Anticancer Res. 2000 Nov-Dec; 20(6B): 4323-9.

Biological activity of feijoa peel extracts.

Motohashi N, Kawase M, Shirataki Y, Tani S, Saito S, Sakagami H, Kurihara T, Nakashima H, Wolfard K, Mucsi I, Varga A, MolnÃ¡r J.

Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan.

Fractionated extracts of Feijoa peels were studied for cytotoxic activity, anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity and antibacterial activity. Two most cytotoxic fractions A3 of acetone extract and M2 of methanol extract had potent inhibitory activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi tested. Fraction A4 of acetone extract showed multidrug resistance (MDR)-reversal activity comparable with that of verapamil (positive control). These results indicate the therapeutic value of Feijoa peel extracts as potential antimicrobial and MDR-modulating agents.