Abstract
The in vitro antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and molds were examined in extracts of the Agave species A. lecheguilla, A. picta, A. scabra and A. lophanta using an agar diffusion technique. The extracts of A. picta produced zones of inhibition of 9–13 mm for E. coli, L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and V. cholerae, while B. cereus and Y. enterocolitica were not inhibited. The other Agave species did not show any detectable inhibitory activity against the bacteria tested; however, all four Agave sp. were inhibitory against all yeast and molds analyzed as evident by 9–20 mm zones of inhibition. The minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) of the active extract ranged from 1.8 to 7.0 mg/ml for the sensitive bacteria, and 2.0–3.0 mg/ml for yeast. In the case of molds, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the active extracts ranged from 3.0 to 6.0 mg/ml. Together, these data suggest that the Agave sp. analyzed are potential antimicrobial candidates with a broad range of activity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Abdel-Khalik SM, Miyase T, Melek FR et al (2002) New steroidal saponins from Agave lophantha Schiede and their pharmacological evaluation. Pharmazie 57:562–566
Balandrin MF, Klocke JA, Wurtele ES et al (1985) Natural plant chemicals: sources of industrial and medicinal materials. Science 228:1154–1160
Brevoort P (1998) The blooming U.S. botanical market: a new overview. Herbalgram 44:33–46
Conner DE (1993) Naturally occurring compounds. In: Davidson PM, Branen AL (eds) Antimicrobials in foods, 2nd edn. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York
Cox PA, Balick MJ (1994) The ethnobotanical approach to drug discovery. Sci Am June: 82–87
García S, Araiza M, Gómez M, Heredia N (2002) Inhibition of growth, enterotoxin and spore production of Clostridium perfringens by extracts of medicinal plants. J Food Prot 65:1667–1669
Gentry HS (1982) Agaves of continental North America. The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ
Hitokoto H, Morozumi S, Wauke T et al (1980) Inhibitory effects of spices on growth and toxin production of toxigenic fungi. Appl Environ Microbiol 39:812–822
Larone DH (1995) Medically important fungi: a guide to identification. ASM Press, Washington, DC
Payne GF, Bringi V, Prince C et al (1991) Plant cell and tissue culture in liquid systems. Hanser Publication, Munich
Rotimi VO, Laughon BE, Bartlett JG et al (1988) Activities of Nigerian chewing stick extracts against Bacteroides gingivalis and Bacteroides melaninogenicus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 32:5885–5887
Sanchez E, Heredia N, García S (2005) Inhibition of growth and mycotoxin production of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus by extracts of Agave species. Int J Food Microbiol 98:271–279
Todd EC (2001) Epidemiology and globalization of foodborne disease. In: Labbe RG, Gacía S (eds) Guide to foodborne pathogens. Wiley, New York, NY
Verastegui MA, Sánchez-García CA, Heredia, NL et al (1996) Antimicrobial activity of three major plants of the Chihuahuan desert. J Ethnopharmacol 52:175–177
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de México (CONACYT) and by Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. Angeles Verastegui was a CONACYT Fellow.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Verástegui, Á., Verde, J., García, S. et al. Species of Agave with antimicrobial activity against selected pathogenic bacteria and fungi. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 24, 1249–1252 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-007-9563-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-007-9563-8