In vitro biological potential of Guanxuma-of-Horn [Sebastiania corniculata (Vahl) Mull. Arg.] in infection control

Abstract

Medicinal plants with antimicrobial properties built into the problem of infection have been investigated, guide the discovery of efficient against the emerging pathogens herbal related to bacterial and fungal infection. This study aimed to enlarge the possibilities of knowledge about antibacterial and antifungal activities of this plant, in the treatment of infections. The results of antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of two fractions in MeOH/H2O from ethanol and acetone extracts of guanxuma-of-Horn [Sebastiania corniculata (Vahl) Mull. Arg.] (Euphorbiaceae) evaluated the extracts by disk diffusion test (DD) and the method of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The extracts were active for Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinectobacter calcoaceticus and Proteus mirabilis in the DD test. However, the best results for these fractions were against P. aeruginosa with an MIC from 250 to 125 μg/mL, respectively. In the evaluation of cytotoxic for cell viability by MTT, only a dose of 100 μg/mL exhibited moderate cytotoxicity with p < 0.0001. In this perspective, the other extracts showed significant cytotoxicity, which suggests further research to evaluate the anti-tumor activity and consolidate the evidence obtained in the research present.