• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2017

Rheum palmatum has traditionally been used as a preventive agent and medication against fever and infection. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize an antibacterial substance from R. palmatum that is effective against bacterial vaginosis. A methanol extract from R. palmatum showed antibacterial activity against Lactobacillus vaginalis KC TC 3515, Chryseobacterium gleum KCTC 2904, and Sphingomonas paucimobilis KCTC 2834, which cause bacterial vaginosis. After extraction and pH control of the methanol extract from R. palmatum, we found that acidic and alkaline extracts did not show antibacterial activity. A neutral extract (50 mg/mL) displayed an inhibitory zone of 18 mm on a nutrient agar plate with C. gleum KCTC 2904. Fractions No. 11 and 12 among 41 fractions obtained by silica gel column chromatography produced inhibitory zones of 10 mm on nutrient agar plates with C. gleum KCTC 2904. $R_f0.15$ and $R_f0.17$ spots produced by TLC of fraction No. 11 showed antibacterial activity against C. gleum KCTC 2904. Isolation and purification of the peak at a retention time (Rt) of 9.427 min was achieved by HPLC of $R_f0.29spots$. The peak at Rt 9.427 min showed antibacterial activity against C. gleum KCTC 2904.