ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the antimicrobial activities (AA) of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from 17 species of native Brazilian trees. The agar diffusion method was used against 10 different microorganisms isolated from inoculi obtained from clinically infected spots, for antibiosis assay purposes. Of the 170 tested carried out, 25% exhibited high AA, with Bixa orellana, Psidium guajava and Anacardium occidentale showing the most outstanding extract qualities. Exceptional AA was observed for Mimosa tenuiflora against Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. and Stryphnodendron adstringens, and for Eugenia uniflora extracts against Escherichia coli, Providencia spp., Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. Antibiosis essays with commercially available antibiotics were simultaneously conducted against the above-mentioned bacteria to compare with the AA potential of the trees extracts studied.
KEY WORDS
Antimicrobial activity; medicinal plants; antibiosis