Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Research Article

Which Approach Is More Effective in the Selection of Plants with Antimicrobial Activity?

Table 1

Antimicrobial activity of herbaceous plants from the semiarid region, Northeast of Brazil, based on random, direct, and indirect ethnopharmacological approaches. (Inhibition halum in mm).
Species . mg/mLSaSeSsBsEfEcKpPaCaCkCt
Random approach            
 Astraea lobata (L.) Klotzsch100
50		———————————
 Blainvillea acmella (L.) Philipson100
50		23
18		20
13		20
16		22
20		———————
 Centratherum punctatum Cass.100
50		30
25		20
17		22
14		21
16		22
14		——————
 Croton hirtus L'Hér.100
50		———————————
 Cyperus uncinulatus Schrad. ex. Nees 100
50		———————————
 Delilia biflora (L.) Kuntze100
50		———————————
 Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.100
50		7
 		——————————
 Euphorbia heterophylla L.100
50		———————————
 Lepidium ruderale L.100
50		———————————
 Melanthera latifolia (Gardner) Cabr.100
50		———————————
 Mollugo verticillata L. 100
50		———————————
 Parthenium hysterophorus L.100
50		9
 		10
 		7
7		9
 		———————
 Ruellia asperula (Mart. & Nees) Benth. & Hook.100
50		10——————————
 Ruellia geminiflora Kunth100
50		———8
 		———————
 Sida urens L.100
50		20
20		20
20		18
15		————————
 Spermacoce verticillata L.100
50		10
10		8
6		10
7		—6
 		——————
 Stylosanthes scabra Vogel100
50		8
8		——————————
 Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd.100
50		———————————
 Species 1 (Malvaceae) ————————303030
Indirect ethnopharmacological approach            
 Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze100
50		———————————
 Alternanthera tenella Colla100
50		———————————
 Commelina erecta L.100
50		———————————
 Commelina obliqua Vahl 100
50		———————————
 Hypenia brachystachys (Pohl ex Benth.) Harley 100
50		———————————
 Hypenia salzmannii (Benth.) Harley100
50		14
12		—12
12		11
9		———————
 Polygala paniculata L.100
50		———————————
 Polygala violacea Aubl.100
50		———————————
 Portulaca elatior Mart. ex Rohrb.100
50		———————————
 Portulaca oleracea L.100
50		———————————
 Solanum agrarium Sendtn.100
50		———————————
 Solanum americanum Mill.100
50		———————————
 Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L.100
50		17
15		18
17		18
16		13
13		15
11		——————
 Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L.100
50		———————————
Direct ethnopharmacological approach            
 Acalypha multicaulis Mull. Arg100
50		12
10		10
10		10
8		————————
 Acanthospermum hispidum DC.100
50		22
20		19
15		19
15		17
15		———————
 Ageratum conyzoides L.100
50		———————————
 Aosa rupestris Gardner100
50		———————————
 Argemone mexicana L. 100
50		8
7		7
7		7
7		——————15
15		—
 Boerhavia diffusa L.100
50		———————————
 Euphorbia hyssopifolia L.100
50		20
16		16
13		18
15		19
16		6
0		——————
 Conocliniopsis prasiifolia (DC.) R.M. King & H. Rob.100
50		———————————
 Heliotropium indicum L.100
50		———————————
 Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.100
50		18
16		15
13		18
16		15
12		———————
 Indigofera suffruticosa Mill.100
50		30
30		22
22		22
20		—30
30		——————
 Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br.6100
50		14
13		——————————
 Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H. Raven100
50		13
11		13
12		——————15
15		13
12		13
12
 Melochia tomentosa L.100
50		10
10		14
11		8
7		8
7		11
10		——————
 Momordica charantia L. 100
50		20
17		15
15		15
14		18
15		18
15		——————
 Physalis angulata L.100
50		———————————
 Rhaphiodon echinus Schauer 100
50		———————————
 Richardia grandiflora (Cham. & Schltdl.) Steud. 100
50		———————————
 Scoparia dulcis L.100
50		12
12		——12
12		———————
 Waltheria indica L.100
50		———————————
: concentration; Sa: Staphylococcus aureus; Se: S. epidermidis; Ss: S. saprophyticus; Bs: Bacillus subtilis; Ef: Enterococcus faecalis; Ec: Escherichia coli; Pa: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kp: Klebsiella pneumonia; Ca: Candida albicans; Ck: C. krusei e; Ct: C. tropicalis; —: no inhibition.