Antibacterial Activity and Anxiolytic Effect in Adult Zebrafish of Genus Lippia L. Species.
Carla de Fatima Alves NonatoEmerson Vinicius Silva de MeloCicera Janaine CamiloMaria Kueirislene Amâncio FerreiraJane Eire Alencar de MenesesAntonio Wlisses da SilvaHélcio Silva Dos SantosJaime Ribeiro-FilhoJoanda Paolla Raimundo E SilvaJosean Fechine TavaresIrwin Rose Alencar de MenezesHenrique Doouglas Melo CoutinhoGrażyna KowalskaTomasz BajRadosław KowalskiJosé Galberto Martins da CostaPublished in: Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (2023)
Species belonging to the genus Lippia are used worldwide as foods, beverages, and seasonings. Studies have demonstrated that these species have antioxidant, sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities. This work aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity and anxiolytic effect by different pathways of essential oils and ethanolic extracts of three species of Lippia ( Lippia alba , Lippia sidoides , and Lippia gracilis ). The ethanolic extracts were characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS n and their phenolics were quantified. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration and modulation of antibiotic activity, and toxic and anxiolytic effects were evaluated in the zebrafish model. The extracts showed compositions with a low ratio and shared compounds. L. alba and L. gracilis showed higher amounts of phenols and flavonoids, respectively. All extracts and essential oils presented antibacterial activity, especially those obtained from L. sidoides . On the other hand, L. alba extract presented the most significant antibiotic-enhancing effect. The samples were not toxic after 96 h of exposure, but showed an anxiolytic effect through modulation of the GABA A receptor, while L. alba extract acted via modulation of the 5-HT receptor. This new pharmacological evidence opens horizons for therapeutic approaches targeting anxiolytic and antibacterial therapies and food conservation using these species and their constituents.