African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12486

Full Length Research Paper

Seasonal variation in the production of secondary metabolites and antimicrobial activity of two plant species used in Brazilian traditional medicine

Thiago P. Chaves1, Cleildo P. Santana1, Germano Véras2, Deysiane O. Brandão1, Delcio C. Felismino3, Ana Cláudia D. Medeiros1* and Dilma M. de B. M. Trovão3
  1Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Ensaios de Medicamentos, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. 2Laboratório de Química Analítica e Quimiometria, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. 3Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 05 October 2012
  •  Published: 20 February 2013

Abstract

 

Guapira graciliflora and Pseudobombax marginatum are two species used in the treatment of various diseases in traditional medicine of the Brazilian semiarid region, but no studies assessing their phytochemical and pharmacological properties have been reported. This study aimed to evaluate seasonal variation in the production of secondary metabolites and antimicrobial activity of these plants. The broth microdilution test was used against pathogenic microorganisms to evaluate the antimicrobial activity. The content of total polyphenols and flavonoids was determined by ultra violet (UV) spectrophotometry using gallic acid and quercetin as standards respectively. The concentration of polyphenols was higher in winter for P. marginatumand in summer for G. graciliflora, while for flavonoids the opposite occurred. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, only P. marginatum showed inhibition against seven tested strains and antibiosis against four, with variation in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum microbicide concentration (MMC) between the two seasons. G. graciliflora showed no activity. The results show that the chemical composition of the extracts from P. marginatum and G. gracilliflora exhibits seasonal variation, with the first plant showing moderate antimicrobial activity.

 

Key words: Seasonal variation, phenolic compounds, medicinal plants, Gapira graciliflora, Pseudobombax marginatum.