Antibacterial properties of Ya-Samarn-Phlae (YaSP): A pilot study on diabetic patients with chronic ulcers

Abstract

Traditional healers regularly use medicinal plant preparations for the treatment of diseases; however, there are few studies supporting their claims. This study investigated the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of Ya-Samarn-Phlae (YaSP), a traditional Thai polyherbal preparation, and its constituents (Garcinia mangostana, Oryza sativa, Curcuma longa, and Areca catechu) against infective bacteria in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and assessed the wound-healing effects of a YaSP-infused oil in the treatment of DFUs). Their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities in vitro were determined in accordance with established procedures. The extracts showed various degrees of antibacterial activity against the tested pathogens, with MIC values ranging from 2 to >1000 μg/mL. G. mangostana, with its active compound alpha-mangostin, and YaSP suppressed biofilm formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A multi-center, open-label case study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of YaSP-infused oil. In the second week of the treatment with YaSP-infused oil, 13 (93 %) of the 14 patients showed an improvement, with almost 50 % reduction (47.4 %–75.8 %) in the size of the treated wounds in six patients. By the fourth week of the treatment, all ulcers showed various degrees of improvement and the relative reduction in ulcer size was 55.8 ± 25.05 %. These results indicate that YaSP possesses antibacterial and antibiofilm properties, particularly against Gram-positive pathogens. The results also provide evidence for the potential application of the YaSP-infused oil in treating DFUs.