Investigation of Copaifera genus as a new source of antimycobaterial agents

Aim: This paper reports on the antimycobacterial activity of the oleoresins and extracts obtained from Copaifera spp. Materials & methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and fractional inhibitory concentration index techniques helped to evaluate the effect of these oleoresins and extracts against six strains of mycobacteria that cause tuberculosis. Results & conclusion: Among the assayed oleoresins and plant extracts, the Copaifera langsdorffii, Copaifera duckei, Copaifera reticulata and Copaifera trapezifolia oleoresins provided the lowest MIC values against some of the tested strains. The combination of Copaifera spp. samples with isoniazid did not evidence any synergistic action. Some Copaifera spp. oleoresins may represent a future source for the discovery of new antimycobacterial drugs due to their low MIC values. Lay abstract: The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the antimycobacterial activity of the oleoresins and extracts obtained from Copaifera spp. against a panel of bacteria capable of causing tuberculosis. After completion of the experiments we concluded that oleoresins are better antimicrobial agents than extracts against evaluated bacteria and may represent a future source for the discovery of new antimycobacterial drugs.