J Ethnopharmacol. 1995 Jul; 47(2): 97-100.

Antibacterial activity and phytochemical analysis of Vochysia divergens (Vochysiaceae).

Hess SC, Brum RL, Honda NK, Cruz AB, Moretto E, Cruz RB, Messana I, Ferrari F, Cechinel Filho V, Yunes RA.

Departamento de CiÃªncias do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, CorumbÃ¡, Brazil.

Vochysia divergens Pohl (Vochysiaceae) is a tree commonly found in wet soils of 'Pantanal' of Mato Grosso, Brazil, and used in folk medicine against infections and asthma. We have studied different extracts and some isolated compounds from this plant for antibacterial activity. From the extracts of the stem bark beta-sitosterol, betulinic acid and sericic acid were isolated. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Staphylococcus aureus were: ethanolic extract (MIC = 1.5 mg/ml); ethyl acetate extract (MIC = 2.0 mg/ml); and sericic acid (MIC = 1.0 mg/ml). Escherichia coli was resistant until 5 mg/ml.