Pharmaceuticals 2009 pages 2-10

Fractionation of Mastic Gum in Relation to Antimicrobial Activity

Mohammad Sharif Sharifi 1,* and Stuart Loyd Hazell 2

1 School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Australia

2 Faculty of Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia; E-Mail: عنوان البريد الإلكتروني هذا محمي من روبوتات السبام. يجب عليك تفعيل الجافاسكربت لرؤيته.

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: عنوان البريد الإلكتروني هذا محمي من روبوتات السبام. يجب عليك تفعيل الجافاسكربت لرؤيته.;

Tel.: +61-2-93854665; Fax: +61 2 9385 6141

Received: 25 February 2009; in revised form: 23 March 2009 / Accepted: 26 March 2009 / Published: 1 April 2009

Abstract: Mastic gum is a viscous light-green liquid obtained from the bark of Pistacia lentiscus var. chia. which belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. The gum has been fractionated to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the whole gum and its fractions against various strains of Helicobacter pylori. The polymeric gum fraction was separated from the essential oil and the resin (trunk exudates without essential oil) to assess and compare the anti-H. pylori activity of the polymer fraction against lower molecular weight fractions, the gum itself and masticated gum. The polymer fraction was also oxidized and assessed for antimicrobial activity.

Keywords: Mastic Gum; Helicobacter pylori; Pistachia lentiscus.