title: Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of Chilean plants traditionally used for wound healing therapy against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Anti-staphylococcal activity of Chilean medicinal plants traditionally used by the Huilliche people for wound healing therapy was evaluated against nine Staphylococcus aureus strains. Three extracts of 26 plant samples (20 species) were evaluated by agar overlay bioautography and MIC determination. Total phenolics and tannins were determined, and the antibacterial contribution of the latter was evaluated. The diffusion assay showed that 17 species were active against susceptible S. AUREUS and that 15 species were active against resistant S. aureus. Removal of tannins from extracts rendered only six species active. MIC-determination showed that 20 extracts had antibacterial activity on all eight strains, and the most potent MIC value was 64 µg/mL. Remarkably, 37 extracts were active against the otherwise multidrug-resistant vanthida strain. Our findings support the wound healing properties of Huilliche medicinal plants and the hypothesis that these plants are promising sources of potential anti-staphylococcal agents towards multidrug-resistant strains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. jgh@farma.ku.dk
authors.forename: Jes Gitz
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Holler
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Søndergaard
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Slotved
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gúzman
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mølgaard
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002677:Chile; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts