J Ethnopharmacol. 2001 Sep; 77(1): 37-40.

Antimicrobial activity of Argentine plants used in the treatment of infectious diseases. Isolation of active compounds from Sebastiania brasiliensis.

Penna C, Marino S, Vivot E, CruaÃ±es MC, de D MuÃ±oz J, CruaÃ±es J, Ferraro G, Gutkind G, Martino V.

CÃ¡tedra de MicrobiologÃa, Facultad de Farmacia y BioquÃmica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, JunÃn 956 (1113), Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Different extracts of Sebastiania brasiliensis, Sebastiania klotszchiana, Polygonum punctatum, Lithraea molleoides and Myrcianthes cisplatensis, all plants growing in Entre RÃos Province and traditionally used as antiseptics, were tested against a set of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and fungi. All the species, with the exception of M. cisplatensis, presented activity against some of the microorganisms tested. A 50% hydroalcoholic extract of S. brasiliensis was selected for bioguided fractionation. Two antimicrobial compounds identified as methylgallate (MIC 128 microg/ml) and protocatechuic acid (MIC 128 microg/ml) were isolated apart from quercetin, kaempferol, quercitrin and gallic acid.