Assessing the use of Green Tea and Turmeric as Biofilm Inhibitors
Start Date
29-4-2022 3:45 PM
Location
Alter Hall Poster Session 2 - 3rd floor
Abstract
Biofilms produce a protective extracellular matrix that blocks the entry of antibiotics, making biofilms the root of many human health issues from plaque on teeth to delaying the healing of chronic wounds (Kwiecinsi et al., 2015; Wu et al, 2019). The present study originally aimed to investigate cost-effective solutions to Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms on chronic wounds by comparing turmeric and green tea as antibiofilm agents. Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound with antibiofilm properties that disturb the extracellular matrix and disrupt homeostasis, thus halting biofilm development (Batista de Andrade Neto et al., 2021; Farkash et al., 2018; Rajasekar et al., 2021). Epigallocatechin gallate, the active ingredient in green tea, shows similar biofilm inhibitory effects due to its ability to disrupt the cell envelope, decrease gene expression, and reduce amyloid fibers in the extracellular matrix (Falcinelli et al., 2017; Xu et al., 2021; Zayed et al., 2021). We hypothesized that as the concentration of green tea or turmeric increased, the amount of biofilm present would decrease. The results of this method were inconclusive as the method itself required revisions between each trial. As the study progressed, the goal shifted to finding a method that would effectively test this research question using absorbance as a measure of biofilm formation. Further work will be needed to determine an effective method to study biofilm inhibition due to the action of turmeric and green tea.
Assessing the use of Green Tea and Turmeric as Biofilm Inhibitors
Alter Hall Poster Session 2 - 3rd floor
Biofilms produce a protective extracellular matrix that blocks the entry of antibiotics, making biofilms the root of many human health issues from plaque on teeth to delaying the healing of chronic wounds (Kwiecinsi et al., 2015; Wu et al, 2019). The present study originally aimed to investigate cost-effective solutions to Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms on chronic wounds by comparing turmeric and green tea as antibiofilm agents. Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound with antibiofilm properties that disturb the extracellular matrix and disrupt homeostasis, thus halting biofilm development (Batista de Andrade Neto et al., 2021; Farkash et al., 2018; Rajasekar et al., 2021). Epigallocatechin gallate, the active ingredient in green tea, shows similar biofilm inhibitory effects due to its ability to disrupt the cell envelope, decrease gene expression, and reduce amyloid fibers in the extracellular matrix (Falcinelli et al., 2017; Xu et al., 2021; Zayed et al., 2021). We hypothesized that as the concentration of green tea or turmeric increased, the amount of biofilm present would decrease. The results of this method were inconclusive as the method itself required revisions between each trial. As the study progressed, the goal shifted to finding a method that would effectively test this research question using absorbance as a measure of biofilm formation. Further work will be needed to determine an effective method to study biofilm inhibition due to the action of turmeric and green tea.
