Journal of Ethnopharmacology Ethnopharmacology 97 (2005) 293–299
Antibacterial activity of crude extracts from Mexican medicinal plants plants and purified purified coumarins coumarins and xanthones xanthones Kakuko Yasunakaa ∗ , Fumiko Abe b, Ariaki Nagayama a, Hikaru Okabe b , Lucio Lozada-P´ Lozada-Perez e´ rezc , Edith Lopez-Villafranco o´ pez-Villafranco d , Elizabeth Estrada Mu niz n˜ ize , Abigail Aguilarf , Ricardo Reyes-Chilpa e ,
a
Department of Microbiology Microbiology and Immunology, Immunology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan b Faculty of Pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, University, Nanakuma, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan c Department of Biology, Faculty Faculty of Science, National University of Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Mexico, Mexico d Herbarium IZTA, National University of Mexico, Campus Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de Mexico 54090, Mexico e Institute of Chemistry, National University of Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Mexico, Mexico f Herbarium IMSSM, Mexican Institute for Social Security, Security, National Medical Center S. XXI, Cuahtemoc 330, 06725 Mexico, D.F. D.F. Mexico
Received 30 November 2003; received in revised form 1 November November 2004; accepted 15 November 2004 Available Available online 12 January 2005
Abstract
Thirty-two extracts from 22 Mexican medicinal plants of 15 different families were assayed to determine their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Seventeen plants showed antibacterial activity, while five plants showed no activity against both bacteria. All of the extracts showed higher activity against Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-sensitive (methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant) methicillin-resistant) than against Escherichia coli, except one. Among the plants examined, Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. (Burseraceae), Haematoxylum brasiletto H. Karst. (Fabaceae), Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. (Clusiaceae), and Mammea americana L. (Clusiaceae) were highly active against Staphylococcus aureus. Coumarins (mammea A/BA and mammea A/AA) and xanthones, namely jacareubin and 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-2-(3,3-
dimethylallyl) xanthone, were isolated as the principle compounds from the last two plants. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Mexican medicinal plants; Coumarins; Xanthones; Escherichia Escherichia coli; Staphylococcus aureus
1. Introducti Introduction on
Many Many plan plants ts or thei theirr comp compon onen ents ts are are used used as folk folk medicines in many parts of the world to cure various infectious diseases such as urinary tract infections, bronchitis, diarrhea, cutaneous abscesses and parasitic diseases. On the other hand, antibiotic antibioticss have have dramatical dramatically ly reduced reduced the incidence of many infectious diseases. Nevertheless, many problems remain unresolved due to occasional serious side effects and the appearance of antibiotic-resistant mutant bacteria. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), for example, is one of the main species of bacteria that cause ∗
Corresponding Corresponding author. Tel.: +81 92 801 1011; fax: +81 92 801 9390. E-mail address:
[email protected] [email protected] ( K. Yasunaka).
0378-8741/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.11.014
nosocomial infections in hospitals worldwide (Ichiyama ( Ichiyama et al., 1991; Yasunaka and Kono, 1999; Takeda et al., 2000). 2000 ). In recent years, the emergence of MRSA has become a serious problem because of its resistance against numerous antibiotics. Although many studies on antimicrobial activity of medici medicinalplant nalplantss have have been been made made over over thepast 30 years years (Khan et al., 1980; Samy et al., 1998; Essawi and Srour, 2000), 2000 ), a larg largee numb number er of plan plants ts stil stilll have have not not been been stud studie ied. d. In this this concontext, we examined the antibacterial properties of medicinal plants from Mexico. It has been been estima estimated ted that that nearly nearly 3103 3103 higher higher plant plant specie speciess are used in Mexican traditional medicine, of which nearly one-th one-third ird (1024) are used used to treat treat diseas diseases es of the digesdigestive tract (Argueta-Villamar (Argueta-Villamar et al., 1994). 1994). The survey by the IMSSM herbarium also indicates that Mexican medicinal
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plants are used primarily to treat digestive (473 species), respiratory (247 species) and skin (277 species) diseases (Aguilar et al., 1994). 1994). In the present paper, we describe the results of the study on antibacterial activity of crude extracts of 22 Mexican medicinal plants against Gram-negative Escherichia Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. These plants are used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases presum presumabl ably y caused caused by bacter bacteria. ia. We also also exami examined ned the effec effects ts of pure compounds (two coumarins, three xanthones, and a triterpene) isolated from the active plants.
