Antibacterial, Antitumoral and Cytotoxic Potential of the Ethanolic Extract of Dysphania ambrosioides (Amaranthaceae) Leaves
Guilherme F. Teixeira1, Miriam Rolón2, Cathia Coronel2, Celeste V. Gómez2, Jorge J. Alfonso2, Ana Gómez2, Lucas Yure S. da Silva1, Camila F. Bezerra1, Nadghia Figueiredo L. Sampaio3, Jefferson de S. Diodato4, Maria Aparecida B. de Sousa1, Severino Denicio G. de Sousa5, Mylena de M. Marcelino6, José Walber G. Castro1, Paula Patrícia M. Cordeiro1, Anita Oliveira Brito Pereira B. Martins1, Magaly L. Mota1, Vanessa L. Bezerra4, Maxwell F. Teixeira4, Maria Flaviana B. Morais-Braga1, Viviane B. da Silva1, José W. Almeida-Bezerra1*
1Regional University of Cariri, Crato – CE, Brazil.
2Centro para el Desarrollo de Investigacion Cientifica, Manduvira, Asuncion, Paraguay.
3Estacio School of Medicine in Juazeiro do Norte – Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil.
4Federal University of Cariri – Crato – CE, Brazil.
5Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiaba – MT, Brazil.
6Dr. Leao Sampaio University Center, Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil.
*Corresponding Author: Prof. Dr. Jose Weverton Almeida-Bezerra, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, 63105-000, Crato, CE, Brazil.
https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAMB.2025.06.020
Received: October 30, 2025
Published: November 21, 2025
Citation: Teixeira GF, Rolon M, Coronel C, Gomez CV, Alfonso JJ, Gomez A, da Silva LYS, Bezerra CF, Sampaio NFL, Diodato JS, de Sousa MAB, de Sousa SDG, Marcelino MM, Castro JWG, Cordeiro PPM, Martins AOBPB, Mota ML, Bezerra VL, Teixeira MF, Morais-Braga MFB, da Silva VB, Almeida-Bezerra JW. Antibacterial, Antitumoral and Cytotoxic Potential of the Ethanolic Extract of Dysphania ambrosioides (Amaranthaceae) Leaves. SVOA Microbiology 2025, 6:6, 183-190. doi:10.58624/ SVOAMB.2025.06.020
Abstract
The indiscriminate use of antibiotics is currently the main factor driving the development of microbial resistance, making the search for new therapies based on effective natural agents to combat resistant infections crucial. In this context, the genus Dysphania stands out for its species with medicinal properties, and Dysphania ambrosioides L. is particularly relevant, being widely used in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. This study investigated its potential, revealing that D. ambrosioides extracts showed significant inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli (87.46% at 1000 µg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (66.49% at 1000 µg/mL). Regarding cytotoxicity in fibroblasts, a dose-dependent effect was observed, with 1000 µg/mL being the most toxic (80.82% reduction in cell viability), while lower doses were less cytotoxic (20.54% at 250 µg/mL). In terms of antitumor activity in breast cancer cells, the extract demonstrated a non-linear pattern, with the 250 µg/mL dose showing an inhibitory effect of 43.01%, which increased to 71.19% at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL. Thus, the D. ambrosioides extract demonstrated promising potential against bacterial strains, lower cytotoxicity at reduced doses, and variable antitumor activity, justifying further investigations into its therapeutic profile.
Keywords: Mastruz, Medicinal Plants, Botanical Extracts
