Actividad antibacteriana in vitro de Maytenus ilicifolia Martius sobre Streptococcus mutans y Staphylococcus aureus

Maytenus ilicifolia is a shrub used as a natural medication in Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Among its properties, antimicrobial activity is cited. The aim of the in vitro experimental study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of the ethanolic extract of Maytenus ilicifolia Martius against Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus. The effect of three concentrations, C1 47.76 mg/mL, C2 24.4 mg/mL and C3 12.8 mg/mL, was determined against bacterial strains of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, using the Mueller Hinton agar well-diffusion method atriplicate assay was performed for each strain with the different concentrations of the extract, including a positive control of Chlorhexidine Gluconate 0.12% and a negative control of physiological solution 0.9%. C1 47.76 mg/mL had an antibacterial effect on both strains. The mean halo inhibition for Streptococcus mutans was 11.68 mm, corresponding to 67.2% inhibitory effect and the mean halo inhibition for Staphylococcus aureus was 9.39 mm, corresponding to 51.82% inhibitory effect, both in relation to 0.12% Chlorhexidine Gluconate. It was concluded that the ethanolic extract of Maytenus ilicifolia Martius has antibacterial effect for Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus.