. 1955b.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. —, —. Antitubercular substances from plants. Antibiotics and Chemother-apy6: 194–195. 1956.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Hammarlund, E. R., D. E. Pennington, and L. W. Rising. An antibacterial sub-stance from, the leaves ofArbutus men-ziesii. Jour. Amer. Pharm. Assoc.Sci. Ed.)41: 561–565. 1952.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Harris, H. A. Antibacterial activity of seedling extracts of cultivated plants. Bull Torrey Bot. Club.76: 244–254. 1949.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Hawley, L. F., L. C. Fleck, and C. A. Richards. The relation between durabili-ty and chemical composition in wood. Ind. Eng. Chem.15: 1–7. 1924.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Heatley, N. G. An antibiotic fromCrepis taraxacifolia (Thuill) Brit. Jour. Exptl. Path.25: 208–211. 1944.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Herz, W., A. L. Pates, and G. C. Madsen. The antimicrobial principle ofClematis dioscorcifolia. Science114: 206. 1951.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Holden, M., B. C. Seegal, and H. Baer, Range of antibiotic activity of protoane-monin. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med.66: 54–55. 1947.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Hughes, J. E. Survey of antibiotics in the wild green plants of Southern California. Antibiotics and Chemotherapy2: 487–491. 1952.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Ingersoll, R. L., R. E. Vollrath, B. Scott, and C. C. Lindgren. Bactericidal activity of crotonaldehyde. Food Res.3: 389–392. 1938.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Irving, G. W., T. D. Fontaine, and S. P. Doolittle. Partial antibiotic spectrum of tomatin, an antibiotic agent from the tomato plant. Jour. Bact.52: 601–607. 1946.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Ivanovics, G. The inactivation of the an-tibacterial principle of the radish (rapha-nin) by different thiols. Ark. f. Kemi., Min.o. Geol.26B: 1–6. 1948.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. —, and S. Horvath. Raphanin, an antibacterial principle of the radish (Raphanus sativus). Nature160: 297. 1947.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. ——. Isolation and properties of Raphanin, an antibacterial substance from radish seed. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med.66: 625–630. 1947.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Jensen, L. B., and W. R. Hess. Preserva-tion of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,253. Apr. 24, 1951.

  78. -. Process for extraction of anti-biotic material. U. S. Patent 2,550,254. Apr. 24, 1951.

  79. -. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,255. Apr. 24, 1951.

  80. -. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,256. Apr. 24, 1951.

  81. -, and W. A. Miller. Preservation of food products. U.S. Patent 2,550,257. Apr. 24/1951.

  82. -. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,258. Apr. 24, 1951.

  83. -. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,259. Apr. 24, 1951.

  84. -, and W. A. Miller. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2.550,260. Apr. 24, 1951.

  85. -. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,261. Apr. 24, 1951.

  86. -, and W. A. Miller. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,262. Apr. 24, 1951.

  87. -, -. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550.263. Apr. 24, 1951.

  88. -, -. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,264. Apr. 24, 1951.

  89. -, -. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,265. Apr. 24, 1951.

  90. -, -. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,266. Apr. 24, 1951.

  91. -, and J. E. Sherman. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,268. Apr. 24, 1951.

  92. -, -. Preservation of food products. U. S. Patent 2,550,269. Apr. 24, 1951.

  93. -. Antibiotic from avocado plant. Can. Patent 494,110. June 30, 1953.

  94. -, and W. A. Miller. Antibiotic from grapevine plant. Can. Patent 494,-111. June 30, 1953.

  95. -, and J. E. Sherman. Food pre-servative from butternut tree. Can. Patent 494,112. June 30, 1953.

  96. -, and W. A. Miller. Food pre-servative from white cedar. Can. Patent 494,113. June 30, 1953.

  97. -, -. Food preservative from St. John’s Wort. Can. Patent 494,114. June 30, 1953.

  98. -, -. Food preservative from spring avens plant Can. Patent 494,116. June 30, 1953.

  99. -, -. Antibiotic material (com-mon agrimony) Can. Patent 494,118. June 30, 1953.

  100. -, -. Food preservative from bittersweet root. Can. Patent 495,491. July 14, 1953.

  101. -, -. Food preservative from osage orange. Can. Patent 495,452. Aug. 18, 1953.

  102. -, -. Food preservative from broadleaf gum plant. Can. Patent 495,-453. Aug. 18, 1953.

  103. -, -. Food preservative from rhatany plant. Can. Patent 495,454. Aug. 18, 1953.

  104. -, -. Food preservative from pareira plant. Can. Patent 495,455. Aug. 18, 1953.

