Indian wild plants may play a role in fighting bacterial and fungal infections in the mouths of oral cancer patients, according to new research (Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, May 20, 2011).
Investigators from India tested extracts from several plants used in traditional or folk medicine against microbials found in oral cancer patients' mouths. Of the 40 patients studied, 35 had compromised immune systems with severely reduced neutrophil counts.
Results showed eight of the plants tested significantly affected the growth of organisms collected by the oral swab and pure cultures of bacteria and fungi grown in the lab. These included wild asparagus, desert date, false daisy, curry tree, castor oil plant, and fenugreek.
"Several of the plants tested were broad spectrum antibiotics able to combat bacteria, including E. coli, S. aureus, and the fungi Candida and Aspergillus," said study author Jaya Parkash Yadav, MD. "Both desert date and castor oil plant were especially able to target bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are known to be difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics."
