Antibacterial, cytotoxic and phytochemical screening of some traditional medicinal plants in Brazil

Figures & data

Table 1.  Ethnomedical data on medicinal plants.

Family	Scientific name [Voucher number]	Common name	Plant parts used^a	Ethnomedical uses	References
Amaranthaceae	Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen [CESJ 46164]	Fáfia	R	Anaemia, arthritis, chronic fatigue, circulation problems, diabetes, hypertension, immune disorders, impotence, mononucleosis, stress, tumors, ulcers	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Anacardiaceae	Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi [CESJ 46576]	Aroeira	L, SB	Urinary disorders, bronchitis and other superior respiratory problems, disorders of hemorrhages and menstrual with excessive bloody and general inflammation	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Anacardium occidentale L. [CESJ 45167]	Cajueiro	SB	Asthma, diabetes, sore throat ulcers (mouth) and diarrhoea	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Asteraceae	Wedelia paludosa DC. [CESJ 46085]	Arnica do mato	L	Headaches, fevers, infections and pathologies of the respiratory tract	Howard Miles et al., 1990
	Eupatorium laevigatum Lam. [CESJ 46082]	Falso cambará	L	Lesions such as buccal aphtae	Paulo et al., 2000
	Vernonia condensata Baker [CESJ 46086]	Necroton	L	Gastrointestinal disorders, hepatic affections, diarrhoea	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) S. F. Blake [CESJ 46160]	Botão de ouro	WP	Scurvy wound, respiratory problems	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Mikania glomerata Spreng. [CESJ 46581]	Guaco	L	Bronchitis, cough, fever, throat and mouse infection, respiratory problems, rheumatism	Howard Miles et al., 1990
	Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. [CESJ 46084]	Alecrim do campo	WP	Rheumatism	Corrêa, 1984
Bignoniaceae	Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl.) Miers. [CESJ 46163]	Cipó de São João	L	Diarrhoea	Corrêa, 1984
Bixaceae	Bixa orellana L. [CESJ 6077]	Urucum	S	Constipation, fevers, heart burn, ashma, gastrointestinal tonic	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Boraginaceae	Symphytum officinale L. [CESJ 46577]	Confrei	L	Ulcers, wounds, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatism, cough, bronchitis, bones affections	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Cordia verbenacea DC. [CESJ 46080]	Erva baleeira	L	Arthritis, gout, inflammation, rheumatism, external wounds and ulcers	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Celasteraceae	Maytenus ilicifolia (Schrad.) Planch. [CESJ 46081]	Espinheira-santa	L	Bile disorders, cancer, digestive and intestinal problems, ulcers	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Convolvulaceae	Cuscuta racemosa Mart. [CESJ 46083]	Cipó-chumbo	WP	Digestive, intestinal problems	Corrêa, 1984
Costaceae	Costus spiralis (Jacq.) Roscoe [CESJ 46173]	Cana-de-macaco	L, R	Syphilis, nephritis, cystitis	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Equisetaceae	Equisetum hyemale L. [CESJ 46588]	Cavalinha	AP	Gonorrhoea, gallbladder affections, gout	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Lamiaceae	Ocimum gratissimum L. [CESJ 46165]	Alfavacão	L	Colds, digestive and intestinal problems	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Rosmarinus officinalis L. [CESJ 46073]	Alecrim	L, F	Rheumatism, depression, wounds, respiratory and digestive problems	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Leonurus sibiricus L. [CESJ 46176]	Macaé	WP	Intestinal problems, cough, bronchitis, gastric defect, rheumatism, fever diseases of eyes	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Stachys bizantina C.Koch. [CESJ 46598]	Orelha-de-coelho	L	Inflammation	Duarte et al., 2005
Leguminosae	Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. [CESJ 46174]	Feijão-guandú	L, F	Coughs, bronchitis, fevers, inflammation, pain ulcers	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Malvaceae	Gossypium hirsutum L. [CESJ 46070]	Algodão	L, SB, S	Diarrhoea, uterine problems, wounds, mycoses	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Myrtaceae	Eugenia uniflora L. [CESJ 46168]	Pitanga	L	Fever, gastric problems, rheumatism, diarrhoea	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels [CESJ 46601]	Jambolão	L	Diabetes, inflammation	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry [CESJ 46600]	Jambo	L	Inflammation	Dunstan et al., 1997
Piperaceae	Pothomorphe umbellata (L.) Miq. [CESJ 46593]	Capeba	L, S, R	Malaria, liver ailments, inflammation, erysipelas, gastrointestinal infection, peptic ulcers, fever	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Piper aduncum L. [CESJ 46075]	Falso-jaborandi	L	Intestinal problems, erysipelas, hepatic disorders	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Plantaginaceae	Plantago lanceolata L. [CESJ 46167]	Transagem	WP	Cough, gastrointestinal disorder, diarrhoea	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Polygonaceae	Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. [CESJ 46072]	Erva-de-bicho	WP	Gonorrhoea, hemorrhoids, erysipelas, arthrits, rheumatism, diarrhoea, intestinal problems	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Rubiaceae	Spermacoce verticillata Vell. [CESJ 46091]	Vassourinha-de-botão	L, R	Diarrhoea, erysipelas, hemorrhoids	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
Solanaceae	Solanum americanum Mill. [CESJ 46069]	Erva-moura	L	Cough, protozoan infections	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002; Cáceres et al., 1998
	Solanum palinacanthum Dun. [CESJ 46590]	Juá	S	No use reported
	Solanum cernuum Vell. [CESJ 46169]	Panacéa	L	Gonorrhoea, skin diseases, rheumatism	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Solanum concinnum Sendtn. [CESJ 46079]	Juá-velame	L	No use reported
Verbenaceae	Lantana camara L. [CESJ 46090]	Cambará	L	Fever, bronchitis, respiratory diseases, rheumatism	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002
	Stachytarpheta cayannensis (Rich.) Vahl. [CESJ 46596]	Gervão roxo	AP	Hepatic disorders, erysipelas	Lorenzi & Matos, 2002

