A new antimicrobial peptide isolated from Oudneya africana seeds

Oudneya africana R. Br. (Brassicaceae), a wild-growing plant in the arid region of Tunisia, is used in ethno-medicinal treatment of microbial infections. Validation of ethno-therapeutic claims pertaining to the plant was sought by investigating its antimicrobial activity. A proteinaceous extract of the seeds, called AS-3000, showed activity against various organisms including L. monocytogenes, E. coli, B. subtilis, E. hirae, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans. Extract AS-3000 exhibited a synergistic effect against L. ivanovii when combined with vancomycin or chloramphenicol. The post-antibiotic inhibitory effect of the ampicillin/AS-3000 combination was 2.3-fold greater than for the antibiotic alone. The mode of action of AS-3000 on Listeria and Escherichia was visible using SEM. These results support the use of O. africana for treating microbial infections.