5 Antibacterial Agents (“Ancient Vitality”) from Nature

by GreenMedInfo Research Group

Probiotics, green tea, and honey are examples of “ancient prebiotics” – natural compounds that have been used for centuries to treat opportunistic bacterial overgrowth, and whose antibacterial (i.e., microbiome improvement) properties have been scientifically evaluated to this day.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been declared one of the top 10 global public health threats to humanity.^[i] Fueled by misuse and overuse Antimicrobials It occurs when the microbiome is altered (dysbios) and ceratin bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites become impervious to the antimicrobial drugs traditionally used to treat them. In the United States alone, it is believed that 2.8 million people develop antibiotic-resistant infections annually, and 35,000 people die as a result.^[ii]

With the spread of drug-resistant pathogens, infections that were once easy to treat can become life-threatening and few new options are under development. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that “the clinical supply line for new antimicrobials is dry”.^[iii]

If you experience a serious infection, you should seek medical attention immediately. However, it is useful to be aware of the antibacterial agents found in nature, many of which have been evaluated since ancient times.

Ancient civilizations relied on natural antibiotics

With the rise in antimicrobial resistant infections, scientists are now looking with interest in ancient medical texts of the Middle Ages, which include various prescriptions for treating potentially bacterial infections and/or dysbios cases in which some naturally occurring microbes grew opportunistically and disproportionately to their lineage. natural. Among these 1,000-year-old remedies are crushed garlic and a second substance of Allium mixed with wine and oxgall, or bovine bile, and then left to sit in a copper or bronze bowl for nine days and nights.

“Combined ingredients to treat this infection appear promising to modern microbiologists,” the researchers wrote in the journal mBio.^[iv] They reconstructed the remedy, which they believe was used to treat a stye, which was then known as “Win,” which was caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

“Ancient antibiotics” have been shown to be effective, with the study noting that their “activity depends on the combined activity of several antimicrobial components” and highlights “the untapped potential of pre-modern therapies to produce new therapies at a time when new antibiotics are desperately needed.”^[v]

In other cases, garlic was used in ancient Greece, Rome, India and China for infections and diseases of the respiratory system,^[vi] Whereas in ancient Egypt, China, Serbia, Greece, and Rome, moldy bread was used as a topical treatment for infections. Other ancient civilizations relied on herbs, honey, and in some cases animal faeces to treat infections.^[vii]

Five of the best natural antibacterial agents

Some of the most valuable antimicrobials come from nature, and many are easy to access and incorporate into your routine when necessary. At GreenMedInfo.com, you can read about it 525 substances act as antibacterials, Which include:

1. Probiotics

Ancient civilizations embraced fermented foods, giving them a rich source of probiotics. Today, probiotics They are known to boost the beneficial bacteria in your gut. Its usefulness in directly inhibiting bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella and Clostridium difficile is not widely known. Multistrain probiotics are especially useful for this purpose.^[viii]

Probiotics also produce inhibitory substances such as hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins, which may suppress pathogenic bacteria, while also blocking adhesion sites, competing for nutrients with pathogens and enhancing the immune response. “Conclusive evidence” demonstrates the antimicrobial activity of probiotics, which includes:^[ix]

• reduce giardia infection
• Reduction in candida and protection against Candidiasis
• Reduced bacterial plaque buildup
• The ability to fight skin pathogens

2. Cranberry

Cranberries contain a number of active compounds including phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and organic acids that inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus bacteria and salmonella and prevent coli bacteria in the urinary tract – Grapefruit seeds It has also shown promising results in the treatment of urinary tract infections, including antibiotic-resistant types.

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Cherry The compounds have also observed anti-adhesion effects against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, meaning that they interfere with the bacteria’s ability to attach to your tissues. A 2020 study also found that cranberries have an antibacterial effect against periodontal pathogens in biofilms, decreasing bacterial adhesion and preventing bacterial colonization in the mouth..^[x]

3. Green tea

Of the four primary catechins in green tea, three of them — epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) — have impressive antimicrobial effects.^[xi] In addition to direct inhibition Streptococcus mutansIt is the main cause of caries, and reduces its attachment to oral surfaces. Green tea also has antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, fungi and viruses, including:

coli bacteria	salmonella
Staphylococcus aureus	Enterococci
Candida albicans	human immunodeficiency virus
herpes simplex	flu

Like many natural compounds, what makes Green tea It is very beneficial that it uses a variety of mechanisms in its antimicrobial activities. The catechins it contains are directly antimicrobial, as they cause damage to the bacterial cell membrane and inhibit enzyme activity. Green tea also prevents inflammation, which may increase the antimicrobial effects on an individual.

