title: Stabilizing the bactericidal activity of hydrogen peroxide: a brand new function of certain Chinese herbs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore natural herbs to maintain the bactericidal activity of hydrogen peroxide (H).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen extracts of Chinese herbs were prepared complying with the standard protocol. Each of the solutions was then mixed with 1% H2O2. The mixtures were handled with two approaches: autoclaved daily for one, two or three times; stored at room temperature from one through five years. Then the bactericidal activity were evaluated by assaying the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, ATCC25923) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, ATCC12421) bacteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While mixed with 1% H2O2, 10 out of 18 kinds of assessed Chinese herbs displayed MBC values at 1:12800 or higher after three times of autoclaving, and 8 of them preserved such level of MBC value after stored at room temperature for three years. Some Chinese herbs, i.e. R. Scutellariae, R. Coptidis, R. Bupleuri, H. Epimedii, C. Phelledendri and F. Chrysanthemi, can significantly maintain the bactericidal activity of diluted H2O2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Certain Chinese herbs can effectively stabilize the bactericidal activity of H2O2 undergoing autoclave or long-term storage. This paper reported a brandnew pharmaceutical function of Chinese herbs and provided experimental data for the potential enhancement of H2O2 usage while its stability level is promoted.
authors.affiliation: College of Fundamental Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, China.
authors.forename: Wan-zhen
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ling-ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Qi-jie
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bang-jing
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yong-xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Wei-jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013242:Sterilization; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide