Antibacterial effect of borage (Echium amoenum) on Staphylococcus aureus
Antibacterial effect of borage (Echium amoenum) on Staphylococcus aureus
October 2004
Mohsen Abolhassani, Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 13164, Iran
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases vol.8 no.5 Salvador Oct. 2004
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ABSTRACT
Borage (Echium amoenum) is a large annual plant of the Boraginaceae family, which grows in most of Europe and in northern Iran. The borage flower is used as a medicinal herb in France and other countries. Iranian borage is used in traditional medicine for infectious diseases, flu and as an anti-febrile. We tested the aqueous extract of borage dried flowers in vitro for its antibacterial activity. The extract showed concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus 8327. This activity was heat resistant, but the activity of freeze-dried extract gradually diminished during a 90-day period. The traditional use of Iranian borage flowers for infectious diseases and for controlling fever appears to be justified.
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