Antibacterial compounds from Hypericum mutilum

CHED 1282

Ashlee A. Zelinsky, Matthew S. Campbell, and Geneive E. Henry, henry@susqu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Susquehanna University, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870
There has been widespread interest in the study of the Hypericum genus owing to the diverse range of structural types and biological properties of the chemical constituents of St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum. An acetone extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum mutilum showed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Subsequent phyochemical study of the extract has resulted in the isolation of nerolidol, a triglyceride, and acylphloroglucinol derivatives. The structures were determined on the basis of NMR and MS data. The isolated compounds were evaluated for antibacterial activity against S. aureus and B. subtilis. The results of these studies will be presented.