TITLE:
Evidence and Potential Antibacterial Mechanism of Chinese Traditional Medicine Compounds for the Development of E. coli
AUTHORS:
Yijun Lai, Yadan Huang
KEYWORDS:
E. coli, Traditional Chinese Herbs, Antibacterial, OmpA
JOURNAL NAME:
Chinese Medicine,
Vol.14 No.3,
September
5,
2023
ABSTRACT: Astragalus membranaceus (huangqi), Allium sativum (garlic), Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon), and Dolichos
lablab L. (white hyacinth bean) are the traditional Chinese herbs that were used in prescriptions in treating diarrhea caused by
bacterial infection. These herbs are relatively safe for use and investigation.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of Astragalus membranaceus, Allium
sativum, Cinnamomum cassia, and Dolichos
lablab L. on the metabolism of Escherichia coli (E. coli). The growth rate
of E. coli was monitored under the
influence of each herb, revealing that Astragalus
membranaceus and Allium sativum exhibited
significant antibacterial activity, whereas Cinnamomum
cassia and Dolichos lablab L. demonstrated
moderate inhibitory effects on E. coli growth. Further inhibition zone testing allowed for the evaluation of each herb’s
potency and the number of generations required for E. coli to develop resistance. Additionally, the impact of the four
herbs on the expression of outer membrane protein A (OmpA) in E. coli was examined by using qPCR. The findings revealed that Astragalus membranaceus acted as a
sustainable bactericide by
inhibiting the growth and metabolism of E.
coli MG1655 through the
suppression of OmpA expression. These results suggest that Astragalus membranaceus has potential as a natural antimicrobial agent for
treating E. coli infections.