Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Barchata (Zizhipus Obtusifolia): Actividad antioxidante y antimicrobiana de Barchata (Zizhipus Obtusifolia)

The barchata (Ziziphus obtusifolia [Hook, ex Torr. & A. Gray]) is a common shrub in northwestern Mexico. This plant is traditionally used to combat gastrointestinal and degenerative diseases. In the present work the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity of extracts obtained from barchata branches was evaluated. Extracts were obtained with different solvents: acidified ethanol (EtOH-ac) and water (Ac). Each one was evaluated for its antioxidant capacity measured by the inhibition of the ABTS radical, DPPH, and the hemolysis test. The antimicrobial activity was carried out in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and in parallel the antiviral effect was evaluated, using the Av08 bacteriophage as an enteroviral model. Ac and EtOH-ac extracts inhibited ABTS and DPPH radicals, showing values from 17.41 ± 0.02 to 25.03 ± 3.73 mmol/ETge, respectively. In the hemolysis test, higher percentages of inhibition were found in the Ac extract with 46.3%, while in the ethanol one it was 36.8 %. In the inhibitory capacity on E. coli and S. aureus, inhibition haloes of 8.00 to 12.90 mm in diameter were obtained for both extracts against both bacteria. In the antiviral assay it was observed that the Ac extract at the concentration of 10 mg/mL and time of 60 minutes showed a reduction of up to 7.40 log10 PFU/mL of the Av08 bacteriophage. These results suggest the presence of several bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial potential on bacteria and viruses of interest; as well as a protective effect of the aqueous extracts on human erythrocytes.