Antibiotic potentiating activity of Casearia javitensis Kunth (Salicaceae)
José Thyálisson da Costa Silva1, Adrielle Rodrigues Costa2, Damiana Gonçalves de Sousa Freitas1, Guilherme Fernandes Teixeira1, Paula Patrícia Marques Cordeiro1, Maria Érika de Oliveira Silva3, Dieferson Leandro de Souza1, Daiany Alves Ribeiro2, João Arthur de Oliveira Borges1, Severino Denicio Gonçalves de Sousa4, Flávio Silva Tampelini4, Rafael de Carvalho Mendes5, Maria Hellena Garcia Novais2, Luís Pereira-de-Morais1, Sabrina Bezerra da Silva1, Talysson Felismino Moura1, Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho1, José Weverton Almeida-Bezerra1*
1 Regional University of Cariri, Crato – CE, Brazil.
2 Federal University of Cariri – Crato – CE, Brazil.
3 Dr. Lea o Sampaio University Center, Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil.
4 Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiaba – MT, Brazil.
5 Esta cio School of Medicine in Juazeiro do Norte – Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil.
*Corresponding Author: Prof. Dr. Jose Weverton Almeida-Bezerra, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, 63105-000, Crato, CE, Brazil.
https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAMB.2025.06.001
Received: December 10, 2024
Published: January 30, 2025
Citation: Silva JTC, Costa AR, Freitas DGS, Teixeira GF, Cordeiro PPM, Silva MEO, Souza DL, Ribeiro DA, Borges JAO, Sousa SDG, Tampelini FS, Mendes RC, Novais MHG, Pereira-de-Morais L, Silva SB, Moura TF, Coutinho HDM, Almeida-Bezerra JW. Antibiotic potentiating activity of Casearia javitensis Kunth (Salicaceae). SVOA Microbiology 2025, 6:1, 01-08. doi: 10.58624/SVOAMB.2025.06.001
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a global concern, affecting public health and generating economic and social impacts, which requires global strategies to contain its spread and reduce associated deaths. Medicinal plants demonstrate efficacy against pathogenic microorganisms, offering alternatives in the fight against microbial resistance. As a highlight, Casearia javitensis has antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties of therapeutic relevance to cope with these microorganisms. This research aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of C. javitensis leaves (EECJ), as well as its antibiotic potentiating activity. Leaves of the species were collected, dried, crushed and subjected to extraction using ethanol. For the antimicrobial assays, conventional and multidrug-resistant bacterial (MDR) strains were used. The inhibition capacity was analyzed by means of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), at concentrations from 0.5 to 512 μg/mL. The potentiating activity was evaluated using subinhibitory concentrations of EECJ (MIC/8) in association with the antibiotic’s gentamicin, ampicillin and norfloxacin. The data obtained was submitted to statistical analysis. The results indicated that EECJ did not present isolated antibacterial activity (MIC > 512 μg/mL); however, it has been shown to be effective as an antibiotic enhancer, reducing the MIC of gentamicin, ampicillin, and norfloxacin against the MDR strains of E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa. These findings suggest that ethanolic extract of C. javitensis may be a promising alternative in combination therapies.
Keywords: Ethanolic Extract; Antibacterial; Medicinal Plants; Antimicrobial Resistance.
