Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical profile from the roots of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown

Abstract

Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown (Verbenaceae) is commonly used in the Brazilian folk medicine to the treatment of gastric illnesses, diarrhea, fever, asthma, and as a tranquilizer. This work evaluated the antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts from the roots of the L. alba using plates-holes diffusion assay and the phytochemical profile. The results obtained showed that the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts presented antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 10031). Terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and sugars were detected in the phytochemical analysis.