Phytochemical and Biological Activities of Tacca Chantrieri

The aim of this study was to characterize saponin substances in the partial pure extract (PPE) of Tacca chantrieri as well as to evaluate anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of the PPE. The result showed that the obtained PPE was yellowish brown powder. The results showed that the saponin substances existing in T. chantrieri stem were of a triterpene glycoside group. Anti-inflammatory test was conducted by using an enzymetic assay. It was found that the PPE (4 mg/ml) and a standard aspirin (4mg/ml) possessed a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition of 27.74±15.48% and 55.66±1.81%, respectively. The IC50 of antiinflammatory action of PPE was found at 5.30 mg/ml. An aqueous solution of 25.00%w/w PPE was tested for antimicrobial activity by using the plate diffusion method against various microorganisms. The result demonstrated that the PPE had more inhibitory effect against gram negative than gram positive bacteria. More importantly, the PPE showed significantly stronger inhibitory effect against pathogenic fungi than on bacteria (p < 0.05). The MIC value of PPE against the most sensitive gram negative (Aeromonas hydrophila) and gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) was 1.56 mg/ml. The MIC value of the PPE against the tested dermatophytes was obviously lower than that against the tested bacteria. The value was less than 0.39 mg/ml for all three test fungal strains.