Antimicrobial activity of argentine plants

SOBERÓN J.R.; QUIROGA E.N.; VATTUONE, M.A.

Río de Janeiro (Brasil).

Congreso; XX Congreso Ibero-Americano de plantas medicinais III Jornada de Fitoterapia do Rio de Janeiro; 2004

Instituto Brasileiro de Plantas Medicinais (IBPM) - Asociación Argentina de Fitomedicina

It has long been recognized that naturally occurring substances in plants have biological activities. They were used in traditional medicine. Infections associated with bacterial pathogens are the most frequent dolencies treated with traditional remedies. -Then, there arise a need to screen plants used in folk medicine for bioactive compounds as a basis for further pharmacological studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate 22 plants from the northwest of Argentina that are used in traditional medicine for their antibiotic activity. Tinctures, decoctions and infusions of aerial parts were prepared according to the Farmacopea Argentina 6ta. Ed. From them 12 plants were selected for their growth inhibitory activity against microorganisms and their effect on phytopathogenic bacteria. The microbiological assays included dilution in solid medium and microdilution in liquid medium. Extract cytotoxicity was assayed by the test of Attemia salina. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts were compared with that of synthetic antibiotics. From the assayed plants Leonurus sibiricus, Tripodanthus acutifolius, Psittacanthus cuneifolius and Jodina rhombifolia showed the most relevant antimicrobial activity. In conclusion our results confirm the therapeutic potency of at least four plant species and thus provide a rationale for their use in traditional medicine. Furthermore, our results provide a good basis for further studies and for plant conservation purposes