In the case of green tea for urinary tract infections, which are often caused by Escherichia coli, one study suggested that drinking a cup of brewed green tea may control bacterial growth for up to six hours, and possibly longer.^{[xii]And[xiii]}

4. Curcumin

curcuminAn active compound in the spice turmeric, it has been a part of Asian traditional medicine for centuries and has remarkable antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects, including against:^[xiv]

Staphylococcus aureus	Streptococcus	Gram-positive bacteria, including Listeria
Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli	pseudo	human immunodeficiency virus
Lever Inflammation	flu	herpes viruses
human papillomavirus (HPV)	respiratory syncytial virus	Norovirus
Arboviruses	candida	Aspergillus fungus
occult	Dermatophytes	Helicobacter pylori

In addition to taking it orally, curcumin can also be used topically to treat conditions such as HPV and oral plaque.^[xv]

5. Honey

Honey is another ancient remedy that has long been used to combat bacteria and treat infections, burns, and wounds.^[xvi] It is unique in that it has broad spectrum antibacterial activity with multiple components acting synergistically, preventing biofilm formation and reducing production of virulence factors.

honey It’s also known to prevent bacterial contact, which means it’s less likely to develop antibiotic resistance against honey, and because it contains prebiotics, probiotics and zinc, it supports the growth of beneficial gut flora that is also useful in controlling infection.^[xvii]

Honey contains more than 180 compounds, including enzymes, amino acids, organic acids, vitamins and minerals, a complex composition that makes it useful against even multidrug resistant bacteria. Ulcers, burns, eye and skin diseases, post-operative wounds and traumatic injuries are among those often treated with honey.^[xviii]

Is nature the answer?

The fact that 30% to 50% of pharmaceuticals and nutrients are derived from plants is a testament to their powerful healing capabilities.^[xix] Plants and other natural compounds are increasingly being evaluated in the search for compounds to combat antimicrobial resistance, but it is difficult to isolate effective individual active compounds from nature, which tend to work best in synergy.^[xx]

However, nature holds tremendous promise. “Synergy combinations of antimicrobial agents with different mechanisms of action have been presented as more successful infection control strategies involving multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria,” write the researchers in PLOS One.^[xxi] Other natural compounds best known for their antibacterial activity include nigella (Nigella sativa)black bean), Berberine And bee propolis.

On an individual level, using antibiotics only when necessary, consuming organic, antibiotic-free foods and embracing natural antibiotic compounds is a balanced approach to staying healthy.

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references

[i] WHO, Antimicrobial resistance October 13, 2020 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance

[ii] US CDC, Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistance https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/index.html

[iii] WHO, Antimicrobial resistance October 13, 2020 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance

[iv] Element August 11, 2015 https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.01129-15

[v] Element August 11, 2015 https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.01129-15

[vi] Frontiers in the biological sciences 17, 1861-1881, January 1, 2012 https://www.fbscience.com/Landmark/articles/pdf/Landmark4024.pdf

[vii] Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Volume 71, Number 3, March 2016, pp. 572-575, https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkv484 https://academic.oup.com/jac/article/71/3/572/2364412

[viii] Int J. Approx. Precision. Public Health 2020, 17(9), 3332; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17093332 www.greenmedinfo.com/article/vitro-growth-inhibition-bacterial-pathogens-probiotics-and-synbiotic-product-c

[ix] Journal of Functional Foods. October 2020, Volume 73, 104080 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464620303042

[x] food. 2020 February; 9 (2): 246. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7074180/

[xi] frontal microbiol. 2014; 5:34. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4138486/

[xii] frontal microbiol. 2014; 5:34. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4138486/

[xiii] frontal microbiol. 2013; 4: 162. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3684790/

[xiv] In front of me. microbiol., May 03, 2019 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00912/full

[xv] In front of me. microbiol., May 03, 2019 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00912/full

[xvi] Int J Microbiol. 2019; 2019: 2464507.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6589292/

[xvii] J Alternate Supplement Med. 2018 January; 24 (1): 15-24. doi: 10.1089/acm.2017.0017. Epub 2017 Aug 24. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28837361/

[xviii] Saudi Journal of Biology 2021 (28) 2188-2196 https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S1319562X20304952?

[xix] metabolites; 2019 November; 9 (11): 258. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6918160/

[xx] PLUS ONE. 2015 Feb 26; 10(2): e0118431. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118431. eCollection 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25719410/

[xxi] One Plus. 2015; 10(2): e0118431. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4342153/

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Source: GreenMedInfo

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