PLANTS VS MICROBES: THE ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS OF NATIVE PLANTS

Although often traditionally used in an attempt to cure or as a preventative treatment, the true antimicrobial effects of plants are not often certain. With the growing incidence of antibiotic resistance, finding new ways to treat things such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has growing importance. This research’s aim is to assess whether certain native plants, which have been used as therapies have antimicrobial properties against representative bacteria, Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Bacillus megaterium). Using parts from the selected plants and taking into account how traditional medicine is commonly taken, aqueous extracts were prepared in ultra-pure water at a 4:1 ratio of water to plant material. Prior to testing for inhibition of mouse cytomegalovirus (a herpesvirus model which would allow future studies on intravaginal infection), extracts were tested for toxicity on mouse macrophage cells to ensure any viral inhibition was not due to death of cells. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Laura Hanson)