A MICROBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF MEDICINAL-PLANTS USED BY THE MAYA PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN MEXICO

A microbiological evaluation was conducted on those medicinal plants m ost frequently used to treat gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases by Tzeltal and Tzotzil communities in the highlands of Chiapas. The r esults obtained showed that many of the species induced antimicrobial activity in vitro. The present study allowed selection of three groups of plants with potent effect against gram-positive Staphylococcus aur eus, gram-negative Escherichia coil bacteria and Candida albicans. It was also demonstrated that 63% of the botanical species that showed an timicrobial properties, enhanced (46%) or induced (17%) the effect und er exposure of the plant extracts to UV-A light. In the search for new molecules with therapeutic value, the present screening offers a prel iminary selection of groups of botanical species; within each, there a re several representatives that merit further evaluation as potential antibiotics and photosensitizers.