Antimicrobial Activity in Etiolated Seedlings of Adlay

Study on Antimicrobial Substances in Etiolated Seedlings of Adlay

Abstract

Antimicrobial substances in methanol extracts (room temperature, 48h) of Adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) were investigated. The results were as follows: (1) All extracts of stems and leaves, roots, seeds and etiolated seedlings had antimicrobial activity. The extract of etiolated seedlings showed the strongest antimicrobial activity among them. Furthermore, coixol which was known as a physiologically active substance of Adlay had no antimicrobial activity. (2) The antimicrobial activity of etiolated seedlings was measured in each growth stage. The extract of etiolated seedlings which were 2cm length after germination, showed the strongest antimicrobial activity. (3) The extract of etiolated seedlings showed the strong antimicrobial activity against bacteria, yeast and fungi. This result suggested that the antimicrobial substances had a wide-ranging antimicrobial spectrum. (4) The antimicrobial substances of etiolated seedlings had heat resistance, as it showed stable activity even after heating at 120°C for 20min.