Effect on cell surface hydrophobicity and susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to medicinal plant extracts

Heidi Annuk, Siiri Hirmo, Endel Türi, Marika Mikelsaar, Elmar Arak, Torkel Wadström

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83 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Effects of aqueous extracts of medicinal plants on ten Helicobacter pylori strains were studied by the salt aggregation test to determine the possibility to modulate their cell surface hydrophobicity and by an agar diffusion assay for detection of antimicrobial activity. It was established that aqueous extracts of bearberry and cowberry leaves enhance cell aggregation of all H. pylori strains tested by the salt aggregation test, and the extract of bearberry possessed a remarkable bacteriostatic activity. Pure tannic acid showed a result similar to that of bearberry and cowberry extracts which contained a large amount of tannins. In contrast, extracts of wild camomile and pineapple-weed, which blocked aggregation of H. pylori, contained small amounts of tannins and did not reveal any antimicrobial activity. Tannic acid seems to be the component of bearberry and cowberry aqueous extracts with the highest activity to decrease cell surface hydrophobicity as well as in antibacterial activity against H. pylori. Copyright (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)41-45
Number of pages5
JournalFEMS Microbiology Letters
Volume172
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antibacterial activity
  • Cell aggregation
  • Cell surface hydrophobicity
  • Helicobacter pylori
  • Medicinal plant

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