Do conhecimento popular à evidência científica: atividade antimicrobiana de extratos aquosos de Stryphnodendron adstringens (barbatimão) e Schinus terebinthifolia (aroeira-vermelha) contra Staphylococcus aureus e Candida albicans

Abstract

The increasing microbial resistance, resulting from both natural mechanisms and the excessive and inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents, represents one of the greatest threats to global public health. Given the scarcity of new antimicrobials available for clinical use, the search for alternative therapeutic approaches has become increasingly necessary, with natural products representing a potential source of compounds with antimicrobial activity. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate, using different diffusion techniques, the antimicrobial activity of aqueous extracts of Stryphnodendron adstringens (barbatimão) and Schinus terebinthifolia (Brazilian pepper tree) against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Aqueous extracts were obtained by decoction from leaves and bark. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the agar disc diffusion and agar well diffusion methods, employing both fresh extracts and extracts stored under refrigeration for 12 days. The results demonstrated antimicrobial activity of S. adstringens extracts against S. aureus in both methods, with the dried leaf extract showing the largest inhibition zones, although a reduction in antimicrobial activity was observed after storage. In contrast, S. terebinthifolia showed inhibition halos against both microorganisms only for the aqueous extract obtained from the dried bark. The differences observed among the extracts and methodologies suggest the influence of factors such as the plant part used, drying, and storage. However, both plant species exhibited antimicrobial activity against the strains evaluated, supporting their traditional use.