Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3835

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro antibacterial action on methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) Staphylococcus aureus and antitumor potential of Mauritia flexuosa L. f.

Ezequias Pessoa de Siqueira*
  • Ezequias Pessoa de Siqueira*
  • René Rachou Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Anderson Assunção Andrade2
  • Anderson Assunção Andrade2
  • Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Praça Manoel Terra, 330, 38025-015, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
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Elaine Maria de Souza-Fagundes3,
  • Elaine Maria de Souza-Fagundes3,
  • Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627/3, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Jonas Pereira Ramos
  • Jonas Pereira Ramos
  • Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627/3, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Markus Kohlhoff
  • Markus Kohlhoff
  • René Rachou Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes
  • Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes
  • Ecology Laboratory and Plant Propagation, Department of General Biology, Estadual University of Montes Claros, University Campus Prof. Darcy Ribeiro, 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Maria das Dores Magalhães Veloso
  • Maria das Dores Magalhães Veloso
  • Ecology Laboratory and Plant Propagation, Department of General Biology, Estadual University of Montes Claros, University Campus Prof. Darcy Ribeiro, 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Fernanda Fraga Campos
  • Fernanda Fraga Campos
  • Federal University of the Valleys of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri, Department of Biological Sciences and Health, Rua da Glória, 187, 39100-000, Diamantina, Brazil.
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Susana Johann
  • Susana Johann
  • Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antonio Carlos, 6627/3, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Tânia Maria de Almeida Alves
  • Tânia Maria de Almeida Alves
  • René Rachou Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Carlos Leomar Zani
  • Carlos Leomar Zani
  • René Rachou Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Betania Barros Cota
  • Betania Barros Cota
  • René Rachou Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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  •  Received: 12 November 2014
  •  Accepted: 16 December 2014
  •  Published: 25 December 2014

Abstract

Mauritia flexuosa L.f. (Arecaceae), commonly known as the buriti palm, is used in traditional medicine in Brazil. Oil from fruits is used for wound healing of skin burns and as an anti rheumatic agent. The stem pith is used to treat dysentery and diarrhea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of M. flexuosa L.f. extracts and fractions. Crude ethanol extracts (EtOH) from fruits, leaves, and stems were submitted to liquid-liquid partition to yield four different soluble fractions: hexane (Hex), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and aqueous (Aq). The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the broth micro dilution method against methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA - ATCC 29213) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA – clinical sample 155). Cytotoxicity activity was determined against five human tumor cell lines (HL-60, Jurkat, THP-1, MCF-7, and HCT-116) and Vero cell as a model for toxicity control, using MTT colorimetric assay. Across all extracts and fractions assayed, only DCM fractions from leaves and stems were active against S. aureus (MSSA and MRSA) at concentrations ranging from 31.3 to 62.5 µg/ml, and against tumor cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 20.3 to 79.0 µg/ml. The DCM fraction from stems was purified by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to yield G1 to G12 groups. Groups G7 to G12 showed antimicrobial activity against MSSA and MRSA with MIC values of 31.3 to 125.0 µg/ml and four groups (G3, G9, G10, G12) exhibited cytotoxic activities in the range of 20 µg/ml against at least one tumor cell line. Using the hyphenated methodology, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), it was possible to identify several phenolic compounds in subgroups G7 to G10 that can be associated with the medicinal properties of stems from buriti.

 

Key words: Mauritia flexuosa, antibacterial activity, antitumoral activity, phenolic compounds.