Anti-Pathogenic Activity of Herbs Used in Argentinean Traditional Infusion

The anti-pathogenic activity of Acantholippia deserticola, Haplopappus baylahuen, Lippia integrifolia and Satureja parvifolia herbs used as traditional infusion was investigated. The extracts obtained were compared with respect to chromatographic profiles and antimicrobial activities. The dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the four herbs showed significant inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth and biofilm formation. The dichloromethane extract of Lippia integrifolia that showed the highest inhibitory effect on P. aeruginosa biofilm formation, was fractionated by column chromatography using a gradient of polarity, and the activities of the fractions were evaluated. In general, the lower polar fractions inhibited biofilm in correlation with bacterial growth. However, in more polar fractions the biofilm diminution is well correlated with the inhibition of autoinducers production more than the bacterial development. The results provide scientific support for the usage of these herbs to the protection against foodborne diseases. This effect is noteworthy in L. integrifolia because the fractions showed higher growth, biofilm, and autoinducer inhibitory activity than the crude extract.