  105. Johnstone, D. B., and J. E. Little. Bac-teriostatic, bactericidal, and drug resist-ance studies of ethyl gallate onMycobac-terium tuberculosis. Jour. Bact.66: 320–323. 1953.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  106. —, M. W. Foote, W. I. Rogers, and J. E. Little. Ethyl gallate, a Mycobac-teria-specific antibiotic isolated fromHaematoxylon campechianum. II. Mi-crobiological Studies. Antibiotics and Chemotherapy3: 203–207. 1953.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  107. Kessler, B. The ability of higher plants to synthesize antimicrobial substances. Arch. Biochem. and Biophys.55: 287–288. 1955.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  108. Klöpping, H. L., and G. J. M. vander-Kerk. Antifungal agents from the bark ofPopulus candicans. Nature167: 996–997. 1951.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  109. Koczka, St., and G. Ivanovics. Über die antibakterielle Substanz des Reittichsa-mens. Acta Univ. Szegediensis2: 205–206. 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  110. Krejci, Z. Antibakterialni ucinekCanna-bis indica. Lekarske Listy7(20): 500–503. 1952.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  111. Kurup, P. A., and P. L. N. Rao. Anti-biotic principles fromMoringa pterygo-sperma. Curr. Sci. (India)19: 54. 1950.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  112. LaBaw, G. D., and N. W. Desrosier. Antibacterial activity of edible plant extracts. Food Res.18: 186–190. 1953.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  113. Liegey, F. W. Antibiotic properties of plants common to Cattaraugus County. St. Bonaventure Univ. Sci. Studies15: 40–62. 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  114. Little, J. E., and D. B. Johnstone. Plu-mericin: an antimicrobial agent from.Plumeria multiflora. Arch. Biochem.30: 445–452. 1951.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  115. —, and M. W. Foote, and D. B. John-stone. Xanthatin: An antimicrobial agent fromXanthium pennsylvanicum. Arch. Biochem.27: 247–254. 1950.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  116. —, T. J. Sproston, and M. W. Foote. Isolation and antifungal action of natur-ally occurring 2-methoxy-l,4-naphthoqui-none. Jour. Biol. Chem.174: 335–342 1948.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  117. —, M. W. Foote, W. I. Rogers, and D. B. Johnstone. Ethyl gallate, an My-cobacteria-specific antibiotic isolated fromHaematoxylon campechianum. I. Isola-tion and chemical studies. Antibiotics and Chemotherapy3: 183–191 1953.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  118. Lucas, E. H., R. W. Lewis, and H. M. Sell. An antibiotic principle derived from seeds ofBrassica oleracea. Mich. Agri. Exp. Sta. Quart. Bull.29: 1–3 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  119. —, A. Frisby, R. Y. Gottshall, and J. C. Jennings. The occurrence of antibacterial substances in seed plants with special reference toMycobacterium tuber-culosis. (Fifth Report). Mich. Agri. Exp. Sta. Quart. Bull.37: 425–436 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  120. —, A. Lickfeldt, R. Y. Gottshall, and J. C. Jennings. The occurrence ot antibacterial substances in seed plants with special reference toMycobacterium tuberculosis). Bull. Torrey Bot. Club78: -321. 1951.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  121. Ma, R., and T. D. Fontaine.In vitro an-tibiotic activity of crystalline tomatine towardCandida albicans. Antagonistic effect of rutin and quercetin. Arch. Bio-chem.16: 399–402. 1948.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  122. MacDonald, R. E., and C. J. Bishop. Phloretin: an antibacterial substance ob-tained from apple leaves. Can. Jour. Bot.30: 486–489. 1952.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  123. —,—. A further survey of plants for antibacterial substances. Can. Jour. Bot.31: 123–131. 1953.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  124. Madsen, G. C., and A. L. Pates. Occur-rence of antimicrobial substances in chlo-rophyllose plants growing in Florida. Bot. Gaz.113: 293–300. 1952.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  125. Marcus, S., and D. W. Esplin. Studies on an antibiotic extract ofLeptotaenia multifeda Antibiotics and Chemothera-py.3: 393–398. 1953.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  126. Marquez Mesa, A., J. Guzman Garcia, R. O. Cravioto, and J. Calvo de la Torre. Investigacion de actividadcs antibioticas en extractos de plantas superiores. Cien-cia e Invest.7: 471–476. 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  127. Matson, G. A., A. Ravve, J. M. Sugihara. and W. J. Burke. Antibiotic studies on an extract fromLeptotaenia multifeda Jour. Clin. Invest.28: 903–908. 1949.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  128. McDonough, E. S., L. Bell, and. G Arnold. A water-labile fungistatic ex-tractive characterizing living trees. Na-ture166: 1034. 1950.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  129. McGray, R. J., and E. S. McDonough. Antimycotic effects of an extract ofCa-talpa. Mycologia46: 463–469. 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  130. Michener, H. D., N. Snell, and E. F. Jensen. Antifungal activity of hop-resin constituents and a new method for isola-tion of lupulone. Arch. Biochem.19: 199–208. 1948.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  131. Murthy, D. V. K. and P. L. N. Rao. An-tibiotic principles ofGarcinia morella. III. Morellin—A new pigment. Jour. Sci. Indust. Res.12B: 565. 1953.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  132. Nickell, L. G. unpublished results.

