EFFECTS OF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT FROM AROEIRA LEAVES (SCHINUS TEREBINTHIFOLIUS RADDI) ON THE IN VITRO GROWTH OF CORYNEBACTERIUM PSEUDOTUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

Plants produce molecules such as terpenes, lectins and alkaloids that exert anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis in goats and sheep. The prevalence of this infection is high in northeastern of Brazil. The present study evaluated the effects of a methanolic extract from the leaves of the aroeira plant ( Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi ) on the in vivo growth of virulent and attenuated strains of this bacillus. The extract was tested at concentrations of 2000, 1500, 1000, 500, 250, 100 and 10 µg/dL for 48 hours. The first four concentrations inhibited bacterial growth, producing halos of decreasing diameters. No antibacterial effect was found with the remaining concentrations. These results show that bacterial growth was inhibited by an extract of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi at the aforementioned concentrations.