ABSTRACT
We aimed to establish a phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts and performed GC-MS of the essential oils (EOs) of Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) and Asteraceae species Baccharis dracunculifolia DC, Matricaria chamomilla L. and Vernonia polyanthes Less, as well as determining their antimicrobial activity. Establishment of the minimal inhibitory concentrations of the crude extracts and EOs against 16 Staphylococcus aureus and 16 Escherichia coli strains from human specimens was carried out using the dilution method in Mueller-Hinton agar. Some phenolic compounds with antimicrobial properties were established, and all EOs had a higher antimicrobial activity than the extracts. Matricaria chamomilla extract and E. uniflora EO were efficient against S. aureus strains, while E. uniflora and V. polyanthes extracts and V. polyanthes EO showed the best antimicrobial activity against E. coli strains. Staphylococcus aureus strains were more susceptible to the tested plant products than E. coli, but all natural products promoted antimicrobial growth inhibition.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , Oils, Volatile/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Asteraceae/chemistry , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effectsABSTRACT
Drimys angustifolia Miers. (Winteraceae) is a Brazilian medicinal plant used as analgesic, antiulcer and anti-inflammatory without studies to assure its efficacy and safety Leaf and stem bark extracts were evaluated to determine the antiulcer, analgesic, antiinflammatory and antioxidant activities. Preliminary toxic effects and qualitative phytochemical profile were also performed. The antiulcer activity was detected in both extracts. Administration of the leaf extract at 250 mg/kg inhibited total lesion area by 76.50% (p < 0.01 in ethanol/HCl method), while carbenoxolone at 250 mg/kg reduced lesions by 69.48%. Stem bark extract (250 mg/kg) inhibited lesion by 81.42%, while carbenoxolone by 74.10%. Similar effects were observed in the ethanol-induced ulcer method, but no activity was observed in piroxican model. The effects involve nitric oxide in gastric protection, since the L-NAME treatment reversed the protection given by the extracts. Antioxidant effects suggest an involvement against oxidative stress. In the pain (writhing, tail-flick and hot-plate tests) and inflammation (carrageenan-induced paw edema) models, the extracts did not present any effect. The phytochemical studies demonstrated that both extracts contain flavonoids, saponins, glycosilated triterpenoids, fixed acids, cyanogenic glycosides, quinones, tannins, xanthone and steroidal aglycones. Toxicological studies showed that the extracts are safe at the effective antiulcer doses.
Subject(s)
Analgesics/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Ulcer Agents/pharmacology , Drimys/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Analgesics/administration & dosage , Analgesics/adverse effects , Analgesics/chemistry , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry , Anti-Ulcer Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-Ulcer Agents/adverse effects , Anti-Ulcer Agents/chemistry , Antioxidants/administration & dosage , Antioxidants/adverse effects , Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Carbenoxolone/pharmacology , Disease Models, Animal , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Inflammation/chemically induced , Inflammation/drug therapy , Male , Mice , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Pain/chemically induced , Pain/drug therapy , Pain Measurement , Phytotherapy , Plant Bark , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plant Extracts/adverse effects , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Leaves , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Stomach Ulcer/chemically induced , Stomach Ulcer/drug therapyABSTRACT
Austroplenckia populnea (Reiss.) Lund. is a Brazilian Cerrado plant belonging to the Celastraceae family. Hexane and methanol extracts of leaves were investigated for their antiulcerogenic (ethanol and indomethacin/bethanecol induced gastric damage) and analgesic (writhing and tail-flick tests) activities in mice. Acute toxic effects also were evaluated. Oral administration of both extracts at a dose of 1000 mg/kg significantly reduced the total area of the lesion, the relative area of lesion and the ulcerative index in ethanol-induced gastric damage, but both extracts were inactive in the indomethacin/bethanecol-induced gastric damage test. A dose dependent effect was determined with the hexane extract in the ethanol-induced lesions test. The hexane and methanol extracts reduced the number of contortions in the writhing test, but both extracts were inactive in the tail-flick immersion test.
