Allen, Randi B.

Graell, Amelia I.

Pujada, Adani

English

Georgia State University

TITLE: Antimicrobial Activity of Cirsium discolor Flower Extract against Staphylococcus 
aureus and Acinetobacter baummannii 
AUTHORS: Randi Allen, Amalia Graell, and Adani Pujada 
FACULTY SPONSORS: Maria Nagy, Department of Biology 
Introduction: Cirsium discolor is commonly found in Canada and in the southeastern part of North 
America (USDA, 2013). C. discolor is only able to grow flowering stems during the winter season. There 
have been medicinal properties previously studied regarding this plant, and the whole plant can be used 
to excrete toxic wastes from the body and also help in treating hypertension (Hempen and Fischer, 
2009). 
Purpose: The antimicrobial activity of the acetone extract of C.discolor flowers against Acinetobacter 
baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus was studied by using techniques such as thin layer 
chromatography (TLC), column chromatography, and TLC bioassay. 
Methods:  TLC is one of the techniques that was carried out to separate the acetone extract into 
different components based on polarity; the optimum solvent system used to separate the components 
of the extract was 3 Hexane: 2 ethyl acetate: 1 methanol.  The TLC bioassay was later performed to 
determine the active compound that exhibit the antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and A. 
baumannii. The column chromatography was used to isolate the active compound that is producing the 
antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms. 
Results: Initial results of the TLC bioassay suggest that the active compound showing the antimicrobial 
activity is a non-polar compound, because the zone of inhibition was around a band that was located at 
the top of the TLC plate. 
Conclusion: The results indicate that there is an active ingredient located in the extract of Cirsium 
discolors that is causing the antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and A. baummanii.  
Recommendations: Since there has been no previous research done on the antimicrobial activity of this 
particular plant there can be further tests performed to determine if this medicinal plant can 
successfully be synthesized into an antibiotic that can help patients suffering from illnesses caused by 
these two microorganisms. These studies can be further used to also determine what other potential 
microorganisms C. discolor is susceptible to.   


Antimicrobial Activity of Cirsium discolor Flower Extract against Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baummannii

https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1313&amp;context=gsurc

Antimicrobial Activity of Cirsium discolor Flower Extract against Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baummannii

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Georgia State University