The document summarizes research that tested plant extracts from traditional Chinese medicine for antibacterial properties against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Three extracts - CP4, LP3, and CT2 - were found to inhibit the bacterial growth and activity at low concentrations without toxicity to mammalian cells. S. pneumoniae resistance is a major health issue in Tennessee requiring solutions. Further research is needed to isolate active compounds from the extracts that could potentially treat resistant infections.

1. a • GB
100.000
50.000
25.000
12.500
6.250
3.125
1.563
-100
-50
0
50
100
PercentInhibition
C P 4
625 nm
L 6
100.000
50.000
25.000
12.500
6.250
3.125
1.563
-100
-50
0
50
100
PercentInhibition
C T2
625 nm
L 6
100.000
50.000
25.000
12.500
6.250
3.125
1.563
-100
-50
0
50
100
PercentInhibition
L P 3
6 25 nm
L 6
CP4
LP3
1
0
0.0
0
0
5
0.0
0
0
2
5.0
0
0
1
2.5
0
0
6.2
5
0
3.1
2
5
1.5
6
3
-100
-50
0
50
100
PercentInhibition
CT2
625nm
L6
Bacterial Activity
Bacterial Growth
Cell Toxicity
100.000
50.000
25.000
12.500
6.250
3.125
1.563
-1 0 0
-5 0
0
5 0
1 0 0
PercentInhibition
C T 2
6 2 5 n m
L 6
1
0
0
.0
0
0
5
0
.0
0
0
2
5
.0
0
0
1
2
.5
0
0
6
.2
5
0
3
.1
2
5
1
.5
6
3
-1 0 0
-5 0
0
5 0
1 0 0
PercentInhibition
C T 2
6 2 5 n m
L 6
LEGEND
Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of
the normal microbial inhabitants of
humans, living in the nasal cavities of
up to 90% of the population (1). The
bacteria can be transmitted through
the air by sneezing and coughing.
Despite vaccination efforts in the
young and old, S. pneumoniae is
responsible for over 22,000 annual
deaths and four million cases of
illnesses in the U.S. (2) including:
bacteria in the blood (bacteremia),
swelling of the brain and spinal cord
(bacterial meningitis), community-
acquired pneumonia, and sinus
infections (sinusitis).
Pneumococcal bacteremia and
bacterial meningitis most often lead
to hospitalization or death (2). If
successful treatment is given, lasting
side affects, especially in children,
may occur such as amputations,
hearing loss, developmental delays,
and behavioral problems (3, 4).
The overuse of antibiotics has led to
multi-drug resistant (MDR)
S. pneumoniae for which few
antibiotics are effective. In 30% of the
most severe cases of S. pneumoniae
infections, the bacteria are fully
resistant to at least one, and usually
more, clinically important antibiotics
such as penicillin and the Z-pak (2).
Resistant S. pneumoniae infections
have lead to an annual 1.2 million
infections, 32,000 doctor visits, 19,000
hospitalizations, 7,000 deaths, and
roughly $96 million in health care
costs in the U.S. (2).
A total of 120 extracts from 22 plants
used in traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM) from Guangxi Botanical Garden of
Medicinal Plants (GBGMP) in Nanning,
China were assayed against
S. pneumoniae. The bacterial assays were
performed following guidelines of the
Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute for
the broth microdilution assay. After
incubation, the turbidity of the cells was
measured to determine if the bacteria
grew or not. After adding PrestoBlue, an
additional measurement was taken using
a cell viability assay to determine the
metabolic activity of the treated bacteria.
Select extracts exhibiting greater than
80% inhibition and less than 10% toxicity
underwent a series of dilutions to
determine the lowest concentration of
extract that would kill 100% of bacteria.
Figure 1: Consequences of illness due to
S. pneumoniae infections.
Tennessee has one of the largest MDR
S. pneumoniae rates in the U.S.
• Bacterial resistance highly correlated with prescription rate
• TN has 3rd highest prescription rate in U.S. (1.2 antibiotics per
person per year) (5, 6)
• Prescription rate contributes to resistance of S. pneumoniae
(Figure 2)
• Research is allowing new antibiotics that treat S. pneumoniae
infections to be discovered (Figure 3)
Figure 2: Tennessee was monitored from 1995 to 2001 for resistant
S. pneumoniae isolates (7). The graph shows the steady increase in resistance
in TN from 1995 to 2001. As of 2010, East-South Central U.S. (Tennessee’s
Region) has a 13.46% S. pneumoniae MDR rate with a steady annual increase
(8).
Concentration(μg/mL)
Concentration(μg/mL)
CT2
Concentration(μg/mL)
Figure 3: The blue boxes show the lowest concentration at which there was
100% inhibition of bacterial growth and 100% inhibition of bacterial activity.
These three extracts may contain a novel compound that could be used
against resistant S. pneumoniae and lower resistant rates in Tennessee.
Introduction
I would like to thank TCBMR for
providing the extracts for this
research, URECA for funding, and Dr.
Mary Farone for her guidance and
support.
References
1. CDC. 2014. Immunology and Vaccine-Preventable
Diseases- Pneumococcal Disease. p.279-295.
2. CDC. 2013. Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United
States. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. p. 79-80.
3. CDC. 2014. Pneumococcal Disease (Streptococcus
pneumoniae). U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
4. Meningitis Research Foundation. Meningitis and
septicemia. What happens next?
5. CBS News.2013. 4 out of 5 Americans Prescribed
Antibiotics each year.
6. NCBI.2005. Nasal Colonization with Streptococcus
pneumoniae Includes Subpopulations of Surface and
Invasive Pneumococci.
7. Wadley, Fredia, M.D. 2002. Communicable and
environmental disease. Tennessee. Department of
Health.
8. CDDEP. Multidrug-Resistant Streptococcus
Pneumoniae. The Center for Disease Dynamics,
Economics & Policy
• Streptococcus pneumoniae
resistance is a serious healthcare
and cost concern in Tennessee
that requires immediate action.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
offers prospective solutions.
• Continued research is needed to
isolate novel compounds from
the three crude extracts found to
inhibit S. pneumoniae.
PLANTS THAT KILL DEADLY BACTERIA: TRADITIONAL
CHINESE MEDICINE FOR
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Kelly Saine B.S., Mary B. Farone Ph.D.
Department of Biology at Middle Tennessee State University
kas7n@mtmail.mtsu.edu, mary.farone@mtsu.edu
Of 120 extracts assayed, three extracts, CP4, LP3, and CT2, exhibited
antibacterial properties against S. pneumoniae. The toxicity data, rat
skeletal muscle cells, revealed that the extracts killed by harming the
bacteria and not mammalian cells.
Resistance in Tennessee Methods
Results
http://imgur.com/gallery/W8oNq
http://www.drugs.com/health-guide/pneumonia.html
Conclusions
Acknowledgements