Abstract

PEREIRA CABRERA, Sonia et al. In vitro antimicrobial activity of Cederla adorata L. (cedar). Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2013, vol.18, n.4, pp. 513-521. ISSN 1028-4796.

Introduction: the stem bark of Cedrela adorata L. (cedar) is used by the population to treat asthma, as vermifuge, antibacterial and febrifuge, and in the form of decoction to relieve the pain caused by falls or bumps. Objective: identify the secondary metabolites present in this part of the plant and evaluate their potential antibacterial activity. Methods: stem bark from Cedrela adorata was collected. The plant material was washed, disinfected, dried and pulverized. The powder obtained was used to make the various extracts and the tincture. The latter was concentrated and successively fractionated with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water. The extracts underwent phytochemical screening, microbiological assays and thin-layer chromatography. Results: in vitro tests of the extracts obtained from the 20% tincture showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sp., Salmonella enterica and Enterobacter aerogen. Antibacterial activity of the hexanic cedar extract against Staphylococcus aureus was noteworthy. Alkaloids, triterpenes or sterols, and quinones, which are found in a large proportion in the extracts, are responsible for the above-mentioned antibacterial activity. Identification of these secondary metabolites was confirmed through thin-layer chromatography and phytochemical screening. Conclusions: the alkaloids, triterpenes or sterols, and quinones potentially responsible for antibacterial activity were identified through thin-later chromatography and phytochemical screening.

Keywords : Cedrela adorata; phytochemical screening; extracts; thin-layer chromatography; therapeutic use.

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