Antibacterial and cytotoxic properties of some plant crude extracts used in Northeastern folk medicine

In the present study, 32 hexane and ethanol extracts of Protium bahianum, R heptaphyllum, Croton sellowii, C. rhamnifolius, C. jacobinensis, C. micans and Muntingia calabura were screened for antibacterial activity by the disc-diffusion method. Cytotoxicity assays using the brine shrimp Artemia salina Leach as a model were performed to determine lethal doses for 50% of individuals (LC50 mu g/mL). Antibacterial activity was found in flowers hexane extracts of M. calabura against B. subtilis, and leaves ethanol extracts against S. aureus and B. subtilis at concentration of 1mg/mL. Among 32 extracts, 19 showed low or no toxicity (LC50 > 250 mu g/mL), 6 showed moderate toxicity (LC50 between 80 mu g/mL and 250 mu g/mL), and 7 were highly toxic (LC50 < 80 mu g/mL).