Abstract

SANTOS, V.L et al. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Maytenus rigida Mart. (Celastraceae). Rev. bras. plantas med. [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.1, pp. 68-72. ISSN 1516-0572.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-05722011000100010.

Ppharmacological studies are essential to prove the effectiveness of using medicinal plants to treat diseases and discover new phytotherapics. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of "bom-nome" (Maytenus rigida Mart.) against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, three samples of multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients with nosocomial infections, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Salmonella sp. (228-R-Tet, 118-R-Sut and 01-S) isolated from water environment, using the agar diffusion test. Both extracts showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against all S. aureus strains, presenting 400 mg mL^-1 minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). However, these products did not show activity against strains of the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella sp.

Keywords : Maytenus rigida; "bom-nome'; Celastraceae; antibacterial activity; medicinal plants.