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

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