title: Antimicrobial Potential of Momordica charantia L. against Multiresistant Standard Species and Clinical Isolates.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal potential in vitro of Momordica charantia L. against the microorganisms of clinical interest (standard strains and multiresistant isolates) in order to aggregate scientific information in relation to its use as a therapeutic product.
  
  
  
  M. charantia L. plant material was acquired in municipality of Malta, Paraiba, Brazil. The extract was obtained through maceration, filtration and then concentrated under reduced pressure in a rotary evaporator, resulting in a dough, and was then dried in an oven for 72 hours at 40°C. Antimicrobial action of ethanolic extract of seed M. charantia L. was evaluated based on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) against standard strains of bacteria, isolates multiresistant bacteria and Candida species, by microdilution in broth method.
  
  
  
  All organisms were sensitive to the extract, being considered strong antimicrobial activity (MIC and MBC/MFC < 0.125 mg/ml).
  
  
  
  The M. charantia L. showed strong antimicrobial potential, with bactericidal and fungicidal profile, there is the prospect to constitute a new therapeutic strategy for the control of infections, particularly in multiresistant strains.
  
  
  
  The use of medicinal plants in treatment of infectious processes have an important function nowadays, due to the limitations of the use of synthetic antibiotics available, related specifically to the microbial resistance emergence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Hardman Sátiro de
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lucena Filho
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rennaly de Freitas
authors.initials: Rde F
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Claudia Dantas de
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jozinete Vieira
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Flávia
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Granville-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Dentistry, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil, e-mail: edjacosta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Edja Maria Melo de Brito
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D029777:Momordica charantia; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Anti-microbial activity; Laboratory research; Medicinal plants; Momordica charantia L