INTRODUCTION: The applicability of natural products as a medicinal resource is a practice from time immemorial, the search for relief and cure of diseases by ingesting herbs and leaves was probably one of the first ways of their use. For many communities and ethnic groups, the use of medicinal plants was for a long time the only therapeutic resource available. The consumption of home-made herbal remedies is a reality assimilated not only by the pharmaceutical industry, but also by public authorities. Over the years, the biological activities of many plants have been evaluated and studied, including those of the genus Capsicum sp, which have a great diversity, mainly of the species, Capsicum frutenscens, popularly known as chili pepper. Capsicum frutenscens, an important delicacy in popular cuisine in the Northeast region, is a small shrub native to the tropical regions of Central and South America, which has a high pungency and strong odor. The pungency, as well as the biological properties of this genus, are associated with capsaicinoids and mainly capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, which are found in higher concentrations, and can be isolated through extraction techniques. Chemical isolates from plants can be seen as alternative sources to combat pathogenic microrganisms. Therefore, natural products of plant origin can alter the effect of antibiotics, either increasing or reducing antibiotic activity. Within its biological properties, it has significant antibacterial and antifungal potential, as well as a high nutritional value. Among the biological properties, the concern in combating resistant bacteria, such as the Staphylococcus aureus species, stands out. The species is one of the most important human pathogens among Staphylococcus, as it causes severe infections of community and hospital origin. They are etiological agents of skin infections causing diseases such as impetigo, anthrax, folliculitis, boils, and also deeper infections such as pneumonia, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and others. Considering the available phytochemical, pharmacological and antimicrobial aspects, the relevance of seeking to deepen antibacterial activities becomes apparent.The aim of this work determined the evaluation of chemical screening and determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration of the ethanolic extract of Capsicum frutescens seeds against multiresistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This was experimental and quantitative research. The collection of plant material came from popular cultivation in a free market in Serra Talhada, Pernambuco. Collected for the month of April 2022. To obtain the ethanolic extract, they were prepared from 600g of leaves, previously crushed, washed in running water, then emerged in 3% hypochlorite and subjected to exhaustive cold extraction with ethanol. for 48 hours. After this period, the solvent was distilled in a rotary evaporator, thus obtaining the crude extract, which was then used for phytochemical and microbiological tests.The phytochemical screening of the extract was carried out at the Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Faculdades Aggeu Magalhães, and was subjected to the phytochemical prospecting method, proposed by Matos. The tests are based on visual observation of the change in color and formation of precipitates after the addition of specific reagents. In the qualitative evaluation of the crude extract, tests were carried out for the following metabolites: alkaloids, tannins and flavanoids, which are associated with the antimicrobial activity of natural products. The antibacterial activity of the extract was evaluated using broth microdilution methodology. Previously, the bacterial strains were activated in Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI) media for 24 h at 35 ± 2 ºC in a bacteriological oven.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was defined as the lowest concentration capable of completely inhibiting microbial growth, in the microdilution wells as detected by the naked eye. The reading of the results to determine the MIC was done with resarzurin considered positive for the wells that remained blue and negative for those that obtained a red color. For bacteria and fungi, the presence of turbidity was assessed. The antimicrobial test was evaluated against strains of Staphylococcus aures 358, originating from surgical wounds and multidrug-resistant and for data tabulation in Microsoft excel.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:The presence of the following secondary metabolites was noted: flavobenic tannins, flavanoids and alkaloids, which are responsible for the development of various biological activities such as antimicrobial action. In the chemical analysis of natural products, there are factors that can interfere with the presence or absence of these phytochemical constituents, such as collection time, season of the plant species, packaging of the plant or degradation of the constituents by environmental factors. These organic compounds are of great clinical importance for pharmacology, due to their biological effects. Several natural products derived from crude extracts and essential oils are being used as raw materials for the formulation of new bioactive compounds, mainly in the treatment of infectious diseases. In relation to the determination of the MIC, it was possible to observe a favorable result and indicative of antimicrobial activity, resulting in an inhibitory concentration of 128 ug\dl against the multiresistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus, showing a better susceptibility to the gram positive microorganisms under study.CONCLUSION:The results of this research demonstrated that Capsicum frutenscens, a plant species and popular cuisine from the Brazilian Northeast, can be a promising source in combating bacterial resistance. However, future studies with the majority constituents of the extract prepared are necessary to better elucidate the antimicrobial mechanisms. Therefore, this work could contribute as a parameter for new studies demonstrating and valuing the bioactive and pharmacological potential of the species.
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