Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Extracts and Fractions from Agave cupreata

Background and Objective: In Mexico, Agave cupreata is used in traditional medicine to treatment of inflammatory processes.The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts and fractions obtained from Agave cupreata leaves.Methodology: The A. cupreata leaves were extracted by maceration with solvents of increasing polarity: hexane, dichloromethane and acetone.The fractions of dichloromethane extract were obtained by open column chromatography on silica gel and elution system hexane-acetone 7:3.The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the double dilution agar and microtiter broth dilution methods.The anti-inflammatory activity was tested using TPA-induced mouse ear edema and λ-carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema model.One way ANOVA was used to evaluate the statistical differences.Results: The MIC of extracts of hexane and dichloromethane were 16 mg mLG 1 against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and all clinical isolates tested; for the acetone extract only Staphylococcus simulans was susceptible (MIC of 16 mg mLG 1 ).Of the fractions obtained from the dichloromethane extract, the F-34 was the most active against all bacteria tested (MIC of 2-16 mg mLG 1 ).As for the anti-inflammatory activity, the dichloromethane and acetone extracts present an inhibitory effect on the formation of edemas of 64.29% (ED 50 = 107.55mg kgG 1 b.wt.) and 48.82%, respectively when inflammation was induced with carrageenan and being induced by TPA it was 62.47% (ED 50 = 1.21 mg per ear) and 40.82%.Conclusion: The extracts of hexane and dichloromethane from A. cupreata leaves exhibited antibacterial activity, for both sensitive strains and clinical isolates methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus; in addition, it could be an important source of compounds with anti-inflammatory action.