been deposited in the IMSSM herbarium of the Mexican Institute for Social Security, and IZTA and MEXU herbaria of the National University of Mexico. The ethnobotanical literature of the States of Puebla and Veracruz in particular (L (Lopez-Villafranco, o´ pez-Villafranco, 1988; Mart´ Mart´ınez-Alfaro ınez-Alfaro et al., 1995; Cano-Asseleith, 1997; Mendoza-M´ Mendoza-Marquez, a´ rquez, 2000) 2000) and other refere reference ncess on Mexic Mexican an medici medicinal nal plants plants (Agu Aguila ilarr et al. al.,, 199 1994; 4; Soto-Nu˜nezand Soto-Nu n˜ ezand Sou Sousa,1995;Reye sa,1995;Reyes-C s-Chil hilpa pa et al. al.,, 200 2003 3) were also consulted. Investigated plant materials and their applications in Mexican traditional medicine are listed in Table 1. 1. 2.2. Preparation Preparation of plant extracts extracts
2. Materials Materials and methods methods 2.1. Plant mater materials ials
Plant materials were collected during the period between 2000 and 2003 in Cuetzal´ Cuetzalan a´ n del Progreso in the State of Puebla Puebla,, andin seve severallocal rallocaliti itiesof esof theStateof Veracru eracruz. z. Calo phyllum brasiliense Cambess. (Clusiaceae) was collected in Santa Marta and Los Tuxtlas of the State of Veracruz. Plant materials were also purchased at “Sonora Medicinal Plant Market” in Mexico City, or from surplus herbarium specimens. imens. Taxonomic axonomic identificat identification ion was performed performed and confirmed by three of us (A. Aguilar, E. L´ Lopez-Villafranco, o´ pez-Villafranco, and L. Lozada-P´ Lozada-Perez) e´ rez) based on voucher specimens that had
Plant extracts were prepared according to the procedures of Abe of Abe et al. (2002). (2002). Each dried plant part was extracted with organic solvents (mainly with methanol). Fresh plant parts and other solvents used in this study are shown in Table 2. 2. The The solv solven entt of each each extr extrac actt was was drie dried d in vacu vacuo o and and the the resi residu duee was was then then dissol dissolve ved d in dimeth dimethyl yl sulfox sulfoxide ide (DMSO) (DMSO) to produc producee a final concentra concentration tion of 100 mg/ml. mg/ml. 2.3. Preparation Preparation of coumarins, xanthones xanthones and a triterpene
Coumarin mammea A/BA (1) and triterpene friedelin (6) were extracted from the leaves of Calophyllum brasiliense , collected in Santa Marta of the State of Veracruz (Reyes( Reyes-
Table 1 Plants examined and their ethnomedical ethnomedical applications a Family
Scientific name
Local name
Ethnomedical application b
Annonaceae
Annona cherimola Mill. Annona muricata L.
Chirimoya Guana´ bana
Diarrhea, fever, anthelmintic, cough, emetic Diarrhea, dysentery, leprae
Aristolochiaceae Asteraceae Bixaceae Burseraceae
Aristolochia Aristolochia taliscana Hook. et Arn. Piqueria trinervia Cav. Bixa orellana L. Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg.
Guaco Hierba de San Nicola´ s Achiote Palo mulato
Cutaneous disease Dysentery, fever Dysentery, measles, mouth pimples Diarrhea, fever, gingivitis, cough, measles
Chenopodiaceae
Chenopodium Chenopodium graveolens Willd. Chenopodium ambrosioides L.
Epazote de zorrillo Epazote morado
Diarrhea, amebiasis, stomach ache, cough Diarrhea, stomach ache, cramps
Clusiaceae
Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. Clusia salvinii Donn. Sm. Mammea americana L.
