Characterizing the Antibacterial Properties of Chimaphila maculate
- UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- K’Yana McLean (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )
- Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library
- Advisor
- Conner Sandefur
Abstract: Increasingly we are understanding that metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, involve disruptions in the pattern of microbial organisms, or microbiome, living within us. Addressing the disruption in microbiota is therefore a possible therapeutic avenue to treat these disorders. The overall goal of this project is to characterize the antimicrobial properties of plant-based teas used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. Chimaphila maculata, commonly known as both pipsissewa and spotted wintergreen, is a plant frequently used by Southeastern American Indian communities as a treatment for digestive and metabolic disorders. The leaves, stems and roots of C. maculata plant were collected from Sampson’s Landing in Pembroke, NC. Water-based extracts (teas) were created using these plant parts to use in agar diffusion assays. Briefly, to test for antimicrobial properties, filter discs soaked in teas were applied to agar plates smeared with 12 laboratory strains of human-dwelling bacteria. Teas with concentration ranging from 28% to 80% inhibited the growth of S. aureus, B. subtilis, P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris, C. xerosis and E. facecalis. These results suggest C. maculata teas used in traditional medicine may have antibacterial properties and therefore, may provide an alternative approach to treating disrupted microbiomes in diabetes.
Characterizing the Antibacterial Properties of Chimaphila maculate
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Created on 5/24/2017
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Honors Project
- Esther G. Maynor Honors College
- Language: English
- Date: 2017
- Keywords
- Metabolic Disorders, Diabetes, Treatments, Traditional Medicine, Chimaphila maculate, Microbial Organisms, Disrupted Microbiomes, Plant-based Teas