Atividade antioxidante e microbiológica in vitro de extratos de folhas de Anacardium occidentale L.

Abstract

Species Anacardium occidentale (cashew and cajui) is native to the north and northeast of Brazil and have bioactive compounds in their secondary metabolism with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microbicidal action. Multidrug-resistant bacteria are a major public health problem and the use of medicinal plants may serve as an alternative to complement treatments, as they contain metabolites that can be less toxic and more effective against bacterial resistance. Leaves of two A. occidentale plants (cashew and cashew), dried and crushed, were collected and submitted to extraction with PA ethanol. Proximate analysis and radical capture tests were done by DPPH and ABTS techniques and minimum inhibitory concentrations against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains from the Hospital Geral de Palmas were determined. The results were of antioxidant activity in vitro in both extracts, with greater microbicidal action in strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii. Such results may contribute to the complementary and alternative practices of the Unified Health System (Sistema Unico de Saude - SUS), also favoring research of less toxic compounds with fewer side effects.