^a AP, aerial parts; L, leaves; WP, whole plant; R, root; S, seeds; F, flowers; SB, stem bark.

Table 2.  Cytotoxic and antibacterial activity of methanol extracts of the selected medicinal plants and their phytocompounds.

Botanical name	Part tested^a	Yield (% w/w)	Cytotoxic activity LC50 (μg /mL)^b	Antibacterial activity (inhibition zone in mm)^c								Phytocompounds^d
				Sa	Pa	St	Ss	Kp	Ec	Bc	Al	Tr	St	Ta	Sa	Cu	Fl	An
Pfaffia glomerata	R	5.0	> 250	0	7	13	0	10	0	9	+	+	−	−	−	−	−	−
Schinus terebinthifolius	L	9.0	> 250	10	19	20	23	11	0	12	+	+	−	+	−	−	+	+
Anacardium occidentale	SB	15.0	> 250	0	22	15	20	10	0	0	+	+	−	+	−	−	+	+
Wedelia paludosa	L	13.0	> 250	0	7	26	9	11	8	9	+	+	−	+	−	−	+	+
Eupatorium laevigatum	L	13.0	> 250	0	8	18	10	10	0	0	+	+	−	−	−	+	+	−
Vernonia condensata	L	18.0	> 250	8	11	17	0	8	0	8	−	−	+	−	−	−	−	−
Galinsoga ciliata	L	12.0	> 250	0	10	16	0	15	0	0	+	+	−	+	−	−	+	−
Mikania glomerata	L	16.0	63 (41–97)	0	12	17	0	10	0	11	+	+	−	−	−	+	+	−
Baccharis dracunculifolia	AP	11.0	> 250	0	8	20	10	0	0	0	+	−	+	−	−	+	+	−
Pyrostegia venusta	L	17.0	> 250	0	18	20	11	10	0	0	−	+	−	−	+	−	+	−
Pyrostegia venusta	F	10.0	> 250	10	14	16	15	14	9	10	−	−	+	−	+	+	+	+
Bixa orellana	S	9.0	> 250	0	18	19	21	13	0	0	+	+	−	−	−	−	+	−
Bixa orellana	Fr	9.0	> 250	9	11	19	24	9	0	0	+	+	−	+	−	−	+	+
Symphytum officinale	L	14.0	> 250	7	10	21	16	12	8	0	+	−	+	−	−	+	−	−
Cordia verbenacea	L	13.0	111 (84–148)	10	11	19	9	11	0	11	−	+	−	+	−	−	−	−
Maytenus ilicifolia	L	10.0	> 250	9	9	21	11	13	0	10	+	+	−	+	−	−	+	+
Cuscuta racemosa	WP	20.0	> 250	8	8	17	0	11	0	12	−	+	−	−	+	+	+	+
Costus spiralis	L	14.0	> 250	0	9	15	10	10	0	0	+	−	+	−	−	−	+	−
Equisetum hyemale	AP	18.0	> 250	0	10	11	0	12	0	10	−	−	+	−	−	−	−	−
Ocimum gratissimum	L	19.0	> 250	7	14	25	14	11	8	13	+	−	+	+	+	−	+	−
Ocimum gratissimum	F	12.0	130 (105–161)	8	12	20	12	11	0	11	+	+	−	+	−	−	+	−
Rosmarinus officinalis	L	17.0	> 250	10	12	21	15	17	9	11	+	+	−	+	+	−	+	+
Leonurus sibiricus	L	18.0	86 (43–171)	0	7	20	10	9	0	0	+	+	−	+	−	+	+	−
