Antimicrobial properties of Dead Sea black mineral mud.
BACKGROUND
The unique, black, hypersaline mud mined from the Dead Sea shores is extensively used in mud packs, masks, and topical body and facial treatments in spas surrounding the lake, and in cosmetic preparations marketed worldwide, but little is known about its antimicrobiological properties.


METHODS
We performed detailed microbial and chemical analysis of Dead Sea mineral mud compounded in dermatological and cosmetic preparations.


RESULTS
Using conventional bacteriological media (with or without salt augmentation), we found surprisingly low numbers of colony-forming microorganisms in the mud. The highest counts (up to 20,000 colonies per gram, mostly consisting of endospore-forming bacteria) were obtained on sheep blood agar. Test microorganisms (i.e. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, Candida albicans) rapidly lost their viability when added to the mud. Zones of growth inhibition were observed around discs of Dead Sea mud placed on agar plates inoculated with Candida or with Propionibacterium, but not with Staphylococcus or Escherichia. The effect was also found when the mud was sterilized by gamma irradiation. Using (35)S-labeled sulfate as a tracer, bacterial dissimilatory sulfate reduction could be demonstrated at a low rate (0.13 +/- 0.03 nmol/cm(3).d).


CONCLUSIONS
The antibacterial properties of Dead Sea mud are probably owing to chemical and/or physical phenomena. Possible modes of antimicrobial action of the mud in relation to its therapeutic properties are discussed.
Ma'or
Zeev
Z
Dead Sea Research Center, 86910 Dead Sea, Israel. zeevi_m@ahava.co.il
Henis
Yigal
Y
Alon
Yaacov
Y
Orlov
Elina
E
Sørensen
Ketil B
KB
Oren
Aharon
A
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008903:Minerals; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D008903:Minerals