In vitro antimicrobial activity of Luffa operculata

INTRODUCTION:Luffa operculata is probably one of the most popular herbal medicines used in the treatment of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis. However, its specific mechanism of action is still unknown.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in vitro antibacterial activity of L. operculata against three ordinary agents of upper respiratory tract infection: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes.METHODS: Different concentrations of L. operculata alcoholic extract were applied to bacterial broth containing reference and community strains of the three described agents. After a 24-h incubation period, the bacterial culture turbidity was measured. The samples were then inoculated onto Mueller-Hinton and human blood agar plates. Bacterial growth was analyzed after 24- and 48-h incubation period. The test was considered negative when there was no environmental turbidity, confirmed by the absence of bacterial growth into the inoculated plates. Tests were considered positive when either turbidity changes were observed on the bacterial broth or when bacterial growth was detected on inoculated plates. Appropriate statistical analysis of the data was performed.RESULTS:L. operculata extracts showed antibacterial activity mainly to S. pyogenes followed by S. pneumoniae and S. aureus.CONCLUSIONS:L. operculata extract showed promising antibacterial activity in vitro against the studied agents.

引言：盖果丝瓜（Luffa operculata）或许是用于治疗鼻炎与鼻-鼻窦炎的最常用草药之一，但其具体作用机制仍未明确。
目的：体外评价盖果丝瓜对三种常见上呼吸道感染致病菌——金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus aureus）、肺炎链球菌（Streptococcus pneumoniae）及化脓性链球菌（Streptococcus pyogenes）的抗菌活性。
方法：将不同浓度的盖果丝瓜醇提物添加至含有上述三种致病菌标准株与社区分离株的细菌肉汤培养基中。经24小时孵育后，测定细菌培养液的浊度。随后将样本接种于穆勒-欣顿（Mueller-Hinton）琼脂平板与人血琼脂平板，分别于24小时及48小时孵育后分析细菌生长情况。若未出现培养液浊度变化且接种平板未检出细菌生长，则判定检测结果为阴性；若培养液出现浊度变化或接种平板检出细菌生长，则判定检测结果为阳性。对所得数据开展恰当的统计学分析。
结果：盖果丝瓜提取物对化脓性链球菌的抗菌活性最为显著，其次依次为肺炎链球菌与金黄色葡萄球菌。
结论：盖果丝瓜提取物在体外对本次研究涉及的致病菌展现出具有应用前景的抗菌活性。