title: In vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Traditional Plant Used in Mestizo Shamanism from the Peruvian Amazon in Case of Infectious Diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our survey was performed near Iquitos (Peruvian Amazon) and its surroundings and leads us to consider Mestizo ethnomedical practices. The plant species reported here are traditionally used for ailments related to microbial infections. Inhabitants of various ethnic origins were interviewed, and 52 selected plants extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against a panel of 36 sensitive and multi-resistant bacteria or yeast. The study aimed at providing information on antimicrobial plant extract activities and the ethnomedical context of Mestizo riverine populations from Loreto (Peru).
  
  
  METHODS
  The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the plant crude extracts were carried out using the agar dilution method and ranged between 0.075 and 5.0 mg/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 40 plants analyzed, 9 species showed MIC ≤0.3 mg/ml (Anacardium occidentale, Couroupita guianensis, Croton lechleri, Davilla rugosa, Erythrina amazonica, Jacaranda copaia subsp. Spectabilis, Oenocarpus bataua, Peperomia macrostachya, and Phyllanthus urinaria) for one or several of the 36 microorganisms and only 6 drug extracts were inactive. Among the 40 plants, 13 were evaluated for the first time for an antibacterial activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of 40 plants using an approved standard methodology allowed comparing those activities against various microbes to establish antimicrobial spectra of standardized plant extracts, and give support to the traditional use of these plants. It may also help discovering new chemical classes of antimicrobial agents that could serve against multi-resistant bacteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study leads us to consider Mestizo ethnomedical practices near Iquitos (Peruvian Amazon) and its surroundings. The plant species reported here are traditionally used for ailments related to microbial infections. 52 selected plants extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against a panel of 36 sensitive and multi resistant bacteria or yeast. The study aimed at providing information on antimicrobial plant extract activities and the ethnomedical context of Mestizo riverine populations from Loreto.
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, Laboratoire Régional de Recherche en Agro-alimentaire et Biotechnologie: Institut Charles Viollette, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roumy
authors.affiliation: Division of Anthropology, Ecole pratique des hautes études, Laboratoire d'anthropologie sociale, 75005 Paris, Sorbonne, France.
authors.forename: Andréa-Luz
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Choquevilca
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, Laboratorio de Investigación de Productos Naturales Antiparasitarios de la Amazonia, Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana, AA.HH., Nuevo San Lorenzo, Iquitos, Perú
authors.forename: Jean Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lopez Mesia
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, Laboratorio de Investigación de Productos Naturales Antiparasitarios de la Amazonia, Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana, AA.HH., Nuevo San Lorenzo, Iquitos, Perú
authors.forename: Lastenia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, Laboratorio de Investigación de Productos Naturales Antiparasitarios de la Amazonia, Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana, AA.HH., Nuevo San Lorenzo, Iquitos, Perú
authors.forename: Juan Celidonio
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ruiz Macedo
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, Laboratoire Régional de Recherche en Agro-alimentaire et Biotechnologie: Institut Charles Viollette, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abedini
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, Laboratoire Régional de Recherche en Agro-alimentaire et Biotechnologie: Institut Charles Viollette, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Ameni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Landoulsi
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, Laboratoire Régional de Recherche en Agro-alimentaire et Biotechnologie: Institut Charles Viollette, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samaillie
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, Laboratoire Régional de Recherche en Agro-alimentaire et Biotechnologie: Institut Charles Viollette, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hennebelle
authors.affiliation: Division of Natural Products Chemistry, Laboratoire Régional de Recherche en Agro-alimentaire et Biotechnologie: Institut Charles Viollette, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rivière
authors.affiliation: Division of Bacteriology, Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université Lille Nord de France (Lille 2), F-59006 Lille Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neut
keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Iquitos; Loreto; medicinal plant; traditional use