Psacalium paucicapitatum has in vitro antibacterial activity

Abstract

In Mexico, in 2010, urinary tract infection (UTI) occupied third place in morbidity. Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Proteus hauseri, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Staphylococcus epidermidis are included among the bacteria that cause UTIs. Currently, there is an urgent need to develop new alternatives to control antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The secondary metabolites of plants have traditionally been used to remedy the illnesses caused by bacteria. Psacalium paucicapitatum [(B.L. Rob. & Greenm.) H. Rob. & Brettell] is an endemic plant that grows in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, which is used to relieve diseases such as gastric ulcers, diabetes and hypertension, with excellent results. The aims of this study were to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts of P. paucicapitatum corms against six bacteria as well as to determine the chemical composition of the extracts in order to identify bioactive molecules inhibiting bacterial reproduction. The extract inhibited six bacteria evaluated in a range of MIC90 at 2034–5238mg/L. The antibacterial activity of aqueous extract is attributed to the identified compounds, which are: ethyl iso-allocholate; imidazole-4-carboxylic acid, 2-fluoro-1-methoxymethyl-, ethyl ester and tetra acetyl-d-xylonic nitrile. The extract of P. paucicapitatum represents an alternative to be used as a new antibacterial botanical drug which could substitutes the use of synthetic drugs.