Antibacterial Effects of Galla Rhois Extract against Streptococcus suis Infection in Mice

Abstract

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a major swine pathogen and an emerging zoonotic agent and is an increasing public health problem across Asia. The present study was undertaken to estimate the antibacterial effect of GR extract and therapeutic effect of GR extract against S. suis infection in mice. At the concentration of GR extract 2.5 mg/ml, the antibacterial effect was not shown on S. suis. However, the antibacterial effect against S. suis was observed at the concentration of GR extract 5.0 mg/ml. Oral administration of GR extract at the dose of 10 mg/kg showed a therapeutic effect for S. suis infected BALB/c mice. The mortality of GR extract-treated mice at the concentration of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg was 80%, 70%, and 50% at 12 days, respectively, while that of untreated mice was 100% at 8 days after a lethal dose of S. suis infection. The results of our study strongly indicate that GR extract has potential as an effective for S. suis infection in mice.