Study of the Biological Activity of Compounds Isolated from Lawsonia inermis

Abstract

This research work was aimed to separate some compounds that have a biological
activity from Lawsonia inermis leaves. The plant leaves were obtained from southern part
of Iraq-Basrah-Al-Faw as a semidry. The biological activity was examined on both Gram
positive and negative bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Proteus
mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus
aureus.
The study involve extraction of some tanny materials employing ethanol. Ethanolic
extract was fractioned over silica gel column (80-120) mesh. Fractions isolated were
eluated by chloroform, acetone and finally ethanol. The separated fractions were further
analyzed by IR, TLC plate and chemical tests.
The results revealed the chloroform extract contains mainly
p-hydroxy benzoic acid, and the acetone extract contains mainly caffeic acid while the
ethanolic fractions contains tannic acid. The chemical structure of each analyzed
compounds was concluded from comparison with that reported in the literature.
Application of p-hydroxy benzoic acid to both Gram positive and negative bacteria
indicated that all types of bacteria were affected with some difference except Pseudomonas
aeruginosa. Caffeic acid fluctuated on the bacteria Salmonella typhi, Escherichia Coli,
Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus but not on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus
mirabilis, Klebsilla pneumonia.
However, extract include tannic acid showed agreed effect on all types of bacteria
under study when it compared to effect of extract include p-hydroxy benzoic acid, caffeic
acid and the control (Gentamycin and Tetracycline).