In Vitro Trypanocidal and Antibacterial Activities of Essential Oils from Four Species of the Family Annonaceae

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, and the trypanocidal and antibacterial activities of the essential oils from four species of Annonaceae: Bocageopsis multiflora (Mart.) R.E.Fr., Duguetia quitarensis Benth., Fusaea longifolia (Aubl.) Saff., and Guatteria punctata (Aubl.) R.A.Howard. The chemical composition of the essential oils from the aerial parts yielded 23, 20, 21 and 23 constituents, respectively, which were identified by GC/MS. The trypanocidal activity was evaluated against the amastigote and trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by the microdilution method against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyogenes, and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The results of trypanocidal activity showed that the essential oils of the four species were active at the tested concentrations, with G. punctata essential oil being the most active, with IC50=0.029 μg/mL, and selectivity index (SI)=32, being 34 times more active than the reference drug benznidazole. All EOs showed strong antibacterial activity (minimum inhibitory concentrations of 4.68–37.5 μg/mL) against strains of S. mutans.

Essential Oils from Annonaceae Species from Brazil: A Systematic Review of Their Phytochemistry, and Biological Activities

“…The EO of G. punctata was the most active, with an IC 50 = 0.029 µg•mL −1 , being 34 times more active than the reference drug benznidazole. The authors reported that the strong activity observed for this species can be attributed to the presence of germacrene D (19.8%) and (E)-caryophyllene (8.4%) in the composition of the EO of G. punctata [57].…”

“…The EOs of Bocageopsis multiflora, Duguetia quitarensis, Fusaea longifolia, and Guatteria punctata were evaluated to determine their antibacterial activity [57]. The EO of B. multiflora, which is rich in cis-linalool oxide (furanoid) (33.1%) and 1-epi-cubenol (16.6%), showed antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains, with MIC values of 4.68 µg•mL −1 .…”

“…The EO of F. longifolia, which is rich in β-selinene (19.3%), cis-β-guaiene (18.3%), (Z)-α-bisabolene (12.0%), and (E)-caryophyllene (7.1%), was found to be active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, and Staphylococcus aureus and resistant to methicillin, with an MIC value of 37.5 µg•mL −1 . The EO of Guatteria punctata, with a high content of germacrene D (19.8%), (E)-nerolidol (9.9%), (E)-caryophyllene (8.4%), and cis-β-guaiene (5.5%), was found to be active against S. mutans and S. pyogenes, with an MIC value of 4.68 µg•mL −1 [57].…”

Challenges and Considerations in the Preparation of Novel Antibiotic Phytochemicals

“…Yasanuka et al, for example, noted differences among plant parts when examining the antibacterial properties of extracts created from the fruits, heartwoods, leaves, fruit peels, roots, stems and twigs of various Mexican medicinal plants [21]. Interestingly, several authors have observed that extracts prepared from different plant parts of the Annonaceae family using a variety of organic solvents showed apparent selective antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities [22][23][24]. As the inclusion and separate study of plants obtained from differing environments and times in search of efficacy would likely add substantially to workload, it may be wise to reference and mirror what plant parts were selected, and what methods were employed for procurement, in traditional medical practice.…”

Trypanocidal Essential Oils: A Review

“…Bay et al [ 33 ] investigated the trypanocidal activity of the essential oils of four species of Annonaceae ( Bocageopsis multiflora , Duguetia quitarensis , Fusaea longifolia and Guatteria punctata ) against trypomastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of T. cruzi . The trypanocidal action results indicated that the essential oils were active, and that the essential oil of G. punctata was the most active (the main constituents for this oil were germacrene D, ( E )-nerolidol and ( E )-caryophyllene), with an IC 50 = 0.029 μg/mL, which presented the highest selectivity index (SI) and was 34 times more effective than benznidazole (1 μg/mL).…”