Abstract
This work was carried out for determining antimicrobial activity of Pistacia chinensis leaves methanol extract and identifying the chemical composition of the plant extract. Methanol extract was tested for antimicrobial activity using disc-diffusion assay and the extract was fractionated on silica gel column chromatography for the isolation of the bio-active constituents. The leaves extract of P. chinensis showed a significant antimicrobial effect, it strongly inhibited the growth of the test bacteria and yeast studied. Chromatograpic separation of the methanol extract of P. chinensis leaves has led to the isolation and characterization of beta-sitosterol, luepol, and six flavonoids, quercetin, myricetin, quercetin 3-O-alpha-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-O-beta-glucoside, myricetin 3-O-alpha-rhamnoside and myricetin 3-O-beta-glucuronide using various chromatographic procedures and the interpretation of spectral data in comparison with already existing data reported in the literature. The results presented here may suggest that the leaves extract of P. chinensis possess antimicrobial properties, and therefore, can be used as natural preservative ingredients in food and/or pharmaceuticals. (C) All Rights Reserved