title: Antimicrobial and biofilm effects of herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.
abstract: Of the twenty-two components of tea decoctions commonly used to treat infections, only Scutellaria, Taraxacum, Tussilago and Glycyrrhiza exhibited antimicrobial activity. The activity, when present, was organism specific, i.e., anti-Staphylococcus aureus, including anti-MRSA activity under aerobic and/or anaerobic conditions. However, with the exception of Scutellaria, sub-inhibitory concentrations of the herbs exhibited a pattern of inducing enhanced production of biofilm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA.
authors.forename: Denny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA.
authors.forename: Balbina J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Plotkin
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal