Abstract
Cochlospermum regium (Bixaceae) is a medicinal plant species native to the Brazilian savannah, known as the Cerrado. Local communities use its roots to treat infections of the female reproductive system. This study evaluated how seasonality, phenological stage, geographical location, plant age, and plant cultivation substrate affect the antimicrobial activity of Cochlospermum regium roots against Candida albicans. Although the plant displayed antimicrobial action in all the assayed conditions, the roots collected during fall and winter inhibited C. albicans the most effectively. The geographical location in which the plant material was found did not influence its biological response. Plant age and cultivation substrate did impact the biological response; those grown in sand showed fungicidal activity, while those grown in Cerrado soil fertilized with cow dung showed fungistatic activity during certain periods. The inner bark and core of the root were the main structures underlying the antimicrobial activity of Cochlospermum regium.
Highlights
Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilg., Bixaceae, is a medicinal plant native to the Brazilian savannah, or the Cerrado
For the plants collected in Altinópolis, whole roots and inner root barks of specimens in the vegetative/pre-flowering stage displayed higher antimicrobial activity compared with specimens in the flowering stage
Concerning the plants collected in Rifaina, specimens in different phenological stages did not differ significantly in terms of antimicrobial action
Summary
Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilg., Bixaceae, is a medicinal plant native to the Brazilian savannah, or the Cerrado. Cochlospermum regium has been widely investigated for two main reasons: its medicinal potential and its existence in the Cerrado, a hotspot biome that. Researchers have already isolated and identified several substances in Cochlospermum regium roots, e.g., dihydrokaempherol-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (Lima, Castro, Mello, Siqueira, & Kassab, 1996; Sólon et al, 2012), β-selinene, (Honda, Brum, Hess, Cruz, & Moretto, 1997), ellagic acid, gallic acid, dihydrokaempherol, dihydrokaempherol-3-O-β(6"-galloyl)-glucopyranoside, pinoresinol, excelsine, Maringá, v. Scientific papers have failed to agree on the antimicrobial efficiency of root extracts as assessed by in vitro tests (Oliveira, Siqueira, Souza, & Rezende, 1996; Sólon et al, 2012), besides the studies published in theses and at conferences. Seasons of the year, phenological stage, genetic load, temperature, altitude, cultivation conditions and humidity, among other factors, can significantly affect the quality and/or quantity of bioactive compounds (Szakiel, Pączkowski, & Henry, 2011; Pavarini, Pavarini, Niehues, & Lopes, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
