IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF THE EXTRACT OF Abarema cochliacarpos (GOMES) BARNEBY & J.W. GRIMES AGAINST BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM SKIN WOUNDS IN DOGS

Abstract Abarema cochliacarpos is a native species of Brazil, it belongs to the family Leguminosae - Mimosoidae, and it has been long used in folk medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of cyclohexane, acetone, and ethanol extracts of the bark of Abarema cochliacarpos (Gomes) Barneby & JW Grimes against bacteria isolated from skin wounds in dogs. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was determined by the diffusion method on solid medium while the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration was determined in microplates. Aliquots of the wells without bacterial growth after 24 hours of incubation at 35-37 oC were added to plates with culture medium to determine Minimum Bactericidal Concentration. The phytochemical analysis of the plant showed positive results for alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins (condensed), terpenes and steroids. The isolated bacteria were: Staphylococcus intermedius, Bacillus sp., Pasteurella sp., and Escherichia coli. In vitro assays of the extracts of the bark of Abarema cochliacarpos showed inhibition against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus intermedius and Bacillus sp. concentrations tested (100, 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.25 mg / mL) except for the cyclohexane extract that showed no inhibition at concentrations of 6.25 and 12.5 mg / mL against Staphylococcus intermedius. There were no zones of inhibition against the Gram-negative bacteria Pasteurella sp. and Escherichia coli. We concluded that the cyclohexane, acetone, and ethanol extracts of the bark of Abarema cochliacarpos showed antibacterial activity for most tested concentrations against the strains Gram-positive Staphylococcus intermedius and Bacillus sp. isolated from skin wounds in dogs. Keywords: Abarema cochliacarpos; antibacterial action; Mimosoidae; phytochemical; tannins