Antifungal activity of medicinal plants from Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this work was to find how medicinal plants play an important role as source of new bioactive molecules. To evaluate the antifungal activity of 10 medicinal plants from northeastern Brazil, traditionally used as anti-infective agents. The activity of 30 crude extracts (water; ethanol:water, 1:1; acetone:water, 1:1) against four standard species of Candida yeasts (Candida albicans ATCC 90028, Candida dubliniensis ATCC 7289, Candida glabrata ATCC 2001 and Candida krusei ATCC 6258) was investigated by the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), using the microdilution method and the working range used was from 1.95 to 1000 μg/mL. Extracts from leaves of Eugenia uniflora (Myrtaceae), stem bark of Caesalpinia ferrea (Caesalpinaceae) and leaves of Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) showed significant activity against all yeasts evaluated. The best antifungal activities were achieved against C. glabrata and C. krusei by E. uniflora extract (MIC = 15.62) and followed by extracts from C. ferrea and P. guajava (MIC ranged from 15.62 to 250 µg/mL). E. uniflora also showed fungicidal properties against all yeasts, especially against Candida dubliniensis. This study identified plant species that may be candidates for the development of alternative treatments for candidiasis.

Extracts of Caesalpinia ferrea and Trichoderma sp. on the control of Colletotrichum sp. transmission in Sideroxylon obtusifolium seeds

“…in this study were reported by Pedro et al (2012), according to these authors, the efficiency of chemical fungicides and some other formulas based on Trichoderma harzianum reduced the incidence of pathogens such as Colletotrichum sp. however, Ferreira et al (2013) verified that the antifungal effect of C. ferrea extract on controlling C. lindemuthianum and C. truncatum, confirming the results obtained in the research with S. obtusifolium.…”

“…Among them are flavonoids, saponines, tannins and proteolytic inhibitors (Ferreira et al, 2013). Thus, the anti-fungal potential of C. ferrea extract in controlling pathogens such as Colletotrichum guaranicola and Fusarium oxysporum were described by Bariani et al (2012), in studies with husk extracts of C. ferrea in the evaluation of sporulation and mycelial growth of fungi in vitro, confirming the results obtained in this study.…”

“…which is an endemic species of north and northeast in Brazil (Ferreira & Soares, 2015). Therefore, become necessary research to find new bioactive molecules with relevance in the control of pathogens because it was believed that it is difficult to develop resistance to these compounds present in plant extracts with components that differ as fromtheir mode of action and apparently from their chemical constitution (Ferreira et al, 2013).…”

Libidibia ferrea (Mart. ex Tul.) L. P. Queiroz: A review of the biological activities and phytochemical composition

“…In the screening performed by Ferreira et al (2013) the crude extracts from bark showed antifungal property, inhibiting the growth of ATCC yeast of Candida spp. The MIC obtained for C. albicans and Candida krusei was more effective in CEs obtained with ethanol: water or acetone:water; and was similar to Cronobacter dublinensis and Candida glabrata.…”

Protection of Sideroxylon obtusifolium seeds against Colletotrichum sp. with Caesalpinia ferrea extract

“…New studies are still necessary to discover new bioactive molecules with highly efficient pathogen control, as it is considered more complex for pathogens to develop resistance against products derived from plant extracts due to their wide chemical constitution and modes of action (Ferreira et al, 2013). Besides that, considering the importance of seed quality and sanity for crop yield and the great potential of S. obstusifolium for reforestation and pharmaceutical industry (Oliveira et al, 2012), this work was carried out with the objective to evaluate the efficacy of C. ferrea extract in Colletotrichum sp.…”