Antibacterial activity of Ecuadorian plant extracts

The hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of 13 plant taxa from Ecuador (200µg/mL) were tested against the human pathogenous bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Bacillus subtilis (Laboratory strain) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10028). Antibacterial activity of the samples was assayed using the agar diffusion method.¹

The plant extracts that showed activity are indicated (in brackets: the inhibition zone in millimeters) for Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans. In case activity was not found in the plant extract mentioned the abbreviation nao (no activity observed) will occupy the space.

Minquartia guianensis Aubl. (Olacaceae) showed activity in the hexane (2.5, 1.0, 1.5), dichloromethane (5.0, 6.0, nao) and methanol (1.5, 2.5, nao) extracts. Bocconia integrifolia Bonpl. (Papaveraceae) presented activity in the dichloromethane (2.5, 1.7, 1.6) and methanol (4.5, 4.5, 4.5) extracts. Protium subserratum (Engl.) Engl. (Burseraceae) was active in the dichloromethane (2.5, 0.5, nao) and methanol (1.7, nao, nao) extracts. The dichloromethane (0.5, nao, nao) and methanol (1.5, nao, nao) extracts from Piptadenia pteroclada Benth. (Fabaceae) also showed activity. Croton menthodorus Benth. (Euphorbiaceae) (3.0, 3.5, nao) and Pentagonia macrophylla Benth. (Rubiaceae) (0.7, nao, nao) only present activity in the methanol extract while Syngonium podophyllum Schott (Araceae) (1.0, nao, nao) only did it in the hexane extract.

Acknowledgements: This research is part of a dissertation funded by the Austrian Exchange Service (ÖAD).

References: [1] Frei, B.; et al., (1998) Phytomed. 5: 177–86.