Resumo

CASTILLO MOMPIE, Aliuska et al. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of extracts from leaves and seeds of Morinda citrifolia L. (noni). Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2014, vol.19, n.4, pp.374-382. ISSN 1028-4796.

Introduction: scientific studies have shown that Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) has antimicrobial activity against a large number of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. However, those studies report such activity in reference to the fruit, and there is little information about the leaves, roots and seeds of the plant. Objectives: evaluate the antimicrobial activity in vitro of various extracts from dry leaves and seeds of M. citrifolia L. (noni) and identify by thin layer chromatography the main secondary metabolites responsible for such antimicrobial activity. Methods: an evaluation was conducted of the antimicrobial activity in vitro of alcoholic, hexanic, chloroformic and ethyl acetate extracts from leaves and seeds of M. citrifolia L. (noni) against E. coli, S. aureus and Candida sp. strains using the Bauer-Kirby method. Thin layer chromatography was used to identify the metabolites responsible for antimicrobial activity on semi-preparative silica gel plates. Chromatographic profiles were observed under ultraviolet light (l=365 nm). Results: all the extracts evaluated of leaves and seeds of M. citrifolia L. (noni) had antimicrobial activity against the strains studied. The main secondary metabolites found were quinones, coumarins and flavonoids in the leaf extracts, and coumarins and flavonoids in the seed extracts. Conclusions: it was demonstrated that leaves and seeds of the M. citrifolia L. tree (noni) have antimicrobial activity, and that quinones and coumarins are the secondary metabolites responsible for such activity

Palavras-chave : antimicrobial activity; extracts; noni leaves; noni seeds.

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