Antimicrobial Activity of Some Medicinal Herbs to the Treatment of Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous Infections: Preliminary Research

• Published in: Microorganisms (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 2; p. 272
• Main Authors: Noites, Alexandra, Borges, Iara, Araújo, Bruno, da Silva, Joaquim C G Esteves, de Oliveira, Natália M, Machado, Jorge, Pinto, Eugénia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 20.01.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Acne; Antibiotics; Antifungal activity; Antifungal agents; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; Ayurvedic medicine; Azadirachta indica; Bacteria; Bacterial diseases; Chemical properties; Chromatography; Coptis chinensis; E coli; Essential oils; Fungal infections; Fungi; Fungicides; Glycerol; Gram-negative bacteria; Gram-positive bacteria; Herbal medicine; Leptospermum scoparium; Medicinal herbs; Medicinal plants; Medicine, Chinese; Microorganisms; Minimum inhibitory concentration; Neem; Oils & fats; Pharmaceutical research; Public health; Quality control; Seeds; Skin; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus infections; Subculture; superficial infections; Yeast; Yeasts; Portugal; Italy; St Louis Missouri; France; United States > US; Coptis chinensis; superficial infections; antimicrobial activity; Leptospermum scoparium; Azadirachta indica
• ISSN: 2076-2607; 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020272

(1) Background: Superficial, including cutaneous and mucocutaneous infections are a current public health problem with universal distribution. One of the main concerns, in the present/future, is fungal/bacterial infections by resistant microorganisms. This study aimed to verify if decoctions of coptidis ( , Ranunculaceae family), neem ( , Meliaceae family), and their essential oils (EOs), as well as the EO of manuka ( , Myrtaceae family) have antimicrobial activity against prevalent species of microorganisms responsible for superficial infections. (2) Methods: The antimicrobial activity was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), using broth microdilution method, and minimum lethal concentration (MLC) was determined from subculture of MIC plates. (3) Results: EO and decoction demonstrated some antifungal action against the yeasts and dermatophytes tested. Greatest bactericidal effect against and some action against was observed. For only EO proved activity against dermatophytes and . EO showed the broadest antimicrobial spectrum with activity against bacteria, yeasts, and dermatophytes showing greater activity against and . (4) Conclusions: (EO/decoction), EOs of and proved in vitro efficacy against fungal, bacterial, or mixed agents of superficial infections, either by sensitive or resistant strains.