Exploring the biological activities of Echeveria leucotricha

• Published in: Natural product research Vol. 27; no. 12; pp. 1123 - 1126
• Main Authors: Martínez Ruiz, María G., Gómez-Velasco, Anaximandro, Juárez, Zaida N., Hernández, Luis R., Bach, Horacio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 01.06.2013
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Antiparasitic Agents - pharmacology; Cells, Cultured; Crassulaceae; Crassulaceae - chemistry; cytotoxicity; Echeveria leucotricha; Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Positive Bacteria - drug effects; Humans; Leishmania donovani; Leishmania donovani - drug effects; macrophages; Macrophages - drug effects; Medicine, Traditional; Mexico; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Mexico
• ISSN: 1478-6419; 1478-6427
• DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2012.708662

Echeveria leucotricha J. A. Purpus (Crassulaceae) was evaluated for its potential antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. Aerial parts were extracted with hexane, methanol and chloroform, and fractionated accordingly. Biological activity was assessed in vitro against five Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria, four human pathogenic fungi and the protozoan Leishmania donovani. Extracts and fractions showing bioactivities were further investigated for their cytotoxic activities on macrophages. Results show that several extracts and fractions exhibited significant antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic activities, but no anti-inflammatory activity was recorded. Here, we report for the first time, and to the best of our knowledge, these bioactivities, which suggest that this plant can be used in the traditional Mexican medicine.