Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of scutellarein and carajurone-enriched fraction obtained from the hydroethanolic extract of the leaves of (Bonpl.) L.G. Lohmann.

The hydroethanolic extract obtained from the dry leaves of (HEFc) underwent several fractionations by different chromatographic techniques. The ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fraction were subjected to phytochemical analysis, resulting in the identification and isolation of scutellarein () and in a fraction rich in carajurone (). They were tested for cytotoxicity in CHO-K1 and the antibacterial activity and mode of action by assays. The HEFc and scutellarein () presented no cytotoxicity. The results showed good antibacterial effect of HEFc against and and moderate activity for , and . The fraction containing the compound carajurone () showed good activity against and and moderate activity against . Scutellarein () showed no activity against the bacteria tested. HEFc antibacterial mode of action appeared to be associated with changes in the permeability of bacterial membranes and nucleotide leakage.