Fitoterapia. 2000 Aug; 71(4): 450-2.

Antibacterial activity of linoleic and oleic acids isolated from Helichrysum pedunculatum: a plant used during circumcision rites.

Dilika F, Bremner PD, Meyer JJ.

Department of Botany, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.

The antibacterial activity-guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract of leaves of Helichrysum pedunculatum resulted in the isolation of linoleic and oleic acids. Linoleic acid inhibited the growth of all the Gram-positive bacterial species tested with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) varying between 0.01 and 1.0 mg/ml. Oleic acid was active against three of the five Gram-positive bacteria at a MIC of 1.0 mg/ml. Both compounds were inactive against the Gram-negative species tested. A synergistic effect between the two fatty acids was observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus kristinae.