Antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts of Lopezia racemosa. (English)

Actividad antimicrobiana en extractos etanólicos de Lopezia racemosa. (Spanish)

The alfilerillo (Lopezia racemosa, Onagraceae) is a short-lived herbaceous plant, reaching up to 1.5 m; pointed leaves and clustered purple-pink flowers with numerous seeds. It is present in much of Mexico, including Michoacán state. In Mexican folk medicine, L. racemosa has been used to relieve stomach and urinary tract conditions, sore throats, skin and mouth infections, among others. Traditionally, to cure these diseases, the leaves are used as an infusion. However, there is little information about the antibacterial activity of L. racemosa, therefore, the objective of this work was to analyze the antibacterial potential of ethanolic extracts of stems, leaves and flowers of the alfilerillo (L. racemosa), on enteropathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri. Antibacterial activity was tested using the well diffusion method. The greatest inhibition halos were observed in the flower extract against S. flexneri (10.81 mm diameter) and in the same way for E. coli (10.83 mm), in both cases with a concentration of 7.5 mg PS (30 µl). A concentration-dependent effect was observed in both strains. With the results obtained, it can be concluded that the ethanolic extracts of the alfilerillo medicinal plant have antibacterial potential against two enteropathogenic strains of humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El alfilerillo (Lopezia racemosa, Onagraceae) es una planta herbácea de vida corta, llega a medir hasta 1.5 metros de alto; hojas puntiagudas y flores agrupadas color rosa-morado, y de semillas numerosas. Está presente en gran parte de México, incluyendo el estado de Michoacán. En la medicina popular mexicana, L. racemosa se ha utilizado para aliviar afecciones estomacales y del tracto urinario, dolor de garganta y anginas, infecciones de piel y boca, entre otras. Tradicionalmente, para curar estas enfermedades se necesita de las hojas que se usan como infusión. Sin embargo, hay poca información acerca de la actividad antibacteriana de L. racemosa, por lo cual, el objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar el potencial antibacteriano de extractos etanólicos de tallos, hojas y flores del alfilerillo (L. racemosa), sobre bacterias enteropatógenas como Escherichia coli y Shigella flexneri. Se analizó la actividad antibacteriana utilizando el método de difusión por pocillo. Los mayores halos de inhibición se observaron en el extracto de flor frente a S. flexneri (10.81 mm diámetro) y de igual manera para E. coli (10.83 mm), en ambos casos con una concentración de 7.5 mg PS (30 µl). Se observó un efecto dependiente de concentración en ambas cepas. Con los resultados obtenidos se puede concluir que los extractos etanólicos de la planta medicinal alfilerillo tiene potencial antibacteriano frente a dos cepas enteropatógenas de humanos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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