Proving that Traditional Knowledge Works: The antibacterial activity of Northern Peruvian medicinal plants

Abstract

had a much lower efficacy against bacteria and fell within the range of species that are traditionally used to treat other bodily disorders. ResumenInfecciones bacterianas e inflamación se encuentran entre las enfermedades tratadas por curanderos tradicionales. La Organización Mundial de Salud se ha expresada como altamente interesada en la Medicina Tradicional, y es importante demostrar cientí-ficamente que los remedios usados en la medicina The aim of the study was to scientifically test whether plants used in TM for the treatment of infections showed antibacterial activity, and to delineate a number of candidates for further in-depth study of their Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and toxicity. One-hundred-ninety-three ethanolic extracts and 31 water extracts were active against S. aureus. In twentyone cases only the water extract showed activity. None of the aqueous extracts were active against the other three bacteria, with the activity of the ethanolic extracts also much reduced, as only 36 showed any activity against E. coli, and 3 each against S. enterica Typhi and P. aeruginosa. Two-hundred-twenty-five extracts came from species that are traditionally employed against bacterial infections. One-hundred-sixty-six (73.8%) of these were active against at least one bacterium. Of the three-hundred extracts from plants without traditional antibacterial use, only 96 (32%) showed any activity Plants used for respiratory disorders, inflammation/infection, wounds, diarrhea, and to prevent post partum infections were efficacious in 70-88% of the tests. Plants used for "kidney inflammation"Published: February 25, 2011

Pro-toxic dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids in the traditional Andean herbal medicine “asmachilca”

“…Nuñez (2009) and Núñez et al (2010) call Baccharis vaccinifolia Cuatrec. asmachilca while Bussmann et al (2011) say Asma Chilca [ sic ] is derived from species of Chromolaena in addition to E. gayanum .…”

Medicinal plants from the genus Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae)–A review of their ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry

“…The methanol extract showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Bussmann et al, 2011).…”

Estructura química de compuestos fenólicos del extracto etanólico de hojas de Clinopodium pulchellum (Kunth) Govaerts “panisara”

“…Satureja pulchella "panisara", quien en la actualidad presenta el nombre de Clinopodium pulchellum (Kunth) Govaerts, es una planta oriunda del norte peruano (10) , utilizada comúnmente para dolencias gastrointestinales (11) y retrasos menstruales (12) . Estudios previos han mostrado la capacidad antioxidante y antibacteriana tanto de extractos acuosos como de aceites esenciales (11,13) . En la siguiente investigación se propuso la estructura química de componentes fenólicos aislados del extracto etanólico de hojas de Clinopodium pulchellum (Kunth) Govaerts "panisara" y evaluó preliminarmente el posible efecto antioxidante de los compuestos fenólicos.…”