Determinación de la actividad antibacteriana de extractos de plantas medicinales frente a Enterococcus faecalis

Abstract

Enterococcus faecalis is a microorganism considered as an etiological agent of different infectious processes, such as: skin infections, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, endocarditis, wound infections, among others, hospitalized patients being a more vulnerable population to this bacterium. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of the methanolic and chloroformic extracts of the plants Peperomia galioides, Otholobium mexicanum, Zingiber officinale and Rosmarinus officinalis against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Enterococcus faecalis 51299 and a ATCC 51299 (resistant to vancomycin ), Enterococcus faecalis clinic strain applying the microdilution technique, which is a test technique that allows assessing the in vitro sensitivity of bacteria against antimicrobial agents, and taking into account that the active principles of certain plants when extracted with different solvents are capable of inhibiting bacterial growth, this bioactivity was evaluated. According to the literature reviewed, the previously mentioned plants present secondary metabolites capable of inhibiting gram-positive microorganisms. Antibacterial activity was calculated to be expressed as IC50 and IC90. The results revealed that the extracts of Otholobium mexicanum were the most active, followed by those of Peperomia galioides and an extract of Rosmarinus officinalis, while none of the extracts of Zingiber officinale showed antibacterial activity at the concentrations tested against the strains used. Given the significant activity of some extracts, the results obtained could serve as the basis for future studies with the aim of their probable use in natural products.