Antimicrobial properties of Honduran medicinal plants.
Ninety-two plants used in the traditional pharmacopoeia of the Pech and neighboring Mestizo peoples of central Honduras are reported. The results of in vitro antimicrobial screens showed that 19 of the extracts from medicinal plants revealed signs of antifungal activity while 22 demonstrated a measurable inhibitory effect on one or more bacterial cultures. Bioassay-guided fractionation of extracts from Mikania micrantha, Neurolaena lobata and Piper aduncum produced weak to moderately active isolates. The broad spectrum of activity of the extracts helps to explain the widespread use of these plants for wound healing and other applications.
The New York Botanical Garden, Harding Laboratory, Bronx, 10458, USA.
D L
DL
Lentz
A M
AM
Clark
C D
CD
Hufford
B
B
Meurer-Grimes
C M
CM
Passreiter
J
J
Cordero
O
O
Ibrahimi
A L
AL
Okunade
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006721:Honduras; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts