Antimicrobial Effects of Some Brazilian Medicinal Plants on Intestinal Disorders

  • Airton Luiz Gonçalves Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP
  • Antônio Alves Filho Laboratório Evangélico de Análises Clínicas
  • Hercules Menezes Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP
Keywords: Antimicrobial Activity, Brazilian Medicinal Trees, Antibiosis.

Abstract

Hydroalcoholic extracts from 22 species of Brazilian medicinal trees were screened for their antimicrobial activity (AA) against 3 different microorganisms isolated from diarrheic feces inocula (Escherichia coli enteropathogenic, Shigella sonnei and Salmonella spp). The agar diffusion method was used for antibiosis assay purposes. In 66 (100%) samples tested, 16 (24%) exhibited high AA. Exceptional AA was observed in Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae), Ilex paraguariensis A.St.Hil. (Aquifoliacea), Myroxylon peruiferum L.f. (Fabaceae), Mimosa tenuiflora (Wild.) Poiret (Leguminosae), against Shigella sonnei and Salmonella spp, and Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) extract against Escherichia coli enteropathogenic, Shigella sonnei and Salmonella spp. Antibiosis assays with commercially available antibiotics were simultaneously conducted against the above-mentioned bacteria so that the AA potential of the medicinal trees extracts could be compared. Results indicate the plants’ excellent therapeutic potential.

Author Biographies

Airton Luiz Gonçalves, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP
Médico; Doutor em Microbiologia Aplicada pela Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP. E-mail: airtonlgoncalves@ig.com.br
Antônio Alves Filho, Laboratório Evangélico de Análises Clínicas
Biólogo no Laboratório Evangélico de Análises Clínicas. E-mail: alvesfilho.a@hotmail.com
Hercules Menezes, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP
Biólogo; Docente no Departamento de Bioquímica e Microbiologia na Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP. E-mail: hermes@rc.unesp.br
Published
2011-07-08
Section
Artigos Originais