Potencial antimicrobiano e citotoxicidade do óleo essencial de Lippia insignis Moldenke

Abstract

The use of essential oils and plant extracts has been considered as an alternative to conventional drugs to combat infectious agents, mainly due to the increase in antimicrobial resistance. The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of L. Insignis against Escherichia coli (CCMB261), Staphylococcus aureus (CCMB263), Salmonella sp. (CCMB281) and Bacillus cereus (CCMB 282). The minimal inhibitory activity (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of essential oils from leaves (OEF) and from inflorescences (OEI) of L. insignis were evaluated. In addition, the toxicity of the oils was tested on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In the MIC and CBM of 2.5 mg/mL. OEF had no antimicrobial effect. There was no cytotoxicity of OEI at the concentration of 1.0 mg/mL (90.7% of cell viability); concentrations of 2.0 mg/mL and 3.0 mg/mL were mildly cytotoxic (84.7% and 77.3% viability, respectively). All concentrations of OEF showed some degree of cytotoxicity. The use of essential oil from Lippia insignis inflorescences may be a viable alternative in the treatment of diseases caused by Bacillus cereus