Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of leaf extract of Hamelia patens Jacq

The firebush (Hamelia patens Jacq.) is a bush widely distributed in tropical areas and used in the traditional medicine for the treatments of wound and inflammatory process. The aim of the present work was to determine the phytochemical composition and the antibacterial activity of leaf extracts of firebush grown closely to the Botanical Garden of Matanzas, in the province of Matanzas, Cuba. Disease free leaves were collected, the qualitative amounts of several secondary metabolites were determined and it was quantified the content of soluble, wall-linked and total phenols as well as reducing sugars. The antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli was evaluated. Terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, steroids and cardiotonic glycosides were observed in methanolic and ethanolic extracts, although, the metabolites were detected in higher proportions when using the etanolic solvent. The leaf ethanolic extract exhibited an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis, however non-inhibitory effect was shown against Escherichia coli. The phytochemistry and the antibacterial evaluation carried out point out the potentialities of Hamelia patens Jacq. as a source of bioactive compounds, with different biological activities and supports the ethno-botanical use of this plant for the treatment of bacterial infections. Keywords: firebush, phenols, secondary metabolites, Staphylococcus aureus