Protea caffra is used as a diarrhoeal remedy in South African herbal medicine, however, its pharmacological properties remain largely unknown. In the present study, extracts from different Protea caffra organs were screened against drug-sensitive and -resistant diarrhoeagenic pathogens using the microdilution assay (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC). Twig extracts (70% methanol, MeOH) of the plant were purified and the resultant fractions screened for antibacterial properties (MIC). The chemical profiles of the fractions were determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), while ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used to quantify the phenolic acids in the plant. The mutagenic properties of bioactive extracts were assessed using the Ames test. The extracts demonstrated weak-moderate antibacterial properties (MIC: 0.3–0.6 mg/mL). A cold ethyl acetate fraction of MeOH twig extract exhibited significant antibacterial properties (MIC = 0.078 mg/mL) against Enterococcus faecalis. The presence of antibacterial compounds (1-adamantane carboxylic acid, heptacosanol, levoglucosan, nonadecanol) in the plant was putatively confirmed based on GC-MS analysis. Furthermore, UHPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed varying concentrations of phenolic acids (0.08–374.55 µg/g DW). Based on the Ames test, the extracts were non-mutagenic thereby suggesting their safety. To a certain degree, the current study supports the traditional use of Protea caffra to manage diarrhoea among local communities in South Africa.

中文翻译：

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糖灌木（Protea caffra Meisn。）的抗菌，诱变特性和化学特性：南非本地灌木树种

普罗梯亚茶tea在南非草药中被用作腹泻药，但是其药理特性仍然未知。在本研究中，从不同普罗 梯亚茶的提取物使用微量稀释测定法（最低抑菌浓度，MIC）对器官进行了药物敏感性和耐药性腹泻病原体筛选。纯化植物的树枝提取物（70％甲醇，甲醇），并筛选所得级分的抗菌性能（MIC）。通过气相色谱-质谱法（GC-MS）测定级分的化学特征，而超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法（UHPLC-MS / MS）用于量化植物中的酚酸。使用Ames测试评估生物活性提取物的诱变特性。提取物表现出弱中度抗菌特性（MIC：0.3–0.6 mg / mL）。MeOH树枝提取物的冷乙酸乙酯馏分显示出显着的抗菌性能（MIC = 0.078 mg / mL）粪肠球菌。根据GC-MS分析，确定了植物中存在抗菌化合物（1-金刚烷羧酸，庚二十烷醇，左旋葡聚糖，十九烷醇）。此外，UHPLC-MS / MS分析显示酚酸浓度不同（0.08–374.55 µg / g DW）。根据Ames测试，提取物没有致突变性，因此表明它们的安全性。在某种程度上，当前的研究支持了传统的普罗梯亚茶渣在南非当地社区中的腹泻治疗。