Three pyridinium alkaloids may account for the antibiotic effect of the seed of Abrus precatorius

Research Article

1OP Amuta, 2PO Nnamani, 3AD Mu

Abstract

A methanol extract of Abrus precatorius seed cotyledons has been found to exhibit growth inhibitory activity against both Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). This activity was traceable to three pyridinium components viz: - trigonelline, precatorine and a sugar ester of trigonelline. These alkaloids may contribute to the use of the seed extracts in folk medicines for the treatment of infective disorders

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