Estudio de la Actividad Antibacterial de Sustancias Húmicas Extraídas de Carbón y Planteamiento de los Posibles Mecanismos de Acción Sobre Bacterias Patógenas

Abstract

Humic substances obtained from coal as peat have been studied because of their biochemical properties and potential applications to medicine since it allows to visualize new alternatives to conventional treatment of certain pathologies, using substances derived from natural sources. The interest of this research is focused on finding a new way to combat or control some pathologies caused by bacteria reported frequently in Colombia. The procedure starts by obtaining and characterization of low-rank coal, complete once this stage is the process of extraction of humic acids. After this phase are selected bacteria study (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumanii, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus pyogenes). In order to verify the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) proceeds to use the Kirby-Bauer (agar diffusion method) method employing discs impregnated with different concentrations of humic substances; by way of control, similarly with antibiotic discs are used specifically for the treatment of each bacterium. Media incubated and sets the range of effectiveness by means of inhibition halos. Tests were performed in triplicate for each bacteria, using humic substances in 31 different levels ranging from 0.019 mg/mL to 144.696 mg/mL. Bacteria presented susceptibility were Acinetobacter baumanii presented a MIC of 0.981 mg/mL, Streptococcus agalactiae presented MIC of 1,131 mg/mL, Escherichia coli presented MIC 4.524 mg/mL, Enterobacter cloacae presented 2,262 CMI,Streptococcus pyogenes presented MIC 4.524 mg/mL and Enterococcus Faecium presented MIC of 2,262 mg/mL.