  133. Osborn, E. M. On the occurrence of an-tibacterial substances in green plants. Brit. Jour. Exp. Path.24: 227–231. 1943.

    Google Scholar 

  134. —, and J. L. Harper. Antibiotic pro-duction by growing plants ofLeptosyne maritima. Nature167: 685. 1951.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  135. Patel, R. P., and K. C. Patel. Antibacterial activity ofCassia fistula. Ind. Jour. Pharm.18: 107. 1956

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  136. —, —. Antibacterial activity ofCassia tora andCassia abovata. Ind. Jour. Pharm.19: 70. 1957.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  137. —, and B. M. Trivedi. Antibacterial activity of colocynth. Ind. Jour. Pharm.19: 228. 1957.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  138. Pates, A. L., and G. C. Madsen. Occur-rence of antimocrobial substances in chlo-rophyllose plants growing in Florida. II. Bot. Gaz.116: 250–261. 1955.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  139. Pederson, C. S., and P. Fisher. The bac-tericidal action of cabbage and other vege-table juices. N. Y. State Agri. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. No. 273. 32pp. 1944.

  140. Phalinkar, N. L. Chemical investigations ofHippocratea indica (Willd.) (N. O. Celastraceae). Proc. 35th Ind. Sci. Cong;37 (Abst.) 1948.

  141. Pratt, R., and Y. Yuzuriha. Antibacterial activity of the heartwood ofHae-matoxylon braziletto. Jour. Amer. Pharm. Assoc. (Sci. Ed.)48: 69–72. 1959.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  142. Ramprasad, C., and M. Sirsi. Indian medicinal plants:Curcuma longa Linn.;in vitro antibacterial activity of curcumin and the essential oil. Jour. Sci. Ind. Res. (India)15C: 239–241. 1956.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  143. Rao, P. L. N., and S. C. L. Varma. The antibiotic principles ofGarcinia morella. I. Preparation and antibacterial activity of morellin, morellin-T, morellin-M. morellin-L and isomorellin. Jour. Sci. Tnd. Res. (India)10B: 184–185. 1951.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  144. —, —, T. R. Gupta, D. V. Murthy, and T. B. S. Rao. Antibiotic principle of genusGarcinia. Ind. Jour. Pharm.15: 316. 1953.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  145. —, and M. George. Investigations of plant antibiotics. III. Pterygospermin—the antibacterial principle of the roots ofMoringa pterygosperma Gaertn. Ind. Jour. Med. Res.37: 159–167. 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  146. Rennerfelt, E. Investigations of thujapli-cin, a fungicidal substance in the heart-wood ofThuja plicata D. Don. Physiol. Plant.1: 245–254. 1948.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  147. Robbins, W. J., F. Kavanagh, and J. D. Thayer. Antibiotic activity ofCassia re-ticulata Wlld. Bull. Torrey. Bot. Club74: 287–292. 1947.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  148. Roff, J. W., and J. M. Atkinson. Toxici-ty tests of a water-soluble phenolic frac-tion (Thujaplicin-free) of Western Red Cedar. Can. Jour. Bot.32: 308–309. 1954.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  149. Salle, A. J., G. J. Jann, and M. Ordanik. Lupulon—an antibiotic extracted from the strobiles ofHumulus lupulus. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med.70: 409–411. 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  150. —, —, and L. G. Wayne. Studies on the antibacterial properties ofErio-dictyon californicum. Arch. Biochem. and Biophys.32: 121–123. 1951.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  151. Scott, W. E., H. H. McKay, P. S. Schaf-fer, and T. D. Fontaine. The partial purification and properties of antibiotic substances from the banana (Musa sapien-tum). Jour. Clin. Invest.28: 899–902. 1949.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  152. Shah, R. C. The chemistry of pristimer-in. Ind. Jour. Pharm.15: 308–309. 1953.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  153. Sherman, J. M., and H. M. Hodge. The bactericidal properties of certain plant juices. Jour. Bact.31: 96. 1936.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  154. Siddiqui, S. A note on the isolation of three new bitter principles from nim (margosa) oil. Curr. Sci. (India)11: 278–279. 1942.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  155. —, and Z. Ahmed. Alkaloids from seeds ofCassia absus Linn. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci.2A: 421–425. 1935.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  156. Sirsi, M., P. R. J. Gangadharam, and N. N. De. Antitubercular activity ofCucur-bita pepo. Curr. Sci. (India)20: 297–298. 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  157. Sproston, T., J. E. Little, and M. W. Foote. Antibacterial and antifungal sub-stances from Vermont plants. Vermont Agri. Exp. Sta. Bull.543: 7 pp. 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  158. Stickl, H. Über eine antibiotisch wirk-same Pflanzensubstanz. Deut. Med. Wochenschrift79: 1722–1725. 1954.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  159. Stiven, G. Production of antibiotic sub-stances by the roots of the grass, (Trachypogon plumosus (H.B.K.) Mees) and ofPentanisia variabilis (E. May) Harv. (Rubiaceae). Nature170: 712. 1952.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  160. Tokin, B. Effect of phytoncides upon protozoa. Amer. Rev. Sov. Med. 1: 237. 1943.

