Cilantro, Bay Leaf, and Garlic Have Antibacterial Effects on ESKAPE Pathogens, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus
Alexis Stone
As medicine becomes more advanced, scientists are seeking alternative treatments because bacteria are becoming more resistant to antibiotics and these antibiotics are expensive to develop and produce in large quantities. Throughout history, plants or plant extracts have been used for many ailments, including burns and wounds, and for their antimicrobial properties. In this research project, the goal was to test plant extracts against different ESKAPE pathogens to determine if they could potentially inhibit bacterial growth. Six different bacteria were used: Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escheria coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus (the ESKAPE pathogens), and three different plant extracts were tested: cilantro, bay leaf, and garlic. A disk diffusion test was performed to determine if each extract could inhibit bacterial growth. If an extract inhibited bacterial growth, a zone of inhibition around a paper disk soaked in the extract would be visible. In addition, a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test was performed to measure inhibition of bacterial growth in the presence of each extract. A decrease in absorbance would be indicated if the extract had antibacterial properties. Some preliminary results indicate that some of the plant extracts may have antibacterial effects, but further testing is ongoing. MIC test results indicated some inhibition of bacterial growth by bay leaf and cilantro, when tested against Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus, two important pathogens that have shown antibiotic resistance in hospital settings. This may indicate that alternative therapies, such as the use of plant extracts, to treat bacterial infections may be a viable option in the clinical setting.
Alexis Stone graduated from Lexington High School in Lexington, South Carolina. She is a junior biology major with a genetics emphasis and a minor in chemistry and in psychology. Her achievements include working on campus as a peer tutor and participating in a research project.