title: The modified Gingyo-san, a Chinese herbal medicine, has direct antibacterial effects against respiratory pathogens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Modified Gingyo-san (MGS) is empirically used to treat various respiratory infections. MGS has been reported to have antiinflammatory and antiviral activities; however, it is not known if it has an antibacterial activity. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of MGS against respiratory pathogens.
  
  
  METHODS
  MGS, which is sold as an over-the-counter drug in Japan, was used for the study. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the disk diffusion method. Growth inhibitory activity was evaluated by measuring colony-forming units of the pathogens in the presence of MGS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MGS inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes, which are gram-positive bacteria. Although the growth of most gram-negative bacteria was not inhibited by MGS, interestingly, the growth of Haemophilus influenzae was inhibited. MGS did not show any activity against Candida albicans or bacteriophage φX174.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to the antiinflammatory and antiviral activities of MGS, which have already been reported, the data obtained from this study indicates that MGS has an antibacterial activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachiouji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wajima
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachiouji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidemasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakaminami
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachiouji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachiouji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan. noguchin@toyaku.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Noguchi
mesh_terms: D000072283:A549 Cells; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C115275:gingyo-san
keywords: Chinese herbal medicine; Modified Gingyo-san; Respiratory pathogen