Antibacterial effect of borage (Echium amoenum) on Staphylococcus aureus.
Borage (Echium amoenum) is a large annual plant of the Boraginaceae family, which grows in most of Europe and in northern Iran. The borage flower is used as a medicinal herb in France and other countries. Iranian borage is used in traditional medicine for infectious diseases, flu and as an anti-febrile. We tested the aqueous extract of borage dried flowers in vitro for its antibacterial activity. The extract showed concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus 8327. This activity was heat resistant, but the activity of freeze-dried extract gradually diminished during a 90-day period. The traditional use of Iranian borage flowers for infectious diseases and for controlling fever appears to be justified.
Abolhassani
Mohsen
M
Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 13164, Iran. mabolhassani@yahoo.com
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D036661:Echium; D035264:Flowers; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts