Brazilian pepper tree against increasing antibiotic resistance?

There are specific Compounds in Brazilian pepper tree have been identified, which reduce the virulence of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci bacteria. So-called triterpenoid acids in the berries of the Plant block the production of toxins.

In the current joint study of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Emory University, it was found that the Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolia) seems to reduce the virulence of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci bacteria. The results of the study were published in the English scientific journal “Scientific Reports”.

Natural product to combat MRSA

The study provides the first evidence that so-called triterpenoid acids in the fight against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA, could be used.

What is the Brazilian pepper tree?

The Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolia) is usually in South America. The greenhouse is now in Florida often, where it displaces the native species of plants. Even if the pepper tree is often seen as an uninvited guest, there are many Traditions about the Plant from the Amazon region, where traditional healers use since centuries for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections.

How widespread is antibiotic resistance?

The ever-increasing antibiotic resistance is considered to be one of the biggest challenges for the public health of our time. According to the Robert Koch-Institute in a study on the burden of disease caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens (MRE) for the whole of Europe, which was carried out by the European centre for disease prevention and control (ECDC) was established in the year of 2018. The projections of the researchers that, each year are diagnosed in Europe about 670,000 people in infections caused by MRE. In Germany it is about to 54,500 people per year.

Antibiotic resistance in times of COVID-19

Also during the current COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of antibiotic resistance should not be forgotten. Many COVID-19-patients received antibiotics, to be occurring secondary infections, causing concern about a subsequent increase in antibiotic-resistant infections, causes, report the researchers.

Formation of skin lesions could be alleviated by pepper tree

In the year 2017 has already been determined that a flavonoid-rich mixture of 27 Compounds, obtained from the berries of the Brazilian pepper tree, inhibits the formation of skin lesions in mice, which were infected with MRSA. The extract does not acts by killing the MRSA bacteria, but by a Gene is suppressed, it allows the bacteria cells to communicate with each other.

Blocking communication prevents release of toxins

The blocking of this communication prevents the cells to take collective action. This prevents the bacteria is essentially due to toxins excrete, with which they damage the fabric. The body’s immune system then has a better opportunity to heal the existing wounds, explained to the research group.

So resistant super can develop pathogens

This approach differs from the typical treatment, in the case of the deadly bacteria with drugs condemned to be destroyed. This can contribute to the Problem of antibiotic resistance is exacerbated. Some of the stronger bacteria survive the treatment and reproduce, pass on their genes to offspring and lead to the development of so-called deadly super-bacteria.

27 Compounds were analyzed

For their study, the researchers wanted to the extent of 27 of the most important Compounds from the berries to narrow in order to isolate the specific substances that are involved in the disarming of MRSA. They have carefully refined the original Compounds and tested each new Iteration of their effectiveness on the bacteria. There are also various techniques were used in order to obtain a clear picture of the substances involved in anti-virulence mechanism.

Three triterpenoid acids played an important role

The results of the investigation showed that three triterpenoid acids, the formation of toxins due to MRSA were able to inhibit in a Petri dish reliably, without damaging human skin cells. One of the triterpenoid acids was particularly good at inhibiting the ability of MRSA to form lesions on the skin of mice. It also showed that the triterpenoid acids, only one Gene is suppressed, which MRSA excretion of toxins, but also two genes that are involved in this process.

Why invasive plants for the research are Wild so interesting

Just wild herbs and wild plants that spread quickly and outcompete other species, tend to have interesting chemical arsenals, with which you will be in front of diseases can protect, so that you can spread in new environments more easily, reports the researchers.

Further research is planned

The Team is already planning further studies, the triterpenoid acids test as methods of treatment for MRSA infections in animal models. If this research is promising, would be to optimize the next step, the Compounds to efficacy, administration and safety before they can be tested on humans.

Why is it so complicated extracts isolate from plants to

“Plants are chemically so incredibly complex, that Identify and Isolate certain extracts like picking needles from a haystack,” says study author Professor Cassandra Quave of Emory University in a press release. If you are able to, molecules with medicinal properties from these complex natural mixtures to be filtered out, this would be a great step forward for the understanding of the mode of action of some traditional medicines and for the progress of science in the direction of a possible development path for drugs, adds the expert. (as)