In Vitro Efficacy of Crataegus oxycantha L. (Hawthorn) and Its Major Components against ATCC and Clinical Strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum

Crataegus oxycantha L., commonly known as hawthorn, has traditionally been usedfor its beneficial effect on cardiovascular health, which is related to its flavonoid content.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of afluid extract and a hydro-ethanolic macerate from buds of Crataegus oxycanthaagainst clinical isolates of Ureaplasma urealyticum. The major purified flavonoidspresent in the extracts were also tested against ATCC strains and clinical isolates.Both the fluid extract and the hydro-ethanolic macerate were active against thirty-dueclinical strains of U. urealyticum, with MIC ranges between 15.6 and 250 μg/ml and15.6 and 62.5 μg/ml, respectively. All pure organic compounds, with the exception ofrutin, showed activity against the strains tested, luteolin 3,7-diglucoside being themost active compound (MICs in the range of 0.48 and 1.95 μg/ml), followed by apigenin-7-O-glucoside (MICs in the range of 0.48 and 3.9 μg/ml). The activity of thepure flavonoids was greater against the clinical isolates compared to the ATCCstrains. The data presented here demonstrate that flavonoids present in Crataegusoxycantha are effective against clinical isolates of U. urealyticum and could be usedin combination with antibiotics in order to combat resistance.