Title: Evaluation of the flora of northern Mexico for in vitro antimicrobial and antituberculosis activity.

POPLINE Document Number: 314468

Author(s):

Molina-Salinas GM
Perez-Lopez A
Becerril-Montes P
Salazar-Aranda R
Said-Fernandez S

Source citation:

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007 Feb 12;109(3):435-441.

Abstract:

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential antimicrobial activity of 14 plants used in northeast Mexico for the treatment of respiratory diseases, against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae type b and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Forty-eight organic and aqueous extracts were tested against these bacterial strains using a broth microdilution test. No aqueous extracts showed antimicrobial activity, whereas most of the organic extracts presented antimicrobial activity against at least one of the drug-resistant microorganisms tested. Methanol-based extracts from the roots and leaves of Leucophyllum frutescens and ethyl ether extract from the roots of Chrysanctinia mexicana showed the greatest antimicrobial activity against the drug-resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) were 62.5, 125 and 62.5 µg/mL, respectively; methanol-based extract from the leaves ofCordia boissieri showed the best antimicrobial activity against the drug-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 250µg/mL); the hexane-based extract from the fruits of Schinus molle showed considerable antimicrobial activity against the drug-resistant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC 62.5µg/mL). This study supports that selecting plants by ethnobotanical criteria enhances the possibility of finding species with activity against resistant microorganisms. (author's)

Keywords:

Mexico
Adults
Tuberculosis
Pneumonia
Medicine, Traditional
Plants, Medicinal
In Vitro
North America
Americas
Developing Countries
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Infections
Diseases
Pulmonary Effects
Physiology
Biology
Medicine
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Clinical Research
Research Methodology