Biological Activities and Chemical Characterization ofCordia verbenaceaDC. as Tool to Validate the Ethnobiological Usage

Abstract

Knowledge of medicinal plants is often the only therapeutic resource of many communities and ethnic groups. “Erva-baleeira”, Cordia verbenacea DC., is one of the species of plants currently exploited for the purpose of producing a phytotherapeutic product extracted from its leaves. In Brazil, its major distribution is in the region of the Atlantic Forest and similar vegetation. The crude extract is utilized in popular cultures in the form of hydroalcoholic, decoctions and infusions, mainly as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. The aim of the present study was to establish a chemical and comparative profile of the experimental antibacterial activity and resistance modifying activity with ethnopharmacological reports. Phytochemical prospecting and HPLC analysis of the extract and fractions were in agreement with the literature with regard to the presence of secondary metabolites (tannins and flavonoids). The extract and fraction tested did not show clinically relevant antibacterial activity, but a synergistic effect was observed when combined with antibiotic, potentiating the antibacterial effect of aminoglycosides. We conclude that tests of antibacterial activity and modulating the resistance presented in this work results confirm the ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological information, serving as a parameter in the search for new alternatives for the treatment of diseases.

The pharmaceutical industry and natural products: historical status and new trends

“…It is estimated that around 140,000? Australians are admitted to hospital every year because of (Matias et al 2013) and is now supplanting established synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs on the local market. This product is based on the traditional usage of this Brazilian medicinal plant utilising an evidence-based phytotherapy approach.…”

The genus Cordia: botanists, ethno, chemical and pharmacological aspects

“…The leaves of C. flavescens are used as an analgesic for postpartum pain (Bhattacharya and Saha, 2013). Ethnopharmacological studies are important for initiating pharmacological tests aimed at proving the possible applications of natural products from plants (Matias et al, 2013b). Box 2 lists the biological activities of essential oils, extracts and fractions of Cordia species and pharmacological studies of isolated substances evaluated by experimental methods of this genus.…”

“…The extracts at a sub-inhibitory concentration of 32 g/ml improved the inhibition zone by 50% when combined with the antibiotic compared to the antibiotic alone. That is, the antibiotic activity of norfloxacin was enhanced in the presence of the extracts of C. verbenacea, showing significant synergism (Matias et al, 2013b). Another study utilizing the methanolic extract and the methanolic fraction of the methanolic extract of C. verbenacea leaves was conducted to evaluate the drug-modulatory activity of this species.…”

The Biological Activities of Moltkia Aurea Boiss., an Endemic Species to Turkey

“…All of the extracts were low effective on growth of the three bacteria (Table 1). Matias et al (2013) showed that the extract from Cordia verbenacea's leaves has no antibacterial properties. Our results are better than data of Matias.…”

“…Matias et al (2013) reported that S. aureus showed a MIC value greater than or equal to 1024 µg/mL, whereby the results were considered clinically irrelevant. In the study of Couladis et al (2003), essential oil of Hypericum rumeliacum indicated moderate activity against the tested bacteria (the range of MICs was 3.80-17.20 mg/mL).…”