A PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF Guaiacum officinale, Guaiacum sanctum (ZYGOPHYLLACEAE), AND Bursera simaruba (BURSERACEAE)
C. BAUER, A. VELOZ, J. SALAZAR, AND E. RODRIGUEZ

Guaiacum officinale, Guaiacum sanctum, and Bursera simaruba are three common plants found throughout the Dominican Republic. In order to survive, these plants have adapted to environmental stresses, such as inadequate nutrients and threat of fungal or bacterial infections. Biochemical defenses that protect the plants against infections may have allowed them to proliferate. These defenses may also be responsible for their role in traditional medicine. Specimens were collected from the Punta Cana area in La Altagracia, Dominican Republic. Extracts of the leaves, bark, and fruit of each species, as well as the flowers of G. officinale, the roots of G. sanctum, and the resin of B. simaruba, were made in 95% ethanol and evaluated for biological activity. They were tested for inhibition of the gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus, the gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella sp., and three strains of the yeast Candida albicans. Strongest inhibition was found in the leaf extract of G. officinale and the bark of G. XXXXX needed to identify which chemical constituents are biologically active.

Tropical forests harbor a majority of the world’s species, including those that contain unique biochemical modes for defense and survival (Balick et al. 1996). In turn, these chemicals can produce positive effects in people using the plants for medicinal purposes. Three plant species, Guaiacum officinale, Guaiacum sanctum, and Bursera simaruba, which have alleged medicinal value, were studied. Guaiacum officinale (Zygophyllaceae) and Guaiacum sanctum (Zygophyllaceae) are used by people of the West Indies to combat asthma, rheumatism, tuberculosis, syphilis, and chronic pulmonary colds. Bursera simaruba (Burseraceae) is used to treat intestinal irritations and nephritis.

The leaf extract of Guaiacum officinale and the bark extract of Guaiacum sanctum both inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus circus Psuedomona acuroginosa, and three strains of Candida albicans, A, B, and C. The bark of Guaiacum officinale exhibited anti-fungal activity against all three strains of Candida albicans, whereas the leaf extract of Bursera simaruba only showed activity against bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cercus, and Pseudomona acuroginosa. Finally, the fruit of Guaiacum officinale inhibited Bacillus subtilis, along with Candida albicans A, B, and C.