Quinolone alkaloids from Fructus Euodiae show activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Fructus Euodiae is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat infection. In this study, four of the quinolone alkaloids isolated from Fructus Euodiae showed activity against methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were 8–128 µg/mL, which were equivalent to or lower than the control antibiotics, oxacillin, erythromycin and tetracycline (MIC ≥128 µg/mL). Among these isolated quinolone alkaloids, evocarpine with a 13 carbon alkenyl chain substituent at position-2 showed the best activity against MRSA. This study has demonstrated the potential of quinolone alkaloids from Fructus Euodiae as anti-MRSA compounds and supports the traditional use of the fruit as a treatment for bacterial infections.