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(ScienceDaily) -- A compound
that is an active ingredient in plants commonly used in Chinese medicine
prevents biofilm formation on polystyrene and polycarbonate surfaces by
Staphylococcus aureus. The research suggests that this compound,
1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (PGG) is highly promising for
clinical use in preventing biofilm formation by S. aureus. The paper is
published in the March 2011 issue of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and
Chemotherapy.
S. aureus commonly forms biofilms on medical implants, causing pneumonia,
meningitis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and bloodstream and urinary tract
infections. Biofilms, which are far tougher than bacteria not incorporated into
biofilms, are resistant to antibiotics even when the individual bacteria
composing the biofilm lack antibiotic resistance genes. Once biofilms become
attached to the surfaces of medical devices, they are extremely difficult to
expunge.
PGG is an active ingredient in plants that are commonly used in Chinese
medicine to treat inflammation. It was one of 48 compounds purified form
medicinal plants that the researchers screened for efficacy in inhibiting S.
aureus biofilm formation. PGG was on sole compound from among them that did not
kill the pathogens.
mrcplast.com
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