Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(13), 7112. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137112 Dr. Pille-Riin Laanet et al.
Points
- Researchers found that hydroalcoholic extracts from Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata significantly inhibited the Lyme disease bacterium B. burgdorferi, reducing bacterial viability by up to 85 percent through synergistic phytochemical effects.
- Chemical analysis of the plantain extracts revealed high levels of polyphenolics, flavonoids, iridoids, and antioxidants, with P. major rich in plantamajoside and P. lanceolata containing more acteoside, which has known antimicrobial properties.
- The study demonstrated that plantain extracts could reduce B. burgdorferi biofilm formation by 30 percent, crucial in treating chronic Lyme disease, where bacteria often evade antibiotics through biofilms.
- These findings suggest that plantain extracts could be an effective complementary therapy in managing Lyme disease, especially when traditional antibiotics fail to eliminate the infection.
- Further research is needed to understand how plantain compounds work together to inhibit B. burgdorferi and assess their clinical potential in future plant-based therapeutic approaches for Lyme disease.
Summary
A recent study explored the potential of Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata (plantain plants) as inhibitors of Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi), the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. The researchers focused on biofilm inhibition and bacterial growth reduction using hydroalcoholic extracts from both species. Chemical analysis revealed substantial levels of polyphenolics, flavonoids, iridoids, and potent antioxidant properties in both plants. P. major was found to have higher levels of plantamajoside, while P. lanceolata had more acteoside, which has known anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. When tested against B. burgdorferi, plantain extracts inhibited bacterial viability by up to 85%, with plantamajoside and acteoside showing weaker individual effects than the full extracts, indicating a synergistic effect of combined phytochemicals.
The study further investigated the ability of plantain extracts to prevent biofilm formation by B. burgdorferi. Biofilms are a defense mechanism that makes bacteria resistant to treatment and immune system responses. The results showed that plantain extracts reduced biofilm formation by 30%, highlighting the potential of these plants to address chronic Lyme disease caused by biofilm-associated bacterial persistence. This is significant, as biofilm inhibition is crucial to treating persistent Lyme disease, which is often difficult to manage with conventional antibiotics.
This research underscores the therapeutic potential of plantain plants in combating Lyme disease, particularly in cases where antibiotic treatment fails to resolve the infection completely. Plantain extracts present a promising avenue for further exploration as a complementary treatment option for chronic Lyme disease by targeting both bacterial growth and biofilm formation. The findings warrant additional studies to understand the mechanisms behind these effects better and evaluate plantain-based therapies’ clinical applicability.
Link to the article: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/13/7112
References Laanet, P.-R., Bragina, O., Jõul, P., & Vaher, M. (2024). Plantago major and plantago lanceolata exhibit antioxidant and borrelia burgdorferi inhibiting activities. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(13), 7112. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137112
