Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel (APOCYNACEAE): phytochemical profile, evaluation of antibacterial and drug-potentiating activity, and toxicity of stem bark extracts
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
de Oliveira Maraiza Gregorio, Costa Adrielle Rodrigues, de Lima Silva Jailson Renato, leite dos Santos Carlos Alonso, da Silva Ana Raquel Pereira, Alves Daniel Sampaio, Almeida-Bezerra José Weverton, Filho Ademar Maia, Castro José Walber Gonçalves, Melo Bárbara Fernandes
Research Articles | Published: 23 May, 2026
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Keywords: Bacteria, Pathogenic, Resistance, Janaguba, Antibiotics, Flavonoids
Abstract
Microbial resistance is a growing global public health problem, intensified by the misuse of synthetic drugs, leading to the search for biologically active compounds or antibiotic adjuvants to combat bacterial resistance. The plant Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel, commonly used by residents of Chapada do Araripe for medicinal purposes, has attracted interest in this context. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition of methanolic and hexane extracts from the stem bark of H. drasticus and evaluate their antibacterial and drug-potentiating effects, along with an in vivo toxicity analysis. Phytochemical screening identified nine secondary metabolites, five of which were flavonoids. Antibacterial tests, including MIC determination against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, showed no direct antibacterial activity. However, when combined with norfloxacin, both extracts enhanced the antibiotic’s action against S. aureus. In contrast, the methanolic extract reduced the efficacy of oxacillin against E. coli and S. aureus, while the hexane extract diminished gentamicin’s effectiveness and increased norfloxacin’s MIC against P. aeruginosa. Toxicity assessments in Drosophila melanogaster and Artemia salina showed mild toxicity for the hexane extract at higher concentrations, while the methanolic extract was considered non-toxic. Overall, H. drasticus extracts exhibit potential as drug potentiators against resistant bacteria, with low toxicity.
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Author Information
Department of Biological Sciences, Regional University of Cariri—URCA, Crato, Brazil