Stachys byzantina	L	17.0	> 250	8	13	15	14	11	9	0	−	+	−	−	−	+	+	−
Cajanus cajan	L	15.0	> 250	0	15	28	13	11	0	0	+	−	+	+	+	+	+	+
Cajanus cajan	S	12.0	> 250	0	11	16	10	10	0	10	+	+	−	+	+	−	+	−
Gossypium hirsutum	L	16.0	> 250	0	13	19	15	11	8	0	−	−	+	−	−	−	+	−
Eugenia uniflora	L	13.0	> 250	0	12	19	22	0	0	0	+	+	−	+	−	−	+	+
Syzygium cumini	L	18.0	> 250	10	24	18	15	13	0	10	−	+	−	+	−	−	+	+
Syzygium malaccense	L	14.0	144 (65–317)	0	10	15	21	0	0	0	−	+	−	+	−	−	+	+
Pothomorphe umbellata	L	16.5	> 250	0	12	20	8	10	8	12	+	−	+	+	−	−	+	−
Piper aduncum	L	19.0	> 250	8	12	20	11	10	0	0	+	−	+	+	−	−	+	+
Piper aduncum	F	8.0	> 250	7	9	21	15	8	10	0	+	+	−	+	−	−	+	+
Plantago lanceolata	L	14.0	> 250	10	13	17	16	12	7	10	+	+	−	+	+	+	+	−
Polygonum hydropiperoides	L	16.0	> 250	11	11	16	12	11	10	9	+	+	−	+	−	−	+	+
Polygonum hydropiperoides	F	9.0	> 250	10	9	19	11	13	0	10	−	+	−	+	−	−	+	−
Spermacoce verticillata	AP	17.0	> 250	0	10	14	8	10	9	10	+	+	−	+	−	+	+	+
Solanum americanum	L	12.0	> 250	0	7	14	11	10	0	0	+	−	+	+	−	−	−	−
Solanum palinacanthum	S	11.0	> 250	0	12	15	0	0	0	0	+	+	−	+	+	+	+	−
Solanum palinacanthum	Fr	10.0	> 250	10	9	11	0	12	0	0	+	+	−	−	−	+	+	+
Solanum cernuum	L	15.0	> 250	0	7	16	13	10	0	0	+	+	−	−	−	−	+	−
Solanum concinnum	L	14.0	> 250	8	17	25	15	12	0	10	+	−	+	+	−	−	+	−
Lantana camara	L	17.0	158 (68–362)	0	11	20	13	12	0	0	+	−	+	−	+	−	+	−
Stachytarpheta cayennensis	AP	19.0	> 250	0	8	15	10	8	0	0	+	+	−	−	−	+	+	−
Thymol			1.4 (0.7–3)

^a Part tested: R, roots; L, leaves; SB, stem bark; AP, aerial parts; F, flowers; S, seeds; Fr, fruits; WP, whole plant.

^b 95% confidence limits in parenthesis.

^c Organism key: Sa, Staphylococcus aureus; Pa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; St, Salmonella typhimurium; Ss, Shigella sonnei; Kp, Klebsiella pneumoniae; Ec, Escherichia coli; Bc, Bacillis cereus.

^d Phytocompound key: Al, alkaloids; Tr, triterpenoids; St, sterols; Ta, tannins; Sa, saponins; Cu, coumarins; Fl, flavonoids; An, anthraquinones.

Table 3.  MIC of methanol extracts of selected medicinal plants.

