PLANTS USED IN GUATEMALA FOR THE TREATMENT OF PROTOZOAL INFECTIONS - I - SCREENING OF ACTIVITY TO BACTERIA, FUNGI AND AMERICAN TRYPANOSOMESOF 13 NATIVE PLANTS

Extracts were prepared from 13 native plants used for the treatment of protozoal infections. Activity against bacteria and fungi was demonst rated by dilution procedures; Trypanosoma cruzi was evaluated in vitro against epimastigote and trypomastigotes and in vivo against trypomas tigotes. In active extracts, toxicity was evaluated by Artemia salina nauplii, oral acute toxicity (1-5 g/kg) and oral and intraperitoneal s ubacute toxicity in mice (500 mg/kg). From the plants screened, six sh owed activity(less than or equal to 2 mg/ml) against bacteria, three a gainst yeasts, five against Microsporum gypseum and five against T. cr uzi in vitro and/or in vivo. In vitro and in vivo activity was demonst rated by Neurolaena lobata and Solanum americanum; in vitro or in vivo activity was shown by Acalypha guatemalensis, Petiveria alliacea and Tridax procumbens. Toxicity studies showed that extracts from S. ameri canum are toxic to A. salina (aqueous, 160 ppm). None showed acute or oral toxicity to mice; S. americanum showed intraperitoneal subacute t oxicity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.