Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Measuring Volatile and Non-volatile Antifungal Activity of Biocontrol Products
Published on: December 5, 2020
Antimicrobial compounds from root, stem bark and seeds of Melia volkensii
Rahab W Kamau1, Benard F Juma1, Lilechi D Baraza1
1a Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry , Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology , Kakamega , Kenya.
Abstract:
Three compounds, toosendanin (1), kulactone (2) and scopoletin (3), were isolated from either the root bark and/or the stem bark of Melia volkensii. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data generated and by comparison with data from the literature. 1 and 2, isolated for the first time from M. volkensii, exhibited significant (p < 0.05) activity against Escherichia coli with minimum inhibitory concentration of 12.5 μg/mL, close to that of neomycin (6.25 μg/mL). The compounds also exhibited high activity against Aspergillus niger (MIC 6.25 μg/mL compared to 2.5 μg/mL for clotrimazole). Dichloromethane and methanol seed, hexane stem bark and methanol root bark extracts exhibited activities towards Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger and Plasmodium falciparum, respectively. Antimicrobial activity of the plant towards A. niger, P. falciparum and S. aureus is reported for the first time in the current work.
More Related Videos
07:13Quantification of Violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum and Its Inhibition by Bioactive Compounds
Published on: August 8, 2025
08:20Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
Published on: March 31, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Antimicrobial Effectiveness
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control
Antifungal Agents
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Surface Membrane Barriers
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
Biological Methods for Microbial Control