Three pyridinium alkaloids may account for the antibiotic effect of
the seed of Abrus precatorius

1OP Amuta; 2PO Nnamani; 3AD Musa; 1O.F.C Nwodo

Abstract

Three pyridinium alkaloids may account for the antibiotic effect of the seed of Abrus precatorius

A methanol extract of Abrus precatorius seed cotyledons has been found to exhibit growth inhibitory activity against both Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). This activity was traceable to three pyridinium components viz: - trigonelline, precatorine and a sugar ester of trigonelline. These alkaloids may contribute to the use of the seed extracts in folk medicines for the treatment of infective disorders

Author(s): 1OP Amuta, 2PO Nnamani, 3AD Musa* and 1O.F.C Nwodo

Abstract | PDF