In vitro antimycoplasmal activity of oleuropein

Received 31 January 2002; accepted 20 March 2002.

Abstract

The activity of oleuropein, a phenolic glycoside contained in olive oil, was investigated in vitro against Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma fermentans, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pirum. Oleuropein inhibited mycoplasmas at concentrations from 20 to 320 mg/l. The MICs of oleuropein to M. pneumoniae, M. pirum, M. hominis and M. fermentans were 160, 320, 20 and 20 mg/l, respectively.

Keywords: Oleuropein, In vitro activity, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pirum, Mycoplasma fermentas, Mycoplasma hominis, Anti-mycoplasmal activity

a Department of Microbiological Sciences and Gynecological Sciences, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy

b Department of Pharmacobiology, University of Messina, Viale Annuziata, 98100 Messina, Italy

c Department of Pharmacology of Natural Substances and General Physiology, University of Rome La Sapienza, 06100 Rome, Italy

d CIRASAIA, University of Calabria, Arcavacata, Rende, Cosenza, Italy

Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-095316038; fax: +39-095316038

PII: S0924-8579(02)00181-4

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