STUDIES ON THE CYTOTOXICITY, ANTIMICROBIAL AND DNA-BINDING ACTIVITIESOF PLANTS USED BY THE ESEEJAS

Thirty-nine extracts of 13 plants used traditionally as medicinal by t he Ese'ejas were studied in order to determine their cytotoxic effect in the brine shrimp. Infusions showed no toxicity. Those plants that t ested positive for methanolic and dichloromethane extracts were assaye d for DNA-binding activity. Cytotoxicity was not due to the presence o f compounds that interact with DNA. Antimicrobial activity of plants u sed to treat infectious diseases was also performed for the decoctions . These proved to be active against some of the test microrganisms use d in the assay.