Antibacterial and membrane damaging activity of Livistona chinensis fruit extract

Livistona chinensis is used in traditional Chinese medicine as an anticancer agent. Experimental studies have shown the antiproliferative and antiangiogenic properties of extracts of L. chinensis fruits and seeds. In the present study, qualitative phytochemical composition of L. chinensis fruits was investigated. We hypothesized that the presence of high concentration of phenolic compounds with astringent properties may result in bacterial cell death. Hence, antibacterial activity of an aqueous extract of L. chinensis fruits was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial activity was attributed to DNA, enzyme and protein denaturing properties of the phenolic compounds present in the extract. The extract also resulted in increased membrane permeability. The antibacterial, DNA and enzyme denaturing and membrane damaging activity was limited to an acid-precipitable fraction of the extract and these effects were abrogated in presence of proteins. The membrane damaging activity of phenolic compounds was also observed in leucocytes. In conclusion, this study reported the antibacterial activity of the fruits of L. chinensis due to their high content of phenolic compounds.