Bari Oreja de coyote Zapote Domingo
Diarrhea, intestinal worms Gonorrhea, kidney ache Fever, cutaneous disease
Elaeocarpaceae Euphorbiaceae
Muntingia calabura L. Croton draco Schltdl.
Puan, u´ an, Capul´ Capul´ın ı n rojo rojo Sangre de grado
Meas easles les, mouth pimp imples les, stom tomach ach ach ache Dysentery, pimples, sores
Fabaceae
Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp. Haematoxylum brasiletto H. Karst. Zornia thymifolia Kunth
Cocuite Palo de Brasil Hierba de la V´ıbora
Antipyretic, measles Fever Fever
Malvaceae Piperaceae
Malvaviscus arboreus arboreus Cav. Piper amalago L. Piper auritum Kunth
Azocopacle, manzanita Cordoncillo Acuyo
Dysentery, stomach ache, sores, cough Fever Fever, skin infections
Polypodiaceae Rubiaceae Verbenaceae
Phlebodium aureum (L.) J. Sm. Hamelia patens Jacq. Aloysia triphylla Royle
Lengua de ciervo Balletilla Te´ cedr´ cedro´ n
Fever, kidney diseases, ulcer Pimples, malaria, sores Diarrhea, stomach ache
a
See Table 2 for voucher herbarium specimens. Lopez-Villafranco o´ pez-Villafranco (1988), (1988), Aguilar et al. (1994); (1994) ; Mart Mart´´ınez-Alfaro ınez-Alfaro et al. (1995), (1995), Soto-Nu Soto-Nu˜nez n˜ ez and Sousa (1995), (1995) , Cano-Asseleith (1997), (1997), Mendoza-M Mendoza-M´arquez, a´ rquez, (2000),, and Reyes-Chilpa et al. (2003). (2000) (2003) . b
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Table 2 Plants examined and their antibacterial activities Family
Scientific name
Herbarium and register number
Parta (solvent) (solvent) b
MICc (g/ml) Escherichia Escherichia coli C600
Staphylococcus aureus 209P
Annonaceae
Annona cherimola Annona muricata
IZTA 879 IMSSM 14760
Seeds (M) Seeds, S (M)
>1024 >1024
512 >1024
Aristolochiaceae Asteraceae Bixaceae
Aristolochia Aristolochia taliscana Piqueria trinervia Bixa orellana
IMSSM 14718 IZTA 880 IMSSM 14759
R (M) G (M) Seeds (M)
>1024 >1024 >1024
1024 1024 128
Burseraceae
Bursera simaruba Bursera simaruba simaruba
IZTA 868 IZTA 868
L, T (M) fresh S (M) fresh
>1024 >1024
8 64
Chenopodiaceae
Chenopodium graveolens Chenopodium ambrosioides
IMSSM 14751 IZTA 881
G (M) G (M)
512 >1024
256 1024
Clusiaceae
Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliensed Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliensed Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliensed Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliensef Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliensed Clusia salvinii Mammea americana Mammea americana Mammea americana Mammea americana Mammea americana
IMSSM 14439 IMSSM 14439 IMSSM 14439 IMSSM 14425 IMSSM 14754 IMSSM 14434 IMSSM 14420 IMSSM 14420 IMSSM 14420 IMSSM 14420 IMSSM 14420
L (H) e L (A) e L (last M) e L (M) H (M + A) L (M + C) P (H) P (AcOEt insol) P (AcOEt) P (A) Seeds (M)
512 >1024 1024 >1024 128 1024 >1024 >1024 512 512 256
32 2 32 16 8 128 8 256 16 4 2
Elaeocarpaceae
Muntingia calabura Muntingia calabura calabura
IZTA 870 IZTA 870
F (M) fresh L (M) fresh
1024 512
256 128
Euphorbiaceae Fabaceae
Croton draco Gliricidia sepium Haematoxylum brasiletto brasiletto Zornia thymifolia
IZTA 871 IZTA 25146 IMSSM 14726 IMSSM 14725
L (M) fresh L (M) S (M) L (M)
>1024 >1024 128 >1024
64 64 16 128
Malvaceae
Malvaviscus arboreus
IMSSM 14726
L (M) fresh
>1024
256
Piperaceae
Piper amalago Piper auritum
FECME 85564 IZTA 872
L (M) fresh L (M)
512 >1024
1024 1024
Polypodiaceae Rubiaceae Verbenaceae
Phlebodium aureum Hamelia patens Aloysia triphylla
IMSSM 14727 IZTA 28222 IMSSM 14754
Whole (M) L, T (M) L (M) fresh
>1024 >1024 1024
512 256 64
a b c d e f
F, fruits; G, ground parts; H, heartwoods; L, leaves; P, fruit peels; R, roots; S, stems; T, twigs; fresh, fresh plant parts. A, acetone; C, dichloromethane; AcOEt, ethyl acetate; H, hexane; M, methanol; insol, insoluble fraction. Minimum inhibitory concentration. concentration. Corrected in Santa Marta, State of Veracruz. Extracted with firstly hexane, secondly acetone, lastly methanol. Corrected in Los Tuxtlas, State of Veracruz.
