Antibacterial potential of northeastern Portugal wild plant extracts and respective phenolic compounds

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:814590. doi: 10.1155/2014/814590. Epub 2014 Apr 8.

Abstract

The present work aims to assess the antibacterial potential of phenolic extracts, recovered from plants obtained on the North East of Portugal, and of their phenolic compounds (ellagic, caffeic, and gallic acids, quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin), against bacteria commonly found on skin infections. The disk diffusion and the susceptibility assays were used to identify the most active extracts and phenolic compounds. The effect of selected phenolic compounds on animal cells was assessed by determination of cellular metabolic activity. Gallic acid had a higher activity, against gram-positive (S. epidermidis and S. aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (K. pneumoniae) at lower concentrations, than the other compounds. The caffeic acid, also, showed good antibacterial activity against the 3 bacteria used. The gallic acid was effective against the 3 bacteria without causing harm to the animal cells. Gallic and caffeic acid showed a promising applicability as antibacterial agents for the treatment of infected wounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Caffeic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Caffeic Acids / chemistry
  • Gallic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Gallic Acid / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Phenol / administration & dosage
  • Phenol / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Portugal
  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections / drug therapy*
  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections / pathology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Caffeic Acids
  • Plant Extracts
  • Phenol
  • Gallic Acid
  • caffeic acid