Ethnopharmacological relevance: The decoction of the bark of Haematoxylon brasiletto Karst. (Leguminosae), commonly known as "Palo Brasil", is used in the Mexican traditional medicine to treat mouth and kidney infections, hypertension, stomach upsets, gastric ulcers and diabetes.
Aim of the study: The present study was performed to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of the methanolic extract of the bark of Haematoxylon brasiletto.
Materials and methods: A panel of 12 bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans were used. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the standard broth microdilution method.
Results: The results indicate that the extract of Haematoxylon brasiletto inhibited the growth of eight of the tested microorganisms at a concentration limit of 128 microg/mL. For the tested compounds the MIC values ranged from 8.7 to 128 microg/mL.
Conclusions: The overall results provide promising baseline information for the potential use of the extracts from Haematoxylon brasiletto as well as some of the isolated compounds in the treatment of bacterial infections.