Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Cytotoxic Activities of 11 Solanaceae Plants from Colombian Biodiversity

Abstract

The hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol extracts of 11 Solanaceae plants collected in Regional Natural Park Ucumarí (RNPU) Colombia were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities through the agar-well diffusion method and for cytotoxic activity by the brine shrimp lethality assay. In general, the methanol plant extracts were more bioactive in the three different tests performed in this work. Under conditions and concentrations of the plant extracts evaluated in this research, the cytotoxic activities against brine shrimp Artemia salina. (Leach) larvae were the strongest compared with the antibacterial or the antifungal activities. The strongest cytotoxic activities were observed with the methanol extracts from Browallia speciosa. Hook (LC₅₀ 0.01 mg/ml) and Deprea glabra. (Standl.) A.T. Hunziker (LC₅₀ 0.01 mg/ml). The three extracts from Solanum deflexiflorum. Bitter (MIC 0.31 mg/ml) and the dichloromethane extract from Solanum leucocarpun. Dunal (MIC 0.31 mg/ml) were more bioactive against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis.. The methanol extract from Lycianthes synanthera. (Send.) Bitter exhibited good antimycotic activities against Candida albicans. and Fusarium solani. both with a MIC of 0.62 mg/ml.

Keywords:

• Agar-well diffusion method
• antimicrobial screening
• Artemia salina
• bioassay
• bioprospecting
• Colombian flora
• natural products