Fungi may cause very serious diseases in humans specially in immunosuppressed patients. In this study, extracts of 10 plants used in popular medicine in Argentine were assayed for in vitro antifungal activity against 4 fungal strains. Out of all the plants tested, Larrea divaricata Cav, Gnaphalium gaudichaudianum D.C, Baccharis trimera Less and Schinus terebenthifolius proved to have antifungal activity.

Los hongos pueden causar enfermedades en humanos, especialmente en pacientes inmunosuprimidos. En este estudio, extractos de 10 plantas utilizadas en medicina popular en Argentina fueron ensayadas para estudiar la actividad antifúngica in vitro contra 4 cepas de hongos. De todas las plantas testeadas, solo 4 mostraron actividad antifúngica: Larrea divaricata Cav, Gnaphalium gaudichaudianum D.C, Baccharis trimera Less y Schinus terebenthifolius.

Larrea divaricata Cav. is widely distributed in Argentina. Aqueous extract, of its leaves, has documented antitumoral and immunomodulatory activities. In this study, the antioxidant activity of aqueous extract and a component, nordihydroguaiaretic acid was determined and compared using different assays. Both the aqueous extract and nordihydroguaiaretic acid exhibited antioxidant activity. However, results show that it is very likely that compounds other than nordihydroguaiaretic acid could be involved in the antioxidant activity of the extract. Since nordihydroguaiaretic acid is nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic agent, it is important to direct efforts toward the potential use of low-nordihydroguaiaretic acid L. divaricata extracts as antioxidant in foods.

Larrea divaricata Cav. is widely distributed in Argentina. Aqueous extract, of its leaves, has documented antitumoral and immunomodulatory activities. In this study, the antioxidant activity of aqueous extract and a component, nordihydroguaiaretic acid was determined and compared using different assays. Both the aqueous extract and nordihydroguaiaretic acid exhibited antioxidant activity. However, results show that it is very likely that compounds other than nordihydroguaiaretic acid could be involved in the antioxidant activity of the extract. Since nordihydroguaiaretic acid is nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic agent, it is important to direct efforts toward the potential use of low-nordihydroguaiaretic acid L. divaricata extracts as antioxidant in foods.