Open AccessEffects of ginseng on Pseudomonas aeruginosa motility and biofilm formation
Author(s) -
Wu Hong,
Lee Baoleri,
Yang Liang,
Wang Hengzuang,
Givskov Michael,
Molin Søren,
Høiby Niels,
Song Zhijun
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2011.00787.x
Subject(s) - pseudomonas aeruginosa , biofilm , microbiology and biotechnology , ginseng , antibiotics , biology , phagocytosis , motility , cystic fibrosis , in vivo , bacteria , medicine , genetics , alternative medicine , pathology
Biofilm‐associated chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis are virtually impossible to eradicate with antibiotics because biofilm‐growing bacteria are highly tolerant to antibiotics and host defense mechanisms. Previously, we found that ginseng treatments protected animal models from developing chronic lung infection by P. aeruginosa . In the present study, the effects of ginseng on the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilms were further investigated in vitro and in vivo . Ginseng aqueous extract at concentrations of 0.5–2.0% did not inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa , but significantly prevented P. aeruginosa from forming biofilm. Exposure to 0.5% ginseng aqueous extract for 24 h destroyed most 7‐day‐old mature biofilms formed by both mucoid and nonmucoid P. aeruginosa strains. Ginseng treatment enhanced swimming and twitching motility, but reduced swarming of P. aeruginosa at concentrations as low as 0.25%. Oral administration of ginseng extracts in mice promoted phagocytosis of P. aeruginosa PAO1 by airway phagocytes, but did not affect phagocytosis of a PAO1‐ filM mutant. Our study suggests that ginseng treatment may help to eradicate the biofilm‐associated chronic infections caused by P. aeruginosa .