Constituents of the Argentinian medicinal plant Baccharis grisebachii and their antimicrobial activity

Abstract

The resinous exudate of Baccharis grisebachii which is used to treat ulcers, burns, and skin sores in Argentina showed activity towards dermatophytes and bacteria. Two diterpenes, eight p-coumaric acid derivatives, and two flavones were isolated from the exudate and the structures elucidated by spectroscopic methods. 3-Prenyl-p-coumaric acid and 3,5-diprenyl-p-coumaric acid were active towards Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton rubrum with MICs of 50 and 100–125 μg/ml, respectively. The diterpene labda-7,13E-dien-2β,15-diol was active towards Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton rubrum with MICs of 12.5 μg/ml while the MIC against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes was 25 μg/ml. The diterpene was also active towards Microsporum gypseum with a MIC of 50 μg/ml, and showed inhibition in both Staphylococcus aureus (methicilline resistant and sensible strains) with MICs of 125 μg/ml. The results support the use of Baccharis grisebachii in Argentinian traditional medicine.