Resumen

DE SOUZA PRESTES, Luciana et al. Evaluation of the bactericidal action of essential oils from guava, Surinam cherry and strawberry guava. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2011, vol.16, n.4, pp. 324-330. ISSN 1028-4796.

Introduction: Guava, Surinam cherry and strawberry guava are native South American fruit trees and the tea from their leaves is traditionally used to treat diarrhea. Objective: to evaluate the antimicrobial action of Psidium guajava L., Eugenia uniflora L. and Psidium cattleyanum Sabine and their constituents. Methods: the essential oils were extracted by a modified Clevenger. The analysis of essential oils was performed on chromatograph (GC/MS). The antimicrobial activity of obtained oils against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated by broth microdilution assay to determine their minimum bactericidal concentration. Results: the guava oil showed bactericidal activity against E. coli at 2 % and 8 % concentration rates against S. aureus and S. typhimurium. The strawberry guava oil showed no bactericidal activity against tested microorganisms whereas Surinam cherry had bactericidal activity at 8 % concentration against S. aureus and S. typhimurium. The main constituents commonly found in the three plant oils were a-copaene and a-humulene. Conclusions: the oils showed bactericidal activity against tested microorganisms and the constituents are comparable to those found in other studies.

Palabras clave : Myrtaceae; essential oils; antimicrobial activity; constituents.

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