Validation of the antimicrobial activity of Nymphaea odorata extract.

Abstract

We previously screened a library of nearly 4000 extracts of plants, marine life, and fungi from the National Center for Natural Product Research to identify compounds that exhibited antimicrobial activity.  From this screen, Nymphaea odorata (Fragrant Water Lily) extract significantly inhibited the growth of Burkholderia cepacia (an opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with drug resistance).  The objective of this project is to validate the antimicrobial activity exhibited N. odorata, extract and to isolate and identify the compound(s) responsible for this activity.  For this project we conducted ethanol extractions on three different parts of the plant: the rhizome, roots, and stems. These antimicrobial properties of these extracts will be determined using drug resistant bacteria including B. cepacia, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.  Here, we will utilize the disk diffusion assays, time-to-kill assays, as well as a fluorescent live/dead staining to test for the presence of antimicrobial compounds.