Determinação de atividade antimicrobiana de extratos de plantas de uso popular como antiflamatório

Antimicrobial activities of "babau" (Orbignya martiana), "cardo santo" (Argemone mexicana), "mentrasto" (Ageratum conyzoides), "cavalinha" (Equisetum yeamalis) and "terramicina" (Alternanthera brasiliana), used by Brazilian population as antiinflamatory medicine, were studied on Staphylococcus aureus. The freezer dried hydroalcoholic extracts solutions were tested for 7 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, which two of those are methicillin resistant (MRSA). The diffusion method on agar-agar, using holes technique, with tetracycline chlorydrate as standard. "Babau", "cardo santo" and "terramicina" showed antimicrobial activity, within of those "terramicina" inhibited 6 strains, presenting zone inhibition of 22 mm compared to standard antibiotic (34 mm), except the seventh strain which was also tetracycline resistant.