Antimicrobial activity of the crude ethanol extract from Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of the crude ethanol extract from Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) L. R. Landrum (Myrtaceae), collected at two locations in Brazil, was investigated. Leaf samples were collected in April 2005 and in September 2005, both in Brasília, DF, Brazil, and in July 2000 in São Gonçalo do Abaeté, MG, Brazil. They were dried, crushed and used to obtain three crude ethanol extracts. The agar diffusion test was used for antimicrobial activity screening and the agar dilution method for determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). In assay conditions, extracts I, II and III demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, M. roseus, Bacillus cereus, B. atrophaeus, and B. stearothermophilus (MIC 0.39062 to 12.5 mg/mL, MIC 0.78125 to 1.5625 mg/mL and MIC 0.39062 to 1.5625 mg/mL, respectively), against Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC 0.39062 to 3.125 mg/mL, MIC 1.5625 mg/mL and MIC 0.78125 to 1.5625 mg/mL, respectively), against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas stutzeri (MIC 0.39062 to 0.78125 mg/mL, MIC 0.78125 to 1.5625 mg/mL, MIC 0.78125 to 1.5625 mg/mL, respectively) and also against Candida albicans fungi (MIC 0.19531 mg/mL for the extracts I, II and III). This study showed that the antimicrobial activity of P. pseudocaryophyllus might be considered sufficient to encourage further studies to isolate and identify its active principles. Pharmacological and toxicological studies are also necessary, followed by studies regarding the culturing and managing processes of this vegetable.

Keywords::

• Agar diffusion test
• agar dilution method
• bacteria
• minimal inhibitory concentration
• fungi

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa (FUNAPE/UFG), the Faculdade de Farmácia /UFG, the Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/UFG and the Universidade Estadual de Goiás (UEG), all in Brazil. The authors thank Sharon Lois Vinaud for language assistance.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.