Plantas Medicinais da Chapada do Araripe: Do Conhecimento Tradicional à Validação Científica no Combate à Resistência Antimicrobiana

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.16125161015

• Palavras-chave: Antimicrobianos, Plantas Medicinais, Chapada do Araripe

• Keywords: Antimicrobials, Medicinal Plants, Chapada do Araripe

• Abstract: Antibiotics are medications used to combat infections caused by microorganisms. However, with their increasing use, it has become evident that, although several drugs are available, inadequate and indiscriminate use has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, increasing the need for safe and effective therapeutic alternatives. Antimicrobial resistance constitutes a serious global public health problem, requiring innovative strategies. In this context, medicinal plants emerge as a promising source of antimicrobial compounds. Native species from the Chapada do Araripe, located between the states of Ceará, Pernambuco, and Piauí, have been traditionally used in the treatment of infections and evaluated in laboratory tests. Therefore, the present study evaluated extracts, fixed oils, and essential oils of these plants in order to prospect their antimicrobial activities against clinically relevant bacteria. Species from different botanical families were analyzed, selected based on ethnopharmacological information and experimental evidence, highlighting Caryocar coriaceum, Croton heliotropiifolius, Eugenia brejoensis, Casearia javitensis, Attalea speciosa, Syagrus cearensis, Acrocomia aculeata, Erythroxylum rosuliferum, and Tocoyena formosa, as well as representatives of Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, and Rubiaceae. In vitro assays, such as broth microdilution, disk diffusion, and bioautography on TLC, demonstrated the efficacy of the compounds against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results reinforce the value of the Chapada do Araripe as a source of new phytotherapeutic agents and the importance of preserving its native flora and associated traditional knowledge.