What is it about?
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) attach to cells in the small intestine and causes diarrhea. The bacteria attach to cells and induce the formation of a "pedestal" rich in actin. Hibiscus sabdariffa (also known as Roselle, Jamaica flower) is a popular tisane in many countries. We have studied the effect of the tisane on the bacteria: division, death, attachment to cells, and formation of pedestals.
Featured Image
Photo by CDC on Unsplash
Why is it important?
We have discovered that hibiscus tisane is able to kill the bacteria, inhibits their adhesion to cells, and blocks the formation of pedestals. Interestingly, we found the bacteria form filaments when exposed to the aqueous extracts of hibiscus, an effect produced by some antibiotics.
Perspectives
Hibiscus tisane could be of help to eliminate pathogenic bacteria from the intestine, such as EPEC.
Narcisa Martinez Quiles
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa inhibits pedestal induction by enteropathogenic E. coli and promotes bacterial filamentation in vitro, PLoS ONE, March 2019, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213580.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
