ABSTRACT
The search for phytotherapeutic (medicinal plant) treatments has been intensified in recent decades. The abusive use ofantimicrobial drugs, selection of resistant bacteria and inadequate handling conditions are issues that have an impact onveterinary medicine. With this in mind, the objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extractsof caatinga biome plants against pathogens of veterinary interest. Six ethanolic extracts of plants existing in the Caatingabiome of the Pernambuco semi-arid region were used, namely: Amburana cearensis A.C.Smith, Selaginella convolutaArn.(Spring), Hymenaea courbaril L., Neoglaziovia variegata (Arruda) Mez., Bromelia laciniosa Mart. and Encholirium spectabileMart. The antibacterial activity of these extracts was tested against. gram negative and positive bacteria. The minimumbactericidal concentration (MBC) for each extract was determined. Tests were carried out in triplicate. Antibacterial activities inthe genuses studied were found for the extracts evaluated, with the exception of Proteus spp., Nocardia spp., Staphylococcuscaprae and Streptococcus agalactiae. Amburana cearensis and Neoglaziovia variegata exhibited the lowest MBC values.Considering the low cost of phytotherapy and the activity of the caatinga biome plants, other studies related to the activity invivo and the phytochemical characterization become