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Table 1 Plant species recorded in ethnopharmacological/ethnobotanical surveys in the Caribbean that were examined for their antimicrobial and antifungal activities

From: A screening for antimicrobial activities of Caribbean herbal remedies

Scientific name/(voucher specimen)

Country/Traditional usea

Local name

Plant parts used/Preparation form

Extracts yield (% w/w)

Concentration of extracts (mg/mL)

Concentration of extracts/disc (μg/μL)b

Disc 1

Disc 2

Disc 3

Cucurbitaceae Cucurbita moschata Duchesne (019344)

Dominican Republic/skin burns

auyama

leaves/juice

2.5

50.0

50.0

25.0

12.5

Plantaginaceae Plantago major L. (019342)

Nicaragua/kidney infections

llantén

leaves/decoction

1.4

28.7

28.7

14.3

7.2

Labiatae Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. (019352)

Dominican Republic/otitis

orégano poleo

leaves/juice

1.1

21.3

21.3

10.7

5.3

Scrophulariaceae Capraria biflora L. (019353)

Guadalupe, Marie-Galante, Martinique, Tobago/conjunctivitis

Té péyi, paye, titi,

leaves/decoction

5.6

112.6

112.6

56.3

28.1

Malvaceae Abelmochus esculentus (L.) Moench (019662)

Dominican Republic/eye infections

molondrón

fruit/juice

0.6

12.6

12.6

6.3

3.2

Malvaceae Gossypium barbadense L. (019366)

Haiti/otitis media

koton

leaves/decoction unripe fruit/juice

5.5 1.4

110.5 27.9

110.5 27.9

55.3 14.0

27.6 7.0

Malvaceae Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (019535)

Haiti/conjunctivitis

choublak

flower/juice

0.9

17.9

17.9

9.0

4.5

Pteridaceae Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link (019372)

Tobago/kidney stones or urolithiasis

stamp fern, egyptian secret

leaves/decoction

7.5

150.0

150.0

75.0

37.5

Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia trilobata L. (019609)

fever

bejuco estrella

leaves/decoction

8.8

176.5

176.5

88.3

44.0

Commelinaceae Tradescantia spathacea Sw.c (019664)

Puerto Rico/psoriasis

sanguinaria

leaves/decoction

2.8

56.0

56.0

28.0

14.0

Zingiberaceae Costus specious (J. König) Sm.c,d (019660)

Puerto Rico/nephritis

caña amarga, insulina

leaves/decoction

2.4

47.3

47.3

23.7

11.8

Zingiberaceae Tapeinochilus ananassae K. Schum.d (019553)

Puerto Rico

insulina

leaves/decoction

3.1

61.5

61.5

30.5

15.3

Myrtaceae Syzygium jambos (L.) Alstond (019663)

Puerto Rico

Pomarrosa del río

leaves/decoction

2.1

41.8

41.8

20.9

10.5

  1. a) Reported in 20% or more of the interviews for a given ailment.
  2. b) Extracts concentration/disc: disc 1 - μg/μL in the re-dissolved lyophilized extract at the final concentration, discs 2 and 3 - μg/μL in 50% and 25% dilutions of the re-dissolved extract, respectively.
  3. c) As reported in the ethnobotanical literature in Puerto Rico to exhibit antimicrobial properties.
  4. d) As reported in ethnopharmacological survey in Puerto Rico as an adjuvant for diabetes.