Botanical name	Part tested^a	MIC (μg /mL)^b,c
		Sa	Pa	St	Ss	Kp	Ec	Bc
Pfaffia glomerata	R	-	625	2500	-	5000	-	1250
Schinus terebinthifolius	L	1250	625	1250	1250	1250	-	39
Anacardium occidentale	SB	-	625	625	625	-	-	156
Wedelia paludosa	L	-	2500	5000	5000	5000	5000	78
Eupatorium laevigatum	L	-	5000	5000	5000	-	-	1250
Vernonia condensata	L	5000	5000	1250	-	2500	-	625
Galinsoga ciliata	L	-	2500	5000	-	-	-	1250
Mikania glomerata	L	-	1250	1250	-	1250	-	39
Baccharis dracunculifolia	AP	-	5	-	1250	-	-	5
Pyrostegia venusta	L	-	5000	5000	5000	-	-	1250
Pyrostegia venusta	F	1250	78	1250	2500	5000	5000	39
Bixa orellana	S	-	625	2500	2500	-	-	78
Bixa orellana	Fr	5000	2500	5000	1250	-	-	625
Symphytum officinale	L	5000	2500	5000	5000	-	5000	2500
Cordia verbenacea	L	1250	5000	2500	2500	625	-	2500
Maytenus ilicifolia	L	1250	1250	2500	1250	2500	-	156
Cuscuta racemosa	WP	5000	5000	5000	-	5000	-	1250
Costus spiralis	L	-	5000	2500	2500	-	-	1250
Equisetum hyemale	AP	-	5000	5000	-	1250	-	1250
Ocimum gratissimum	L	2500	1250	2500	2500	1250	-	2500
Ocimum gratissimum	F	2500	2500	5000	5000	2500	5000	1250
Rosmarinus officinalis	L	5000	2500	5000	5000	5000	2500	39
Leonurus sibiricus	L	-	5000	5000	5000	-	-	625
Stachys byzantina	L	5000	5000	5000	5000	-	5000	2500
Cajanus cajan	L	-	2500	2500	5	-	-	39
Cajanus cajan	S	-	5000	5000	-	5000	-	625
Gossypium hirsutum	L	-	2500	5000	1250	-	5000	39
Eugenia uniflora	L	-	10	-	156	-	-	39
Syzygium cumini	L	-	2500	5000	1250	-	-	78
Syzygium malaccense	L	-	1250	-	2500	-	-	625
Pothomorphe umbellata	L	-	5000	5000	2500	1250	1250	2500
Piper aduncum	L	5000	2500	5000	2500	-	-	39
Piper aduncum	F	5000	5000	5000	5000	-	5000	5000
Plantago lanceolata	L	5000	2500	5000	5000	5000	5000	313
Polygonum hydropiperoides	L	5000	2500	2500	5000	5000	2500	313
Polygonum hydropiperoides	F	2500	1250	2500	2500	2500	-	2500
Spermacoce verticillata	AP	-	2500	5000	5000	5000	5000	5000
Solanum americanum	L	-	2500	5000	5000	-	-	1250
Solanum palinacanthum	S	-	5	-	-	-	-	39
Solanum palinacanthum	Fr	5000	2500	5000	-	-	-	2500
Solanum cernuum	L	-	2500	2500	2500	-	-	2500
Solanum concinnum	L	10	39	5000	313	2500	-	313
Lantana camara	L	-	2500	2500	5000	-	-	2500
Stachytarpheta cayennensis	AP	-	2500	5000	5000	-	-	2500
Chloramphenicol		62.5	15.6	0.98	0.98	0.98	15.6	3.9

^aPart tested: R, roots; L, leaves; SB, stem bark; AP, aerial parts; F, flowers; S, seeds; Fr, fruits; WP, whole plant.

^bOrganism key: Sa, Staphylococcus aureus; Pa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; St, Salmonella typhimurium; Ss, Shigella sonnei; Kp, Klebsiella pneumoniae; Ec, Escherichia coli; Bc, Bacillis cereus.

^c(-), inactive.

Table 4.  Total activity of the methanol extracts with MIC values below 100 μg/mL.

Botanical name	Used part^a	Microorganisms	Total activity (mL/g)
Schinus terebinthifolius	L	B. cereus	2308
Mikania glomerata	L	B. cereus	4103
Baccharis dracunculifolia	AP	B. cereus	22000
		P. aeruginosa	22000
Pyrostegia venusta	F	B. cereus	2564
		P. aeruginosa	1282
Bixa orellana	S	B. cereus	1154
Rosmarinus officinalis	L	B. cereus	4359
Cajanus cajan	L	B. cereus	3846
		S. sonnei	30000
Gossypium hirsutum	L	B. cereus	4103
Eugenia uniflora	L	B. cereus	3333
		P. aeruginosa	26000
Syzygium cumini	L	B. cereus	2308
Piper aduncum	L	B. cereus	4872
Solanum palinacanthum	S	B. cereus	2820
		P. aeruginosa	22000
Wedelia paludosa	L	B. cereus	1667
Solanum concinnum	L	P. aeruginosa	3590
		S. aureus	14000

^aPart tested: R, roots; L, leaves; SB, stem bark; AP, aerial parts; F, flowers; S, seeds; Fr, fruits; WP, whole plant.

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