Abstract
The stems and leaves of Ilex paraguariensis are popularly used for tea infusions in South America and the Middle East. The health benefits have been previously studied, revealing anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, hypocholesteremic and glycemic improvement. Limited research was performed on the antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Yerba Mate on standard and clinical isolates of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Commercial Ilex paraguariensis stems and leaves were ground and extracted with sterile deionized water at 70°C. Four ATCC bacterial strains and twenty-five bacterial clinical strains were used for testing. To obtain the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), the Yerba Mate aqueous solution was serially diluted according to the microdilution method. For the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), the tubes with clear broth were sub-cultured. To identify the types of ESBLs present in the clinical isolates, a multiplex PCR was performed. An antibacterial activity was observed against most of tested strains, with a greater activity against Gram-positive bacteria. MIC and MBC values ranged between 0.468 mg/mL and 15 mg/mL of aqueous extract of Yerba Mate. The aqueous extract of the stems and leaves of Ilex paraguariensis extracted at 70°C showed a significant antibacterial activity. There was no correlation found between the different molecular resistance profiles and the antibacterial activity range.
Highlights
The stems and leaves of Ilex paraguariensis are popularly used for tea infusions in South America and the Middle East
All resistant isolates of Klebsiella and E. coli with positive ESBL phenotypic tests were positive for CTX-M (Figure 1)
Only Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolate Klebsiella pneumoniae OXA-48 (K4) and Escherichia coli clinical isolate E9 were positive for bla OXA-48 (Figure 2)
Summary
The stems and leaves of Ilex paraguariensis are popularly used for tea infusions in South America and the Middle East. Limited research was performed on the antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Yerba Mate on standard and clinical isolates of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. MIC and MBC values ranged between 0.468 mg/mL and 15 mg/mL of aqueous extract of Yerba Mate. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of the stems and leaves of Ilex paraguariensis extracted at 70°C showed a significant antibacterial activity. Dried leaves and stems of the plant Ilex paraguariensis, known as Yerba Mate, are popularly used in South America and some Middle Eastern countries in preparation of tea infusions [1,2,3]. Recent studies suggest that habitual consumption of Yerba Mate has shown neuroprotective, anticonvulsant and anti-depressant effects [13]
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