Identification of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds of Lippia species by bioautography

J Med Food. 2011 Jul-Aug;14(7-8):840-6. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2010.0141. Epub 2011 Apr 10.

Abstract

The methanolic extracts of the leaves of Lippia species (L. pseudo-thea, L. hermannioides, L. alba, L. rubella, and L. sidoides) were tested for their antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activity. Cytotoxicity was determined by using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Phytochemical screening was also performed. The extracts showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 78 to 5000 μg/mL for antibacterial activity against at least 2 species of bacteria, although none was active against Escherichia coli. Antifungal activity was found only for L. pseudo-thea (MIC, 625 μg/mL for Candida albicans) and L. sidoides (MIC, 625 μg/mL for both C. albicans and C. neoformans). The bioautography showed that flavonoids and coumarins are responsible for the antioxidant activity of the extracts and that the antimicrobial properties are due to flavonoids and terpenoids. The cytotoxic activity was stronger for L rubella extract. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the biological and chemical constituents of L. pseudo-thea, L. hermannioides, and L. rubella.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Artemia
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Lippia / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Plant Extracts