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Vertebrates as a Bactericidal Agent

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Abstract

In Brazil, although a large number of animals are used in traditional medicine (at least 354 species), information about their biological activities is scarce. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the bactericidal potential of zootherapeutic by-products from animals used in Brazilian traditional medicine and discuss the ecological and cultural consequences of such practices. The species analyzed were: Tupinambis merianae (skin), Iguana iguana (skin and body fat), Crotalus durissus (skin and body fat), Boa constrictor (skin), Euphractus sexcinctus (body fat) and Coendou prehensilis (quills). Experiments were performed with standard clinical strains of Escherichia coli (EC-ATCC10536) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA-ATCC 25923). For the microbiological assay, the zootherapeutics were evaluated using serial microdilutions. The results indicate that none of the samples possess inhibitory activity against standard bacterial strains. The in vitro ineffectiveness of the analyzed products demonstrate a necessity for new pharmacological research that encompass a large number of species of medicinal animals as well as highlight the importance of zootherapy in the context of plans for animal conservation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico and Tecnológico—FUNCAP for the research grant awarded to H. D. M. Coutinho. We are grateful to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—CNPq for the research grant awarded to W. O. Almeida and R. R. N. Alves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Colegiado Acadêmico de Ecologia, Senhor do Bonfim, BA, Brazil

    F. S. Ferreira

  2. Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Centro de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Chapadinha, MA, Brazil

    S. V. Brito

  3. Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, CE, Brazil

    H. D. M. Coutinho & W. O. Almeida

  4. Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil

    E. P. Souza

  5. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil

    R. R. N. Alves

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  1. F. S. Ferreira
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  3. H. D. M. Coutinho
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Correspondence to F. S. Ferreira.

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Ferreira, F.S., Brito, S.V., Coutinho, H.D.M. et al. Vertebrates as a Bactericidal Agent. EcoHealth 15, 619–626 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-018-1345-2

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