Bioactivity of extracts and essential oils from nurse species

Nurse plants are all those plant species that are useful for the survival and coexistence of other plants. Abies guatemalensis Rehder (pinabete), unfortunately, is an endemic species in danger of extinction and in order to ensure the survival of the pinabete, it is necessary to study the nurse plants of this species, of which six were studied, which have as interest the antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antioxidant activity. All these in order to give greater relevance to the plants, thus, there is an interest in the population to preserve them, especially in the area of Ixchiguán, in the department of San Marcos, where these plants come from. Six species of nurse plants were collected and obtained from 'Los Cuervos' forest in Ixchiguán, San Marcos and extracts were obtained for analysis by Rotavapor; for which biocidal bioassays were mounted: against bacteria, fungi, yeasts, larvae and antioxidant activity. Essential oils were analyzed by the Neoclevenger method. The results show that they have little antimicrobial activity, very poor larvicidal activity and good antioxidant activity.