The potential of Leucosidea sericea against Propionibacterium acnes

Abstract

The present study reports on the potential of Leucosidea sericea addressing acne vulgaris. Four known compounds namely phytol acetate, triacontanol, phytol and alpha kosin and one new compound namely, (E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethylheptadec-2-ene-1,17-diol have been isolated for the first time from this plant. The ethanol extract of leaves and one of the isolated compounds, alpha kosin exhibited significant minimum inhibitory concentration (with MIC values 15.7 mg/mL and 1.9 mg/mL, respectively) against acne inducing bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes. Moreover, the transmission electron micrographs showed the efflux of intracellular content of the cells of P. acnes caused by plant extract and alpha kosin. The ethanol extract of L. sericea exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing interleukin 8 (IL 8) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF a) in coculture of human U937 cells and heat killed P. acnes at concentrations of 25.0, 12.5 and 6.2 mg/mL.