Abstract
The antibacterial potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of Mauritia flexuosa leaves was evaluated against gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 25524) and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633; Gram negative Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Salmonella typhi ATCC 11011. Control group (erythromycin) was used, the biological material used was 500g of leaves; placed in an amber bottle with 500mL of 96° alcohol at rest for 15 days under constant agitation; concentrations of 20, 50 and 80mg/ml were prepared. Phytochemical screening was carried out to identify its secondary metabolites, 18 plates were prepared with Muller Hinton agar culture medium, adding 1ml of standardized inoculum at a 0.5 McFarland scale, the diffusion method was used, making 4 holes of 5mm each, 3 of them with concentrations of the extract and one with a control group (erythromycin), leaving it to stand for 24 to 48 hours at 37°C in the incubator, the inhibition halo was measured in mm using a digital vernier. The results show that the extract of Mauritia flexuosa presented high antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria, at a concentration of 50 and 80 mg/ml, observing a greater diameter of the inhibition halo than that caused by the control; and in gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi) there was greater inhibition at a concentration of 80 mg/ml.
