Antibacterial activity of Cordia dentata Poir, Heliotropium indicum Linn and Momordica charantia Linn from the Northern Colombian Coast

Abstract

Cordia dendata Poir, Heliotropium indicum Linn and Momordica charantia Linn are used for treatment of the most common human diseases and health disorders in folk medicine of the population from the northern Colombian coast. In this study, chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the ethanol extract and fractions from C. dentata, H. indicum and M. charantia were investigated. The chemical constituents of qualitative detection were examined by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The antibacterial activity was determined by agar gel diffusion and broth microdilution method. The main identified compounds were flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins and coumarins. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 31.25 to 1000 g/mL for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. These results indicated that ethanol extract and fractions from C. dentata, H. indicum and M. charantia significantly inhibited the growth of standard strains. Potent antibacterial activities of C. dentata, H. indicum and M. charantia may be considered in future study, particularly against antibiotic-resistant cases.