Current Microbiology, Vol.77, No.9, 2143-2154, 2020
Phytochemical Characterization, Bioactivities Evaluation and Synergistic Effect ofArbutus unedoandCrataegus monogynaExtracts with Amphotericin B
The increased resistance to drugs by pathogens is a serious problem, with plants showing to be promising sources for the development of new drugs or the improvement of the effect of existing antimicrobial agents. Considering this, we aimed to evaluate the bioactivities ofArbutus unedoandCrataegus monogyna. Thus, the leaves were first extracted with methanol and then fractionated with different solvents. Phenolic compound profiles were assessed by HPLC-PDA-MS(n)and the antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH method and beta-carotene bleaching assay. The antimicrobial activity of extracts was tested against several microorganisms.A. unedocontained mainly galloyl esters, hydrolysable tannins, and flavonoids, while inC. monogyna, 5-caffeoylquinic acid and flavonoids were the most representative polyphenols. Crude extracts showed antioxidant activity and the extracts and fractions displayed a weak antibacterial activity; however inhibiting the growth ofCandida tropicalisandC. lusitaniaeto whichA. unedoextract showed higher activity. Most of the extracts and fractions demonstrated synergistic or additive interactions with amphotericin B againstCandidaspp. Therefore, the present study revealed significant bioactive properties of the extracts and fractions ofA. unedoandC. monogyna, such as antioxidant and antifungal activities.