New antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of falcarindiol isolated in Crithmum maritimum L. leaf extract

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a chloroformic extract obtained from Cirthmum maritimum leaves led to the chemical isolation of falcarindiol. a polyacetylene widely distributed within the Apiaceae family Structure of this compound was confirmed by NMR and activity was tracked using a screening microplate bioassay. Falcarindiol strongly inhibited the growth of Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus cereus. with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 50 mu g ml(-1) Moreover, this compound showed cytotoxicity against IEC-6 cells with an IC(50) value of 20 mu M after 48 h of exposition. These results suggest that Crithmum maritimum could be potentially used in food manufactures and cosmetology as preservative agents and biopesticides, or in medicine as new antibiotics, confirming the interest in studying halophytic species as sources of bioactive compounds. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.