%0 Journal Article
%T Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of <i>Anacardium occidentale</i> L. Flowers in Comparison to Bark and Leaves Extracts
%A Rubenice Amaral da Silva
%A Silvana Amado Liberio
%A Flavia M. M. do Amaral
%A Flavia Raquel Fernandes do Nascimento
%A Luce Maria Brand£¿o Torres
%A Val¨¦rio Monteiro Neto
%A Rosane Nassar Meireles Guerra
%J Journal of Biosciences and Medicines
%P 87-99
%@ 2327-509X
%D 2016
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/jbm.2016.44012
%X <i>Anacardium</i> <i>occidentale</i> L<i>.</i>, Anacardiaceae, is frequently used
to treat infections. We evaluated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of
extracts obtained from aerial parts of the plant in comparison with the extract
prepared with the flowers. Ethanol extracts of the leaves (EEL), stem bark (EEB),
and flowers (EEF) were prepared separately. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated
by agar diffusion and broth dilution methods. The minimum bactericidal and fungicidal
concentrations were determined against: <i>Streptococcus</i> <i>mutans</i>, <i>Lactobacillus</i> <i>acidophilus</i>, <i>Staphylococcus</i> <i>aureus</i>, MRSA, <i>Enterococcus</i> <i>faecalis</i>, <i>Streptococcus</i> <i>pyogenes</i>, <i>Pseudomonas</i> <i>aeruginosa</i>, <i>Proteus</i> <i>mirabilis</i>, <i>Escherichia</i> <i>coli</i>, <i>Klebsiella</i> <i>pneumoniae</i>, <i>Helicobacter</i> <i>pylori</i>, <i>Salmonella</i> <i>choleraesuis</i>, <i>Candida</i> <i>albicans</i>, and <i>Candida</i> <i>tropicalis</i>. The antioxidant activity of the
extracts was evaluated based on their scavenger capacity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyle.
The phytochemical profile was analyzed by colorimetric methods and by HPLC with
UV detection. All extracts exhibited antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Although,
the EEF was the most effective since it inhibited the growth of all 14 microorganisms
tested. Anacardic and galic acids were identified in all extracts as well phenolic
compounds, triterpenes, flavones and xanthones. In conclusion, the extracts obtained
from the aerial parts of <i>A.</i> <i>occidentale</i>, mainly the extract of flowers
that was the most effective, are rich in bioactive metabolites that exert a potent
antioxidant and antimicrobial effect. Taken together, the results indicate an important
biotechnological potential of <i>A.</i> <i>occidentale</i> as a source of compounds with
broad-spectrum antimicrobial and of antioxidant activity to be used in the food
and cosmetics industry.
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K Anacardium occidentale&lt
%K /i&gt
%K Antimicrobial Agents
%K Flowers
%K Cashew
%K Caju
%K Antioxidant
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=66116