title: Antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties and zinc content of five south Portugal herbs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Crataegus monogyna L. (Rosaceae) (CM), Equisetum telmateia L. (Equisataceae) (ET), Geranium purpureum Vil. (Geraniaceae) (GP), Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. (Lamiaceae) (MS), and Lavandula stoechas L. spp. luisieri (Lamiaceae) (LS) are all medicinal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities of plant extracts and quantify individual phenolics and zinc.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aerial part extracts were prepared with water (W), ethanol (E) and an 80% mixture (80EW). Antioxidant activity was measured with TAA, FRAP and RP methods. Phenolics were quantified with a HPLC. Zinc was quantified using voltammetry. Antibacterial activity (after 48 h) was tested using Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes. Antiproliferative activity (after 24 h) was tested using HEP G2 cells and fibroblasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Solvents influenced results; the best were E and 80EW. GP had the highest antioxidant activity (TAA and FRAP of 536.90 mg AAE/g dw and 783.48 mg TE/g dw, respectively). CM had the highest zinc concentration (37.21 mg/kg) and phenolic variety, with neochlorogenic acid as the most abundant (92.91 mg/100 g dw). LS was rich in rosmarinic acid (301.71 mg/100 g dw). GP and LS inhibited the most microorganisms: B. cereus, E. coli and S. aureus. GP also inhibited E. faecalis. CM had the lowest MIC: 5830 μg/mL. The antibacterial activity is explained by the phenolics present. LS and CM showed the most significant anti-proliferative activity, which is explained by their zinc content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most promising plants for further studies are CM, LS and GP.
authors.affiliation: a MeditBio, Faculty of Sciences and Technology , University of Algarve , Campus de Gambelas , Faro , Portugal.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: b Department of Food Chemistry and Nutrition , Medical College, Jagiellonian University , Krakow , Poland.|c Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Science , Andrzej Frycz-Modrzewski Krakow University , Poland.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasko
authors.affiliation: d Radioligand Laboratory, Department of Pharmacobiology , Medical College, Jagiellonian University , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tyszka-Czochara
authors.affiliation: e Department of Pharmaceutical Botany , Medical College, Jagiellonian University , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szewczyk
authors.affiliation: f Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry , Medical College, Jagiellonian University , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szlosarczyk
authors.affiliation: a MeditBio, Faculty of Sciences and Technology , University of Algarve , Campus de Gambelas , Faro , Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D056148:Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020829:Equisetum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011174:Portugal; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D002712:Chlorides; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D015032:Zinc; C024555:ferric chloride
keywords: Algarve; HPLC; flavonoids; phenolics; solvent influence; traditional medicine