title: Biological screening of Brazilian medicinal plants.
abstract: In this study, we screened sixty medicinal plant species from the Brazilian savanna ("cerrado") that could contain useful compounds for the control of tropical diseases. The plant selection was based on existing ethnobotanic information and interviews with local healers. Plant extracts were screened for: (a) molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata, (b) toxicity to brine shrimp (Artemia salina L.), (c) antifungal activity in the bioautographic assay with Cladosporium sphaerospermum and (d) antibacterial activity in the agar diffusion assay against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Forty-two species afforded extracts that showed some degree of activity in one or more of these bioassays.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30190-002, Brasil.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smânia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smânia Júnior
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Zani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000187:drug effects; D001938:Brazil; D002963:Cladosporium / Q000187:drug effects; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D008975:Molluscacides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D008975:Molluscacides; D010936:Plant Extracts