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Planta Med 2012; 78(2): 200-205
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1280316
Biological Screening
Letters
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Chilean Plants Traditionally Used for Wound Healing Therapy against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Jes Gitz Holler1 , Karen Søndergaard1 , Hans-Christian Slotved2 , Alfonso Gúzman1 , Per Mølgaard1
  • 1Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 2Department of Microbiological Surveillance and Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
Further Information

Publication History

received July 19, 2011 revised September 30, 2011

accepted October 6, 2011

Publication Date:
14 November 2011 (online)

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Abstract

Anti-staphylococcal activity of Chilean medicinal plants traditionally used by the Huilliche people for wound healing therapy was evaluated against nine Staphylococcus aureus strains. Three extracts of 26 plant samples (20 species) were evaluated by agar overlay bioautography and MIC determination. Total phenolics and tannins were determined, and the antibacterial contribution of the latter was evaluated. The diffusion assay showed that 17 species were active against susceptible S. aureus and that 15 species were active against resistant S. aureus. Removal of tannins from extracts rendered only six species active. MIC-determination showed that 20 extracts had antibacterial activity on all eight strains, and the most potent MIC value was 64 µg/mL. Remarkably, 37 extracts were active against the otherwise multidrug-resistant vanthida strain. Our findings support the wound healing properties of Huilliche medicinal plants and the hypothesis that these plants are promising sources of potential anti-staphylococcal agents towards multidrug-resistant strains.

Key words

wound healing - antimicrobial - Staphylococcus aureus - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus - tannins

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Jes Gitz Holler

Department of Medicinal Chemistry
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

Universitetsparken 2

2100 Copenhagen

Denmark

Phone: +45 41 59 37 32

Fax: +45 35 33 60 41

Email: jgh@farma.ku.dk

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