Resumen

TOLEDO-CASTRO, Sandra María; GONZALEZ-LAVAUT, José A.; ECHEMENDIA, Olga  y  GARCIA-GONZALEZ, Nelson. Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of the fruits of Erythroxylum minutifolium Griseb: (Erythroxylaceae). Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2008, vol.13, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1028-4796.

Foundations: the genus Erythroxylum is widely represented in Cuba with 21 species of which 18 are endemic and some are used with etnomedical ends. Erythroxylum minutifolium Griseb. (Erythoxylaceae) is a very abundant endemic species in Cuba, however, its fruits have not been studied from the chemical or pharmacological point of view. Objective: to carry out an evaluation of the total extract by chemical groups and to perform the phytochemical fractioning with solvents of different polarities to evaluate the detection of flavonoids, coumarins and alkaloids and the antibacterial action to these extracts. Methods: the known methods of phytochemical detection were used, whereas the by disc difussion test was utilized for the study of antibacterial activity. Results: the phytochemical evaluations by chemical groups for the total extract and of fractioning with 5 solvents of different polarities proved the presence of flavanoids and the absence of alkaloids and coumarins. The total extract did not show antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Staphylococcus aureus. It presented toxicity up to values of 1 mg/ml. Conclusions: in the fruits of the species, the total extract and the solvents of diverse polarities showed only the presence of flavonoids. The total extract had low toxicity and it did not show antibacterial activity.

Palabras clave : Erythroxylum minutifolium; phytochemistry; pharmacology; flavonoids; Cuba.