Estudio de la Actividad Antibacteriana y Tóxica del Kuiship (Jacaranda Copaia)

This is an investigation that assesses the antibacterial activity against native gram positive and gram negative pathogens and evaluates the toxicity against Artemia salina in extracts from the leaves of Kuiship (Jacaranda copaia (Aubl.) D. Don). First, three Uhi Shñu (wise men) were interviewed to determine previous medicinal uses. Next, plant material was collected in the Capirona Community and the ethereal, ethanolic and aqueous extract of J. copaia leaves was obtained. Phytochemical screening and antibiograms were performed and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined on native bacteria that showed sensitivity to the extracts in agar diffusion assays. Finally, an in vitro bioassay was performed with Artemia salina to determine the toxicity of J. copaia extracts. The following were identified as secondary metabolites: oils and fats, triterpene-steroids, catechins, saponins, reducing sugars, alkaloids, quinones, tannins and bitter principles. In the antibacterial assays, the sensitive strains were: S. aureus against the ethereal extract and E. coli against the aqueous extract of J. copaia; the MIC was determined for these two native bacteria. In the bioassay with A. salina, the ethereal and ethanolic extracts of J. copaia showed moderate toxicity at a concentration of 1000 ppm.