Abstract

9, 10-Anthracenedione and 1-hydroxy-4-methylanthraquinone showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. Due to the synergistic effect of the individual compounds, the crude extract from leaves and roots of Ceratotheca triloba exhibited good potency (>500) against S. aureus and M. luteus,medium potency against E. coli and S. typhimurium (<100) and very low potency against B. cereus (<10). Although a similar trend was observed for 9, 10 anthracenedione and 1-hydroxy -4-methyl anthraquinone unlike the crude extract. A very low potency against S. aureus was observed for 9, 10 anthracenedione and a high potency for 1-hydroxy-4-methylanthraquinone. Thus 9, 10 anthracenedione is an effective drug against E. coli and S. typhimurium and 1-hydroxy-4-methylanthraquinone is effective against S. aureus and M. luteus. The crude root extract and 9, 10 anthacenedione, 1-hydroxy-4-methylanthraquinone and 5, 8-dimethoxy-2, 3, 10, 10a-tetrahydro-1H-phenanthrene-4, 9-dione showed a ± 50% reduction of the free radicals. No anti-inflammatory activity was observed. The purified extracts showed moderate toxicity against HepG₂ cells at high concentrations and no toxicity was observed against brine shrimp larvae. No mutagenicity was observed with the crude extracts using the Ames test. All purified and crude extracts showed potent inhibition of the human topoisomerase II enzyme.

Key words: Anthraquinone, 9, 10 anthracenedione, 1 hydroxy -4 methylanthraquinone, antioxidant activity.