In vitro antimicrobial activity and polyphenolics content of tender and mature Ebenopsis ebano seeds Gomez-Flores Ricardo1,*, Gracia-Vásquez Yolanda2, Alanís-Guzmán María G.3, Tamez-Guerra Patricia1, Tamez-Guerra Reyes1, García-Díaz Carlos3, Monreal-Cuevas Enriqueta1, Rodríguez-Padilla Cristina1 1Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Laboratorio de Inmunología y Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, México. 2Laboratorio de Investigación en Ciencias de los Alimentos y Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, México. 3Departamento de Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, México. *Corresponding author: Dr. Ricardo Gomez-Flores, Rio Guadalquivir 401B-Ote., Colônia del Valle, San Pedro Garza Garcia, N.L., C.P. 66220, Mexico. E-mail: rgomez60@hotmail.com
Abstract Ebenopsis ebano seeds are traditionally used as a coffee substitute, but their biological potential has not been validated yet. We evaluated antimicrobial activity of tender and mature seed extracts against the clinically relevant strains Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica var. thyphimurium, and Candida albicans, and determined the phenolics present in the extracts. Treatment groups included raw tender seeds (T1), cooked tender seeds (T2), raw mature seeds (T3), toasted mature seeds (T4), and commercially available mature seeds (T5). We observed significant (p < 0.05) growth inhibition of aqueous extracts vs. E. coli (up to 32%) and vs. S. enterica (up to 25%). Similarly, significant (p < 0.05) growth inhibition of methanol extracts vs. E. coli (up to 30%), vs. S. enterica (up to 20%), and vs. C. albicans (up to 84%) were observed. In addition, we observed differential levels of gallic acid, cafeic acid, and quercetin in aqueous and methanol E. ebano seed extracts, which varied within the treatments (T1–T5). Commercially available seeds (T5) were observed to possess the highest amount of polyphenolics. Differences in polyphenolic levels observed in the treatment groups were not related to the antimicrobial activity or maturity state of the seeds. Top Keywords Ebenopsis ebano seeds, leguminosae, antibiotic activity, bacteria, fungi, polyphenolics. Top |