Antibacterial Properties ofHelianthemum glomeratum, a Plant Used in Maya Traditional Medicine to Treat Diarrhoea

Abstract

Ethnobotanical studies indicate that Helianthemum glomeratum is a plant widely used in Maya communities to treat diarrhoeas. A possible mechanism to counteract infectious diarrhoea would be by inhibiting the growth of the enteropathogen causing the disease. The aim of this work was to study the antimicrobial activity of H. glomeratum against bacterial enteropathogens isolated from faeces of children with acute diarrhoea or dysentery. A methanol extract obtained from the leaves and stems was highly active against Shigella spp and Vibrio cholerae; activity against Salmonella spp and Escherichia coli isolates was also present. Acetone/water extract from the roots was also highly active against Shigella and Vibrio isolates. Further chemical fractionation indicated that antibacterial activity was associated with the polyphenolic fraction. Shigella spp causes severe dysentery in children and Vibrio cholerae causes severe watery diarrhoea. Antidiarrhoeal activity of H. glomeratum may be due, at least in part, to the antimicrobial activity of polyphenolics against bacterial enteropathogens commonly associated with the disease. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Additional antiprotozoal flavonol glycosides of the aerial parts of Helianthemum glomeratum

“…Because of its popularity, pharmacological and phytochemical studies have been conducted by Calzada and collaborators since 1995 on H. glomeratum collected in the State of Chiapas. Briefly, methanol extracts of the aerial parts of H. glomeratum had antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal properties 1997;Calzada et al, 1998a). In relation to phytochemical studies, three flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin and tiliroside) were isolated from the aerial parts, with lethality against brine shrimp as well as antiamoebic activity (Calzada et al, 1995).…”

Antibacterial Potential Evaluation of Rhizome Extracts of Berginia Ciliata (Haw.) Sternb

“…In recent years, although technology and medicine have developed extensively, due to decreases in natural richness and drawbacks, some countries have made it obligatory to use natural products for many goals (Erturk et al, 2006). Thus, like in other countries in the world, in India too the plants known by people are picked and used for the treatment of various diseases (Meckes et al, 1997).…”

Lethal Effects of Helianthemum lippii (L.) on Acanthamoeba castellanii Cysts in Vitro

“…However, studies addressing the biological activities of many of these species or their phytochemistry are currently non-existent [ 33 ]. The Cistaceae family has proved great phytomedicinal potency [ 18 ], including species like H. lippii [ 19 ] and H. glomeratum [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Preliminary phytochemical screening of H. lippii revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, simple phenolics, free reducing sugars, and saponines [ 19 ].…”