title: Antimicrobial Activity of Rhoeo discolor Phenolic Rich Extracts Determined by Flow Cytometry.
abstract: Traditional medicine has led to the discovery of important active substances used in several health-related areas. Phytochemicals in Rhoeo discolor extracts have proven to have important antimicrobial activity. In the present study, our group determined the antimicrobial effects of extracts of Rhoeo discolor, a plant commonly used in Mexico for both medicinal and ornamental purposes. We evaluated the in vitro activity of phenolic rich extracts against specifically chosen microorganisms of human health importance by measuring their susceptibility via agar-disc diffusion assay and flow cytometry: Gram-positive Listeria innocua and Streptococcus mutans, Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and lastly a fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Ten different extracts were tested in eight different doses on all the microorganisms. Analytical data revealed a high content of phenolic compounds. Both agar-disc diffusion assay and flow cytometry results demonstrated that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the least affected by extract exposure. However, low doses of these extracts (predominantly polar), in a range from 1 to 4 μg/mL, did produce a statistically significant bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect on the rest of the microorganisms. These results suggest the addition of certain natural extracts from Rhoeo discolor could act as antibacterial and antimycotic drugs or additives for foods and cosmetics.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Ave Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, N.L., Mexico. rbk_varela@hotmail.com.|Centro de Agrobiotecnología, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Ave Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, N.L., Mexico. rbk_varela@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García-Varela
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Ave Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, N.L., Mexico. rebeca.garcia.garcia@itesm.mx.
authors.forename: Rebeca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: García-García
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Ave Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, N.L., Mexico. bertha.barba@itesm.mx.
authors.forename: Bertha A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Barba-Dávila
authors.affiliation: Centro de Innovación y Transferida en Salud, Escuela de Medicina, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Ave Morones Prieto No. 3000 Pte., Col. Los Doctores, C.P. Monterrey 64710, N.L., Mexico. ofajardo@itesm.mx.
authors.forename: Oscar R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Fajardo-Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Ave Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, N.L., Mexico. sserna@itesm.mx.
authors.forename: Sergio O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Serna-Saldívar
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Ave Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, N.L., Mexico. Guy.Cardineau@itesm.mx.|Centro de Agrobiotecnología, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Ave Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, N.L., Mexico. Guy.Cardineau@itesm.mx.
authors.forename: Guy A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Cardineau
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008087:Listeria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010636:Phenols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D034823:Tradescantia / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents
keywords: Candida albicans; Escherichia coli; Listeria innocua; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rhoeo discolor; Streptococcus mutans; antifungal; antimicrobial; flow cytometry; phenolic compounds