Antibacterial activity of traditional medicinal plants used by Haudenosaunee peoples of New York State

Abstract

BackgroundThe evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance, as well as the evolution of new strains of disease causing agents, is of great concern to the global health community. Our ability to effectively treat disease is dependent on the development of new pharmaceuticals, and one potential source of novel drugs is traditional medicine. This study explores the antibacterial properties of plants used in Haudenosaunee traditional medicine. We tested the hypothesis that extracts from Haudenosaunee medicinal plants used to treat symptoms often caused by bacterial infection would show antibacterial properties in laboratory assays, and that these extracts would be more effective against moderately virulent bacteria than less virulent bacteria.MethodsAfter identification and harvesting, a total of 57 different aqueous extractions were made from 15 plant species. Nine plant species were used in Haudenosaunee medicines and six plant species, of which three are native to the region and three are introduced, were not used in traditional medicine. Antibacterial activity against mostly avirulent (Escherichia coli, Streptococcus lactis) and moderately virulent (Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus) microbes was inferred through replicate disc diffusion assays; and observed and statistically predicted MIC values were determined through replicate serial dilution assays.ResultsAlthough there was not complete concordance between the traditional use of Haudenosaunee medicinal plants and antibacterial activity, our data support the hypothesis that the selection and use of these plants to treat disease was not random. In particular, four plant species exhibited antimicrobial properties as expected (Achillea millefolium, Ipomoea pandurata, Hieracium pilosella, and Solidago canadensis), with particularly strong effectiveness against S. typhimurium. In addition, extractions from two of the introduced species (Hesperis matronalis and Rosa multiflora) were effective against this pathogen.ConclusionsOur data suggest that further screening of plants used in traditional Haudenosaunee medicine is warranted, and we put forward several species for further investigation of activity against S. typhimurium (A. millefolium, H. matronalis, I. pandurata, H. pilosella, R. multiflora, S. canadensis).

Phytobiocidal management of bacterial wilt of tomato caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi

“…Treatment spectively. Each plate received six paper discs; four discs of different dilutions, one disc of standard antibiotic streptomycin and one disc of SDW (Frey & Meyers, 2010). The plates were incubated overnight at 30 °C and the zones of inhibition were measured across the discs with transparent plastic ruler.…”

“…The powder of each plant was stored separately at 4 °C (Oguwike et al, 2013). To obtain plant aqueous extracts, the ground powder of each plant was separately soaked in water for 48-72h (Frey and Meyers, 2010) by mixing 10g powder with SDW and adjusting the volume to 100 mL (10% w/v). The suspension was filtered through Whatman filter paper (20 µm) to remove large plant particles.…”

In vitro antimicrobial activity of three medicinal plants of Ethiopia against some selected bacterial isolates

“…These medicinal herbs constitute indispensable components of the traditional medicine practiced worldwide due to the low cost, easy access, and ancestral experience; and they are considered as candidates for developing new antimicrobial drugs (Abdalla et al, 2013;Madduluri et al, 2013). Over the past few decades, numerous studies have been conducted on plants to explore possible candidates for antibiotics (Frey and Meyers, 2010). Ethnobotanical studies revealed that wider range of Ethiopian plants are being used in treatment of many diseases in the traditional health care system of the country Teklehaymanot et al, 2007).…”

Antibiotic Resistance and the Prospects of Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Salmonellosis

“…There is the need therefore to develop effective combination of antimicrobial agents in purified form from higher plants and their parts for clinical trials. Frey and Meyers (2010) reported that Achillea millefolium, Ipomoea pandurata, Hieracium pilosella, and Solidago canadensis exhibited antimicrobial properties as expected, with particularly strong effectiveness against S. typhimurium. In addition, extracts from Hesperis matronalis and Rosa multiflora also exhibited effectiveness against this pathogen.…”