Abstract
Background: This research was carried out in order to study the antimicrobial effectiveness of crude latex of two varieties of "Sangre de Drago": Croton lechleri Muller Arg. and Croton urucurana Baill and compare that effectiveness to the antimicrobial activity of the alcoholic extracts of its leaves and bark. Methods: The activity of the alcoholic extracts and latex were evaluated against bacterial strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The extraction of the alcoholic extracts (20% Tincture) of the leaves, bark and latex from the two Croton species was carried out by maceration using 70% alcohol as a menstruum, at room temperature, for 2 to 7 days, with shaking at least twice a day. A 20% tincture was obtained, from which the physical and chemical parameters were determined as indicated by the Ecuadorian Quality Control Standard for natural medicinal products. Results: It was found that both the alcoholic extracts of the plant material and the crude latex indicate antimicrobial activity for S. epidermidis, moderate antimicrobial activity for B. subtilis and no antimicrobial activity for E. coli. The moderate antimicrobial activity against B. subtilis, at doses of 125 p.p.m., is in line with the findings of previous studies by other authors. Conclusions: he antimicrobial activity of the latex of the two species against S. epidermidis is not registered in literature and, the negative antimicrobial activity for E. coli does not agree with what has been reported by previous studies.
Highlights
In Ecuador, there is a growing interest in medical plants from medical practitioners1,2
In Ecuador, they are found in the Amazon region and, as in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, the most commonly identified species of Sangre de Drago is Croton lechleri Muller Arg[3]
Physical-chemical evaluation The extraction of the alcoholic extracts (20% Tincture) of the leaves, bark and latex from the two Croton species was carried out by maceration using 70% alcohol as a menstruum, at room temperature, for 2 to 7 days, with shaking at least twice a day
Summary
In Ecuador, there is a growing interest in medical plants from medical practitioners. The chemical composition of latex has been widely studied, revealing the presence of different metabolites, amongst which are the alkaloid taspine and its salt, lignans, proanthocyanidins, terpenes and phenolic compounds These metabolites are responsible for the different activities that this medicinal plant presents. The antimicrobial activity of latex and of alcoholic extracts of leaves and bark of two species of Sangre de Drago was evaluated in vitro against specific bacterial strains in order to compare their antibacterial properties. This research was carried out in order to study the antimicrobial effectiveness of crude latex of two varieties of "Sangre de Drago": Croton lechleri Muller Arg. and Croton urucurana Baill and compare that effectiveness to the antimicrobial activity of the alcoholic extracts of its leaves and bark. Conclusions: he antimicrobial activity of the latex of the two species against S. epidermidis is not registered in literature and, the negative antimicrobial activity for E. coli does not agree with what has been reported by previous studies
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