Chilpa et al., 2004). 2004). Coumarin mammea A/AA (2) was extracted with hexane at room temperature from the fruit peels (421 (421 g) of Mammea americana L. (Clusiaceae). The extract spontaneo spontaneously usly yielded yielded yellow yellow crystals, crystals, which were recrystalrecrystallized from hexane/CH2 Cl2 (6 g). Xanthones Xanthones jacareubin jacareubin ( 3), 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-2-(3,3-dimethylallyl) xanthone (4) and 6-deoxyjacareubin (5) were extracted from the heartwood of 1997 ). In the Calophyllum brasiliense (Reyes-Chilpa et al., 1997). isolation process, each of these extracts was subjected to various chromatographies to yield pure product. The structural determination of pure compounds was carried out using 1 H and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry. For bioassay, each
pure compound was dissolved in DMSO to produce a final concentra concentration tion of 20 mg/ml. 2.4. Bacteria Bacteria and media media
Antibacter Antibacterial ial evaluat evaluations ions were performed performed against against Escherichia coli K12 strain C600, methicillin-sensitive Staphy(MSSA) A) stra strain in FDA FDA 209P 209P and and two two lococcus lococcus aureus aureus (MSS methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (MRSA) strains: strains: no. 3208 and no. 80401. These two MRSA strains were clinically isolated in Fukuoka City, Japan, and clearly determined to be MRSA (Yasunaka (Yasunaka and Kono, 1999) 1999 ). Strain no. 3208 did not produce any -lactamase but no. 80401
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did produce -lactamase. All the bacterial strains were kept at −80 ◦ C until used. Brain heart infusion agar (BHI agar) and Mueller–Hinton broth (MH broth) were purchased from the Nippon Becton Dickinson Co., Tokyo, Japan. Oxacillin was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Co., Tokyo, Japan. Lactamase production was detected according to the manufacturer’s instructions using cefinase disks (the Nippon Becton Dickinson Co., Tokyo).
activity, while 128–512 and ≥1024 g/ml were considered to show moderate and no antibacterial activity, respectively.
3. Results Results 3.1. Antibacterial activity of plant extracts extracts against against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus
2.5. Antibacterial activity assay: evaluation evaluation of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
To evaluate the antibacterial activity against Escherichia 209P, the MIC of each coli C600 and Staphylococcus aureus 209P, plant extract was assayed and the results shown in Table 2. 2. Nine extracts out of 32 showed moderate activity, while 23 extracts did not show any antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli C600. On the other hand, many extracts examined were active against Staphylococcus aureus 209P (15 extracts, high; 11 extracts, moderate). Both acetone extract from the leaves of Calophyllum brasiliense and methanol extr extrac actt from from the the seed seedss of Mammea Mammea americana americana showed the highest antibacterial activity (MIC 2 g/ml) of all 32 extracts.
MIC evaluations were performed by the micro-dilution method. MH broth was used as the dilution and incubation broth. Bacteria Bacteria grown grown on BHI agar plates plates for 16 h were suspended in MH broth. The bacterial cell numbers were adjusted adjusted to approximat approximately ely 3–6 × 106 cfu (colony (colony forming forming unit)/ml. Plant extracts (100 mg/ml of DMSO) or pure compounds pounds (20 mg/ml of DMSO) were subjected to serial twofold dilution. Each 80 l of the bacterial suspensions was added to 20 l of each serial two-fold dilution of the test material terial in a 96-wel 96-welll dish dish plate plate and then then wasmixed. wasmixed. The bacter bacteria ia ◦ were incubated at 37 C for 24 h, and growth growth or no-growth no-growth was assessed by the naked eye, then MIC was determined. DMSO solutions that did not contain any test material or only contained oxacillin were used as controls. All assays were performed three times for each plant extract against Escherichia Escherichia coli C600 and Staphylococcus aureus 209P, but only only onetime agains againstt each each MRSA MRSA strain strains. s. Theassays Theassays for pure pure compou compounds nds were were perfor performed med three three times times agains againstt all these these four four bacteria. MIC values were shown as a mean value of each assay. An MIC value at ≤64 g/ml was judged to show high
3.2. Anti-MRSA activity of plant extracts extracts
MIC values of 15 extracts active against MSSA 209P were further estimated against two MRSA strains (no. 3208 and no. 80401) and are shown in Table 3. 3. All the extracts examined showed nearly the same MIC values (1/2–2-fold MIC) against these two MRSA strains. It is obvious that antibacterial activity of these extracts is not influenced by the existence of -lactamase in the bacteria, suggesting that
Table 3 Antibacterial activities of plant extracts MICa (g/ml)
Plant Scientific name
Part usedc (solvent) (solvent) d
MSSA 209P b
MRSA (no. 3208)
MRSA (no. 80401)
Bixa orellana Bursera Bursera simaruba Bursera Bursera simaruba Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliensee Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliensee Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliensee Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasilienseg Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliensee Mammea americana Mammea americana Mammea americana Mammea americana Croton draco Haematoxylum brasiletto brasiletto Aloysia triphylla
Seeds (M) L, T (M) fresh S (M) fresh L (H)f L (A)f L (last M)f L (M) H (M + A) P (H) P (AcOEt) P (A) Seeds (M) L (M) fresh S (M) L (M) fresh
128 8 64 32 2 32 16 8 8 16 4 2 64 16 64
128 8 64 32 8 32 16 16 64 8 2 8 128 32 64
128 8 64 32 8 32 16 8 64 16 4 4 64 16 64
a b c d e f g
Minimum inhibitory concentration. MSSA, methicillin-sensitive methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus ; MRSA, methicillin-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . F, fruits; G, ground parts; H, heartwoods; L, leaves; P, fruit peels; R, roots; S, stems; T, twigs; fresh, fresh plant parts. A, acetone; C, dichloromethane; AcOEt, ethyl acetate; H, hexane; M, methanol; insol, insoluble fraction. Corrected in Santa Marta, State of Veracruz. Extracted with firstly hexane, secondly acetone, lastly methanol. Corrected in Los Tuxtlas, Tuxtlas, State of Veracruz.
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Fig. 1. Chemical structures of coumarins, coumarins, xanthones, and triterpene: triterpene: ( 1) mammea A/BA; (2) mammea A/AA; (3) jacareubin; (4) 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-2-(3,31,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-2-(3,3dimethylallyl) dimethylallyl) xanthone; ( 5) 6-deoxyjacareubin; ( 6) friedelin.
the antibacterial principles in them do not contain any lactam rings. From Tables 2 and 3 it was found that Bursera (Burseraceae), eae), Haematoxylum brasiletto simaruba (L.) Sarg. (Burserac H. Karst. (Fabaceae), Calophyllum brasiliense , and Mammea americana were highly active against both MSSA and MRSA.
3.3. Antibacterial activity of coumarins, xanthones and a triterpene
To identi identify fy the princi principle ple compou compounds nds of Calophyllum brasiliense and Mammea americana, we purified coumarins xanthones 3–5 and triterpene triterpene 6 (Fig.1 Fig.1)) as descri describedin bedin 1 and 2, xanthones
Table 4 Antibacterial activities of purified compounds Compound
Mammea A/BA ( 1) Mammea A/AA (2) Jacareubin (3) 1,3,5,6-Tetrahydroxy-2 1,3,5,6-Tetrahydroxy-2-(3,3-dimethyl -(3,3-dimethylallyl) allyl) xanthone ( 4) 6-Deoxyjacareubin 6-Deoxyjacareubin (5) Friedelin (6) Oxacillin a b c
MIC a (g/ml)
Plant Scientific name
Partb
Escherichia Escherichia coli C600
Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliense Mammea americana Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliense Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliense
L P H H
>256 >256 128 128
Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliense Calophyllum Calophyllum brasiliense brasiliense
H L
>512 >512 <0 5 .
MSSAc 209P
MRSA (no. 3208)
1 8 4 1
2 8 4 2
2 8 4 4
>512 >512 >1024
>512 >512 512
256 >512 <0 5 .
Minimum inhibitory concentration. concentration. F, fruits; G, ground parts; H, heartwoods; L, leaves; P, fruit peels; R, roots; S, stems; T, twigs; fresh, fresh plant parts. MSSA, methicillin-sensitive methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus; MRSA, methicillin-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
MRSA (no. 80401)
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Section 2. MIC MIC valu values es of thes thesee pure pure comp compou ound ndss are are show shown n in Table 4. 4. Compounds 1–4 are the compounds responsible for the activity activity,, since they showed showed higher higher activity activity against against Staphylococcus aureus than that of the original extract. Xanthone 5 and triterpene 6 showed no activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Only xanthones 3 and 4 showed moderate activity against Escherichia coli . Various studies have previously shown the biological activities of some coumarins and xanthones (Finnegan ( Finnegan et al., 1972; Sundaram et al., 1983; Iinuma et al., 1996; ReyesChilpa et al., 1997; Ojala et al., 2000; Itoigawa et al., 2001; Ito et al., 2002). 2002). However, this is the first report of antibacterial activity of these six compounds against Escherichia Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA). Calophyllum brasiliense and Mammea americana contain other types of coumarins and xanthones (Crombie ( Crombie et al., 1967; Finnegan et al., 1972; Finnegan et al., 1973; Ito et al., 2002), 2002), therefore, their antibacterial activity should be studied.
4. Discussion Discussion and conclusion conclusionss
Twenty-two plants studied here are used in Mexican traditional ditional medicine medicine against against illness illness such as fever fever,, diarrhea, diarrhea, malaria, dysentery, sores, and venereal diseases presumably caused mainly by bacteria or microorganisms. Of the 22 medicinal plants assayed, seven species showed high activity againstStaphylococcus aureus and nine moderate. Only six plants plants showed showed modera moderate te activ activity ity agains againstt Escherichia coli. Bursera simaruba, Haematoxylon brasiletto , Calophyllum showed high activactivbrasiliense, and Mammea americana showed ity against Staphylococcus aureus . Bursera simaruba is a widely distributed tree in the tropical area in Mexico and is well known for its applications as water decoctions or poultices made from the leaves against bacteria related diseases. Haematoxylum brasiletto, a tree distributed in dry tropical forests, has red heartwood. This morphological feature red heartwood could probably be related to several medical applications, due to an association with blood or heart diseases. Haematoxylum brasiletto is also known in certain localities as a febrifuge (Aguilar (Aguilar et al., 1994; Soto-Nu˜ Soto-Nunez n˜ ez and Sousa, 1995). 1995 ). Antibacterial compounds (1–4) isolated from the last two species Calophyllum brasiliense and Mammea americana would serve as promising candidates for chemotherapeutic agents, especially against MRSA, because these compounds showed much higher activity than that of oxacillin. The results obtained in this work scientifically support the effectiveness effectiveness of medicinal plants locally and traditionally used to treat infection-related diseases in Mexico, because of their high antibacterial activity.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Laura Cort´ Cortes e´ s Zarraga a´ rraga for her assis assistan tance ce in collec collectin ting g ethnob ethnobota otanic nical al data. data. We would would like like to
thank Dr. H. Akahane of Fukuoka University for his encouragement in carrying out this study. This work was supported in part by a grant (no. 001001) from the Central Research Institute of Fukuoka University: 2000–2001.
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