Disinfectant activities of extracts and metabolites from Baccharis dracunculifolia DC

The concern regarding the harm caused by biocides to human health has been increasing over the years, making the natural products an alternative to less toxic and more efficient biocides. Therefore, this paper reports the investigation of the disinfectant potential of extracts and isolated compounds from Baccharis dracunculifolia. For this purpose, extracts of aerial parts (BD-C), tricomial wash (BD-L) and roots (BD-R) of B. dracunculifolia were obtained by maceration. The extracts were submitted to different chromatographic techniques, including high-speedy countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) furnishing nine isolated compounds. The extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated regarding their antimicrobial activity by the broth microdilution method, according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, and regarding their sanitizing activity according to Standard Operating Procedure No. 65 center dot 3210 center dot 007 (INCQS, 2011), developed by the National Institute for Quality Control in Health (INCQS) - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ). In the antimicrobial evaluation the BD-C extract showed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 200 and 100 mu g/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and Tricophyton mentagrophytes, respectively. BD-L extract showed MIC value of 200 mu g/ml against S. aureus. The isolated compounds caffeic acid (MBC 2 center dot 22 mu mol l(-1)), ferulic acid (MBC 2 center dot 06 mu mol l(-1)) and baccharin (MBC 0 center dot 27 mu mol l(-1)) showed significant inhibitory activity against S. aureus. All B. dracunculifolia isolated compounds were active with exception of aromadrendin-4 '-O-methyl-ether for T. mentagrophytes. Additionally, isosakuranetin was active against Salmonella choleraesuis (MIC 1 center dot 4 mu mol l(-1)). Regarding the sanitizing activity, the hydroalcoholic solution containing 0 center dot 2% of B. dracunculifolia extract in 40 degrees GL ethanol was effective in eliminating the microbial contamination on all carrier cylinders and against all microorganisms evaluated in the recommended exposure time of 10 min. Therefore, B. dracunculifolia has potential for the development of sanitizing agents to be used in hospitals, food manufactures and homes.