Antibacterial activity of Brazilian Amazon plant extracts

Full text
Author(s):	Ivana Barbosa Suffredini ^[1] ; Mateus Luís Barradas Paciencia ^[2] ; Antonio Drauzio Varella ^[3] ; Riad Naim Younes ^[4] Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:	^[1] Universidade Paulista. Laboratório de Extração - Brasil ^[2] Universidade Paulista. Laboratório de Extração - Brasil ^[3] Universidade Paulista. Laboratório de Extração - Brasil ^[4] Universidade Paulista. Laboratório de Extração - Brasil Total Affiliations: 4
Document type:	Journal article
Source:	Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases; v. 10, n. 6, p. 400-402, 2006-12-00.
Abstract
Infections caused by multiresistant bacteria are a widespread problem, especially in intensive care units. New antibiotics are necessary, and we need to search for alternatives, including natural products. Brazil is one of the hottest spots in the world in terms of biodiversity, but little is known about the chemical and pharmacological properties of most of the plants found in the Amazon rain forest and the Atlantic Forest. We screened 1,220 organic and aqueous extracts, obtained from Amazon and Atlantic rain forest plants, against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli. Seventeen organic and aqueous extracts obtained from 16 plants showed activity against both Gram-positive bacteria. None of the extracts showed relevant activity against the Gram-negative E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (AU)