Bursera fagaroides, effect of an ethanolic extract on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in vitro and on the growth of Entamoeba histolytica.

The effect of an ethanolic extract from the stem bark of Bursera fagaroides on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in vitro and on the growth of Entamoeba histolytica was evaluated. For this purpose, increasing concentrations of the extract, up to 8.0mg/mL, were added to amoeba cultures or ODC reaction mixtures, which were incubated at 37 degrees C. Metronidazole and G418 were added as controls. After 1.5 and 72 h, the ODC activity in vitro and growth, respectively, were determined. Results revealed a strong inhibition of growth with IC(50) values on the order of 0.05 mg/mL. ODC activity, on the other hand, was inhibited by 12% and 50% at concentrations of 4.0 and 8.0mg/mL, respectively.