Antibacterial Activitiy of Triterpeniod Compounds

Abstract

Background: Burn wound infections represent a critical clinical challenge, with drug-resistant bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa frequently implicated. Plant-derived triterpenoid compounds, including those from Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), have demonstrated potential antimicrobial properties and warrant systematic investigation.

Objective: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of triterpenoid substances extracted from R. officinalis against pathogenic bacteria isolated from burn wound patients. Methods: This study was conducted from July 2023 to April 2024. One hundred specimens were collected from burn patients at the Burn Care Center, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. Bacterial identification was performed via routine biochemical tests and confirmed using the Vitek2 compact system. Rosemary leaves were shade-dried, powdered, and subjected to Soxhlet extraction using 250 ml of 75% petroleum ether at 40–60°C for six hours. The extract was concentrated via rotary evaporation at 40°C. Phytochemical profiling was conducted by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antibacterial activity was assessed against six bacterial strains at concentrations of 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100% using the well-diffusion Kirby-Bauer method.

Results: A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa were the predominant isolates. GC/MS analysis identified ursolic acid (1.38%) and oleanolic acid (3.27%) among the triterpenoid constituents. The greatest zones of inhibition were recorded for Staphylococcus aureus (22 mm at 50%; 26 mm at 100%), Acinetobacter baumannii (18 mm at 50%; 22 mm at 100%), and Staphylococcus haemolyticus (17 mm at 100%).

Conclusion: Triterpenoid extracts from R. officinalis exhibit concentration-dependent antibacterial activity, with notable efficacy against S. aureus and A. baumannii. These findings support further investigation of rosemary-derived compounds as adjunctive agents in burn infection management.