Margarita Canales

Ethnobotany and antibacterial activity of some plants used in traditional medicine of Zapotitlán de las Salinas, Puebla (México).

The village of Zapotitlán de las Salinas is situated in the Valley of Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Puebla, Mexico. Plant species used by the local inhabitants to treat gastrointestinal diseases were identified using ethnobotanical, ethnographic and taxonomic methods. Out of 119 interviews, 44 plant species were registered, of which the following are the most frequently used (listed in descending order): Lippia graveolens H.B. et K. (Verbenaceae), Lantana achyranthifolia Desf. (Verbenaceae), Turnera diffusa (Willd.) ex Schult. (Turneraceae), Lippia oaxacana Rob. et Greenm. (Verbenaceae), Gymnolaena oaxacana (Greenm.) Rydb. (Asteraceae), Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. et Schult. (Boraginaceae), Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) and Acalypha hederacea Torrey (Euphorbiaceae). From these plants, hexane, chloroform and ethanol extracts were prepared in order to assess their antibacterial activity against 14 bacterial strains causing the most common gastrointestinal diseases in Mexican population. All hexane extracts showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. There is a correlation between the frequency of mention (of plant use) and the antibacterial activity. In conclusion, the knowledge of plants most frequently used for gastrointestinal infections in Zapotitlán de las Salinas is supported by scientific rationale.

Antimicrobial Activity of the Extracts and Essential Oil of Viguiera dentata

Viguiera dentata (Cav.) Sprenguel (Asteraceae) is known as “chimalacate” in several Mexican states. Infusions of the aerial part of this species are used for the treatment of baby rash by the inhabitants of San Rafael, Coxcatlan, Puebla, Mexico. We examined the antibacterial and antifungal activities through the disk-diffusion method. The composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of V. dentata is reported here for the first time. The essential oil of aerial parts of V. dentata was examined by GC-MS: it is constituted mainly by monoterpenes (57.16%), and of this the major components are 1,3,3-trimethyl-tricyclo[2.2.1.02,6] heptane (30.85%) and limonene (13.27%). Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to the essential oil. The essential oil had no antifungal activity. The hexane extract H1 presented antibacterial activity against seven strains (four Gram-positive and three Gram-negative); this extract had no antifungal activity. One bioactive compound, ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid 1, was isolated. In comparison with the essential oil and H1, the pure compound 1 showed the lowest MICs in the majority of the bacterial strains. Only the hexane partition (H2) of the methanol extract showed antifungal activity against all tested fungi.

Variation in the hexanic extract composition of Lippia graveolens in an arid zone from Mexico: environmental influence or true chemotypes?

The hexanic extract composition of two populations of Lippia graveolens growing in an arid zone in the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Valley (Zapotitlan Salinas, Puebla), Central Mexico, in different seasons of the year, and in contrast- ing conditions of ecological disturbance has been studied by GC and GC-MS. Regarding to the composition of these extracts, qualitative differences among the two populations were found. Thus, 9 compounds were identified from the extracts of the Zone A (the less disturbed) and 10 from the ones of Zone B (the most disturbed). Thymol was detected as the major compound in most of the individuals sampled, while at the season level, September was the more productive month for zone B (higher content of identified compounds) and the only one that presents antibacterial activity. Lippia graveolens displays quantitative and qualitative variations both within and between natural plant populations.

Antifungal and Antibacterial Activities of Endemic Pittocaulon. spp. from Mexico

Abstract Extracts from Pittocaulon. spp. (Asteraceae) have been used in folk medicine to treat many ailments, particularly as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. Neither the bioactive components responsible nor the mechanisms involved have been evaluated. Here we report the antibacterial activities of their methanol and CH2Cl2 extracts and the effects on some fungal strains treated with CH2Cl2 extracts from root, stems, and flowers of P. praecox. (Cav.) H. Rob. & Brett., P. hintonii. H. Rob. & Brett., P. filare. (McVaugh) H. Rob. & Brett, P. velatum. (Greenm) H. Rob. & Brett., and P. bombycophole. (Bullock) H. Rob. & Brett. Thirteen extracts were obtained with MeOH and CH2Cl2 solvents from aerial parts and roots of five Pittocaulon. spp. for the first time in this species, and their antimicrobial activities were determined. The antimicrobial activities of these extracts were evaluated against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus., Staphylococcus epidermidis., Bacillus subtilis., and Vibrio cholerae. (one El Tor strain, and a clinic case CDC-V12). Additionally, the CH2Cl2 extract was evaluated against Aspergillus niger., Fusarium moniliforme., Fusarium sporotrichum., Rizoctonia solanii., and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.. The most sensitive bacteria against these extracts were B. subtilis., S. epidermidis., and V. cholerae., a key bacterium in contaminated water. However, CH2Cl2 extracts from P. praecox., P. bombycophole., and P. hintonii. exhibited a significant antifungal activity against the fungal strains F. sporotrichum., R. solanii., and T. mentagrophytes.: at 1000 μg per disk, these extracts completely inhibited the mycelial growth of these fungi.

Antimicrobial Activity of Tagetes lucida.

ABSTRACT The antimicrobial activity of different extracts of Tagetes lucida. Cav. (Asteraceae) against 11 bacterial strains and one yeast strain (Candida albicans.) was evaluated. The ethyl acetate extract showed antibacterial activity against Shigella boydii., Staphylococcus aureus., Staphylococcus epidermidis., Pseudomonas aeruginosa., Bacillus subtilis., Sarcina lutea., and four strains of Vibrio cholerae.. The bioactive compound 5,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone was identified.