Volatile compounds of hexane extract from Pterodon pubescens Benth seeds and its significant in vitro potential against different bacterial strains

Abstract

Pterodon pubescens Benth is a Brazilian medicinal plant (sucupira, in Brazilian Portuguese). This paper aims to determine the volatile composition and antibacterial activities of hexane extract from P. pubescens seeds (HE-PP).Antibacterial activities were screened by the microdilution broth method in 96-well culture plates and MIC values were expressed as µg/mL. HE-PP was active against several oral bacteria with MIC values between 12.5 µg/mL and 50 µg/mL and against three mycobacterial strains (MIC = 125 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL). In addition, HE-PP was active against Xanthomonas citri strain (MIC = 100 µg/mL). The cytotoxic activity of the extract was evaluated in human tumor and non-tumor cell lines. HE-PP showed selective cytotoxicity to cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa cells -IC50 = 53.47 µg/mL). The major constituents were identified by GC-MS and GC-FID: E-caryophyllene, vouacapane, Egeranylgeraniol and dehydroabietol. Results reinforce the biological potential of HE-PP against a broad spectrum of pathogenic and phytopathogenic bacteria.