Abstract

Medicinal plants are important components in the primary health care of villagers in Guatemala.  However, an area often overlooked is the effect of medicinal plants on oral hygiene.  Acetone and methanol extracts from 63 medicinal plant species from 31 families were bioassayed against breast, cervical, skin and tongue cancers, and the following microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Candida albicans.  Half-maximum inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) and half-maximum cytotoxicity concentrations (CC₅₀) were determined against cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines, respectively.  Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined against microbes. Based on levels of inhibition by extracts, IC₅₀ values, CC₅₀ values, and MIC values, seven species (Bursera simaruba Sarg., Burseraceae; Eriobotrya japonica (Thumb.) Lindl., Rosaceae; Litsea guatemalensis Mez, Lauraceae; Mirabilis jalapa L., Nyctaginaceae; Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth., Fabaceae); Rubus villosus Thunb., Rosaceae; Thevetia peruviana K. Schum., Apocynaceae) were recommended for additional investigation. With regard to oral hygiene four species (Achillea millefolium L., Asteraceae; Crotalaria longirostrata Hook. and Arn., Fabaceae; P. dulce; Spondias purpurea L., Anacardiaceae) may merit further fractionation and testing against oral diseases.   

Key words: Anticancer, antimicrobial, IC₅₀, CC₅₀, MIC, oral hygiene, Guatemala.