title: Chemical composition, antibacterial and antifungal activities of essential oil from Cordia verbenacea DC leaves.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cordia verbenacea is a Brazilian coastal shrub popularly known as "erva baleeira". The essential oil from fresh leaves was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by CG/MS. The main components were identified as β-caryophyllene (25.4%), bicyclogermacrene (11.3%), δ-cadinene (9.%) and α-pinene (9.5%). In this study, the antimicrobial activity of Cordia verbenacea was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the essential oil was obtained using the broth microdilution assay (from 512 to 8 μg/ml).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the essential oil presented fungistatic activity against Candida albicans and Candida krusei and antibacterial activity against Gram-positive strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) and against multiresistant Gram-negative (Escherichia coli 27), in all tests the MIC was 64 μg/ml. When the essential oil was associated to aminoglycosides (subinhibitory concentrations, MIC/8), a synergic and antagonic activity was verified. The synergic effect was observed to the amikacin association (MIC reduction from 256 mlto 64 μg/ml) in all strains tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The essential oil of Cordia verbenacea influences the activity of antibiotics and may be used as an adjuvant in antibiotic therapy against respiratory tract bacterial pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Molecular Bioprospection Post-graduation Program, Laboratory of Natural Products Research, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiola F G
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Liana G S
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Fábio F G
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Manuele E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Saraiva
authors.forename: Sheyla C X
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Mario E S
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Adriana R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Jose Galberto M
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Costa