Bioactivity of extracts from Alpinia zerumbet against sinusitis-causing bacterial pathogens

• Autor(a) principal: Costa, Grasiela Merícia
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Outros Autores: Suga, Rodrigo, Oliveira, Patrícia, Silva, Fernando César, Magalhães, Paula, Duarte, Lucienir, Farias, Luiz Macedo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Fitos
• Texto Completo: https://revistafitos.far.fiocruz.br/index.php/revista-fitos/article/view/255
• topic: Plantas medicinais

Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. is indicated in Brazilian traditional medicine to treat rheumatism, headache and sinusitis. To evaluate the effect of extracts and fractions of flowers from Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. in order to provide a scientific rationale for the use of the plant for the treatment of sinusitis, this study was realized. The extracts and fractions were prepared and analyzed by phytochemical investigation. Antibacterial activity against 12 bacterial pathogens associated with sinusitis was evaluated by employing an agar dilution method. The hexane fraction showed the broader activity spectrum inhibiting 10 out of the 12 tested bacteria specially Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Fusobacterium necrophorum. The lower MIC value was observed for the ethyl acetate fraction against Streptococcus pneumoniae (32 µgµL-1). All extracts and fractions tested expressed activity against Prevotella intermedia. On the other hand, none of them exhibited antibacterial effect against Streptococcus agalactiae. The solution used in Brazilian traditional medicine showed inhibitory activity against microorganisms isolated from acute and chronic sinusitis patients. This study demonstrates the promising antibacterial activity of Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. against bacteria responsible for acute and chronic sinusitis and validates its use for the first time.