US EPA

1135208 

Journal Article 

Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral activities of Retama raetam (Forssk.) Webb flowers growing in Tunisia 

Hayet, E; Maha, M; Samia, A; Mata, M; Gros, P; Raida, H; Ali, MM; Mohamed, AS; Gutmann, L; Mighri, Z; Mahjoub, A 

2008 

1 

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
ISSN: 0959-3993
EISSN: 1573-0972 

Springer-Verlag, Tiergartenstrasse 17 Heidelberg 69121 Germany 

24 

12 

2933-2940 

10.1007/s11274-008-9835-y 

WOS:000260319900024 

Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral activities of flower extracts of Retama raetam Forssk. Webb (Fabaceae) were screened both from standard and isolated Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by solid medium technique. Oxacillin, Amoxicillin, Ticarcillin, Cefotaxim, and Amphotericin were used as the control agents. The antiviral activity was evaluated against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain AD-169 (ATCC Ref. VR 538) and coxsackie B virus type 3 (CoxB-3) using a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using two tests: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging and the ammonium thiocyanate methods. All extracts were characterized quantitatively for the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins. Of the extracts tested, butanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed important antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria but only moderate antifungal activity. Methanol extract exhibited moderate antiviral activity against HCMV with IC sub(50) of 250 mu g/ml. Ethyl acetate, chloroform, and methanol fractions were found to cause significant free-radical-scavenging effects in both assays. These results may suggest that R. raetam flowers could be used as a natural preservative ingredient in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries. 

Retama raetam flowers; Antibacterial activity; Antiviral activity; Antioxidant; 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl