Tropical areas are rich in unknown sources of phytochemicals with potential applications in pharmacology, medicine and functional foods. A collection of Costa Rican traditional fruits (17 samples) were screened for polyphenolic composition (Folin-Ciocalteu assay), antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) and antibacterial properties in vitro (disc diffusion assay). Results showed that at least 8 of the samples analyzed were promising sources for natural polyphenols with important antioxidant activity and 3 of them showed a significant antibacterial effect against both gram-positive and gramnegative bacteria when compared to the positive control (ampicillin 2 mg/mL). Experimental data suggest that polyphenolic extracts isolated from traditional Costa Rican fruits could be interesting sources of phytochemicals to control or prevent bacterial infections in humans.
Loading....