摘要
Plants of Baccharis （Asteraceae） genus are commonly known in Argentina as ＂carqueja＂. The antimicrobial activity and minimal inhibitory concentration of B. articulata, B. trimera and B. crispa aqueous and ethanolic extracts were evaluated by using the micro-well dilution method. Previously, the components of extracts were analyzed by spectroscopial means. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to Baccharis species extracts than Gram-negative bacteria. Out of 3 plant species, B. trimera showed significant antibacterial activity and aqueous and ethanolic extracts were active against Staphylococcus aureus （MIC = 2,500 μg/mL and 1,250 μg/mL, respectively） and Listeria monocytogenes （MIC = 625 μg/mL and 625 μg/mL, respectively）. All ethanolic extracts inhibited the growth of the selected Gram-positive （MIC values ranged between 625 μg/mL and 1,250 μg/mL）. Therefore, all Gram-negative bacteria were resistant to the ethanolic and aqueous extracts tested. One flavone, genkawanin, was identified from the three ethanolic extracts as the responsible of antibacterial activity. Two terpenes, hawtriwaic acid and bacrispine, were identified from ethanolic extract of B. crispa and B. trimera as the responsibles of antibacterial activity. These preliminary studies corroborated the antimicrobial activity of the selected plants used in folklore medicine. Therefore, they could be potential sources of new antimicrobial agents used in treatment of infectious diseases.
