Antimicrobial activity of plants used in the prevention and control of bovine mastitis in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Based on informal interview, ethnoveterinary information about plants used in the prevention and control of bovine mastitis in Southern Brazil were obtained. Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Ktze. ("penicilina"), Foeniculum vulgare Mill ("funcho"), Aloe arborescens Mill. ("babosa"), Achillea millefolium L. ("mil-em-rama"), Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. ("carqueja"), Solidago chilensis Meyer ("lanceta"), Symphythum officinale L. ("confrei"), Sambucus nigra L. ("sabugueiro"), Chenopodium ambrosioides Linn. ("erva Santa Maria"), Mentha sp. ("hortelã"), Ocimum basilicum L. ("alfavaca"), Parapiptadenia rigida (Benth.) Brean ("angico-vermelho"), Allium sativum L. (alho), Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) Macbr. ("sete-sangrias"), Sida rhombifolia L. ("guanxuma"), Phytolacca dioica L. ("umbu") and Solanum mauritianum Scop ("fumeiro-brabo") were cited as helpful. In order to validate the traditional practice, the decoctions obtained with the plants were analyzed for the in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella choleraesuis by the agar dilution method. Alternanthera brasiliana, Achillea millefolium, Baccharis trimera and Solidago chilensis extracts where active against S. aureus while Symphythum officinale, Sambucus nigra, Mentha sp., Ocimum basilicum, Parapiptadenia rigida and Cuphea carthagenensis extracts were active against both microorganisms. For all the cited species, scientific data were reviewed aiming to establish a correlation between popular use and biological properties. The data found in literature for several of these plants could justify the use in the bovine mastitis treatment for antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities.