Phytochemical Profile and Modifying Potential of Erythroxylum rosuliferum O.E. Schulz (Erythroxylaceae) Extract on Antibiotic Activity
José Thyálisson da Costa Silva1, Julimery Gonçalves Ferreira Macedo1, Jailson Renato de Lima Silva2, Carlos Alonso Leite dos Santos3, Olívia Caroline Maia de Moura3, Rafael de Carvalho Mendes4, Yedda Maria Lobo Soares de Matos1, Luiz Neldecilio Alves Vitor3, Jaceilton Alves de Melo5, Maria Elizete Machado Generino1, Ademar Maia Filho1, Janaína de Souza Bezerra6, Luciene Ferreira de Lima1, Rebeca Azevedo de Lima Madeira4, Damiana Gonçalves de Sousa Freitas1, Jefferson de Sales Diodato6, José Weverton Almeida-Bezerra1*, Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho1, Adrielle Rodrigues Costa1
1Regional University of Cariri, Crato – CE, Brazil.
2Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife - PE, Brazil.
3Federal University of Cariri, Crato - CE, Brazil.
4Medical School of the University of Juazeiro do Norte, Juazeiro do Norte - CE, Brazil.
5Department of Education, Crato - CE, Brazil. 6Doctor Lea o Sampaio University Center, 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.2025.06.010
Received: April 07, 2025
Published: May 12, 2025
Citation: da Costa Silva JT, Macedo J GF, de Lima Silva JR, dos Santos CAL, de Moura OCM, de Carvalho Mendes R, Lobo Soares de Matos YM, Alves Vitor LN, Alves de Melo J, Machado Generino ME, Maia Filho A, de Souza Bezerra J, Ferreira de Lima L, Azevedo de Lima Madeira R, Gonçalves de Sousa Freitas D, de Sales Diodato J, Almeida-Bezerra JW, Melo Coutinho HD, Rodrigues Costa A. Phytochemical Profile and Modifying Potential of Erythroxylum rosuliferum O.E. Schulz (Erythroxylaceae) Extract on Antibiotic Activity. SVOA Microbiology 2025, 6:3, 77-84. doi:10.58624/SVOAMB.2025.06.010
Abstract
The growing bacterial resistance represents a global challenge, making it necessary to search for new therapeutic approaches, such as the use of medicinal plant extracts, to combat resistant microorganisms. Among these species, Erythroxylum rosuliferum O.E. Schulz has stood out due to the promising potential of the Erythroxylum genus, known for its diverse bioactivity. In this context, this study aimed to qualitatively analyze the phytochemistry of the extract, as well as investigate the antibacterial activity and the synergistic effect of the ethanolic extract of Erythroxylum rosuliferum leaves (EEER) in combination with antibiotics. For this purpose, the collected leaves were dehydrated, ground, and subjected to ethanolic extraction to obtain the extract, followed by phytochemical analysis of the classes present in the extract. The antibacterial activity of EEER was evaluated using standard and multidrug-resistant bacterial strains through the broth microdilution test to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Additionally, antibiotic modulation was analyzed by combining the extract with gentamicin, ampicillin, and norfloxacin at subinhibitory concentrations (MIC/8), and the results were subjected to statistical analysis. The findings indicated the presence of active compounds such as flavabenoid tannins, flavonoids, xanthones, and chalcones in EEER. The antibacterial evaluation did not show significant effects (MIC > 512 μg/mL) against the tested strains. However, when combined with antibiotics, a potentiating effect was observed, significantly reducing the MIC of drugs like gentamicin, ampicillin, and norfloxacin against multidrug-resistant strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These results suggest that the ethanolic extract of E. rosuliferum may contribute to combined therapeutic strategies, representing a promising alternative in combating bacterial resistance.
Keywords: Combination therapy, Antibacterial, Bandeirinha.