    Google Scholar 

  161. Ukita, T., and R. Matsuda. On an antibacterial compound contained in fruits ofJuniperus japonica. I. Isolation of the antibacterial compound. Jour. Pharm. Soc. Japan71: 1050–1052. 1951.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  162. —, and T. Tsumita. Studies on the resin acid in the fruits ofJuniperus japo-nica. Jour. Pharm. Soc. Japan72: 1324–1327. 1952.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  163. Virtanen, A. I., and P. K. Hietala. An anti-fungi factor in rye seedlings. Suo-men Kemistilehti28B: 165–166. 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  164. —, —. 2(3)-Benzoxazolinone, an anti-Fusarium factor in rye seedlings. Acta. Chem. Scand.9: 1543–1544. 1955.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  165. ——,, and O. Wahlroos. An anti-fungal factor in maize and wheat plants. Suomen KemistilehtiB29: 143. 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  166. Vollrath, R. E., L. Walton, and C. C. Lindegren. Bactericidal properties of ac-rolein. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med.36: 55–58. 1937.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  167. Weller, L. E., C. T. Redemann, R. Y. Gottshall, J. M. Roberts, E. H. Lucas, and H. M. Sell. Antibacterial substances in seed plants active against tubercle bacil-li. II. The antibacteria/ principles ofPrimula malacoides andBuxus semper-virens. Antibiotics and Chemo. 3: 603–606. 1953.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  168. Winter, A. G., and L. Willeke. Unter-suchungen über Antibiotica aus höheren Pflanzen and ihre Bedeutung für die Bodenmikrobiologie und Pflanzensoziolo-gie. Naturwiss.38: 262–264. 1951.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  169. —, —. Untersunchugen über An-tibiotika aus höheren Pflanzen. II. Mit-teilung. Naturwiss.38: 354. 1951.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  170. —, —. Untersuchungen über Antibiotika aus höheren Pflanzen. Leicht flüchtige Hemmstoffe der Ranunculaceen. III. Mitteilung. Naturwiss.38: 457. 1951.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  171. —, —. Untersuchungen über Antibiotika aus höheren Pflanzen. IV. Mitteilung. Hemmstoffe im herbstlichen Laub. Naturwiss.39: 45–46. 1952.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  172. —, —. Untersuchungen über Antibiotika aus höheren Pflanzen. V. Mitteilung. Hemmstoffe in Blättern und Blattstreu der Gramineen. Naturwiss.39: 190–191. 1952.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  173. —, —. Untersuchungen über Antibiotika aus höheren Pflanzen. VI. Mitteilung. Gasförmige Hemmstoffe ausTropaeolum maius and ihr Verhalten im menschlichen Körper bei Aufnahme von Tropaeolum-Salat per os. Naturwiss.39: 236–237. 1952.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  174. Youngken, H. W., and R. A. Walsh. An-tibacterial activity ofCassia reticulata Willd. Jour. Amer. Pharm. Assoc. (Sci. Ed.)43: 139–140. 1954.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Invitational review article for Economic Botany.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nickell, L.G. Antimicrobial activity of vascular plants. Econ Bot 13, 281–318 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02885664

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02885664

Keywords

Navigation