Evaluation of the "in vitro" antimicrobial activity of the Ficus religiosa

Abstract

Among the most common contemporary tendencies in the study and use of medicinal plants, we found the efforts made to find fitocomplexes providing new bioactive substances with antimicrobial effectiveness. The plant selected for this study, Ficus religiosa belongs to the Moraceae family, and is commonly known in Cuba as alamo (* Translator note : If we literally translate the word alamo, we should translate it as poplar in English, but the poplar belongs to the Salicaceae family). We determined the antimicrobial effect of this tree growing in Cuba where there are known attributed effects, that are not proved nor referred in the bibliography authorizing its use among the population. The evaluation was made in a fluid extract with a 3 % of total solids obtained from the seeds by percolation, using as menstruum alcohol at 30 % and the methods of diffusion in agar and dilution in a liquid medium. We proved the mentioned extract against 16 microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi. It was proved the bacteriostatic effect of the maximal concentration extract against Bacillus subtilis and absence of effect against the rest of the proved microorganisms. As a result we do not recommend the preferential use of this plant's seeds as an antimicrobial agent, taking into account that there are many other species growing abundantly in our country and showing a better antimicrobial effect.