title: Biological activities of Croton palanostigma Klotzsch.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different species of Croton are used in traditional Amazonian medicine. Among the popular uses are treatment of bacterial diseases, poorly healing wounds and fevers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the antileishmanial, antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities of the extracts and diterpenes of Croton palanostigma Klotzsch (Euphorbiaceae).
  
  
  METHODS
  Leaves and bark were extracted with dichloromethane and methanol. The bark dichloromethane extract (BDE) was chromatographed on a column, obtaining cordatin and aparisthman. The extracts and diterpenes were assayed thought agar disk diffusion method and their bactericidal or fungicidal effects were evaluated by minimum bactericidal or fungicidal concentration. The antiplasmodial activity was evaluated after 24 and 72 h of exposition. The antileishmanial activity was performed on promastigotes forms of Leishmania amazonensis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bark methanol extract (BME) and cordatin were not active against any microbial strains tested; BDE and leaves methanol extract (LME) were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and aparisthman was positive for Candida albicans. In the determination of the minimum bactericidal concentration, neither of them were active in the highest concentration tested. The extracts and diterpenes were inactive in Plasmodium falciparum, except the LME in 72 h. Any extract was shown to be active in promastigote forms of L. amazonensis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the BDE and LME did not inhibit the bacterial growth, then they probably had bacteriostatic effect. LME presented activity in P. falciparum.
authors.affiliation: Post Graduation in Biology of Infectious and parasitary Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Para, Guama, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Ferreira
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Para, Guama, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diele Magno
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Rosario
authors.affiliation: Post Graduation in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Para, Guama, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andreza Socorro
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Silva Veiga
authors.affiliation: Institute of Technology, Federal University of Para, Guama, Brazil.
authors.forename: Davi Do Socorro Barros
authors.initials: Ddo S
authors.lastname: Brasil
authors.affiliation: Section of Parasitology, Evandro Chagas Institute, Br. 316, S/N, Levilândia, Ananindeua, PA, CEP, 67030-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Tobias
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Post Graduation in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Para, Guama, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Fâni
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dolabela
keywords: Antileishmanial; Croton palanostigma; Euphorbiaceae; antimicrobial; antiplasmodial; diterpenes