Abstract
In the search for new therapeutic solutions to address an increasing number of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens, secondary metabolites from plants have proven to be a rich source of antimicrobial compounds. Ginkgo biloba, a tree native to China, has been spread around the world as an ornamental tree. Its seeds have been used as snacks and medical materials in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), while over the last century its leaf extracts emerged as a source of rising pharmaceutical commerce related to brain health in Western medicine. Besides studies on the neuro-protective effects of Ginkgo, its antibacterial activities have gained more attention from researchers in the past decades, though its leaves were the main focus. We reviewed a 16th-century Chinese text, the Ben Cao Gang Mu by Li Shi-Zhen, to investigate the ancient prescription of Ginkgo seeds for skin infections. We performed antibacterial assays on various Ginkgo seed extracts against pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Cutibacterium acnes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Streptococcus pyogenes) relevant to skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). We demonstrate here that Ginkgo seed coats and immature seeds exhibit antibacterial activity against Gram-positive skin pathogens (C. acnes, S. aureus, and S. pyogenes), and thus validated its use in TCM. We also identified one compound tied to the antibacterial activity observed, ginkgolic acid C15:1, and examine its toxicity to human keratinocytes. These results highlight the relevance of ancient medical texts as leads for the discovery of natural products with antimicrobial activities.
Highlights
Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) encompass a broad set of conditions encountered frequently in clinical practice, with severities ranging from simple infections, such as subcutaneous abscesses, to life-threatening infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis
Regarding the effect of tree parts on the inhibitory activities of Ginkgo samples for each bacterial strain, we found different results depending on the bacterial species tested
This study aimed to examine the traditional use of Ginkgo seeds as topical treatment for skin disorders for potential antibacterial efficacy
Summary
Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) encompass a broad set of conditions encountered frequently in clinical practice, with severities ranging from simple infections, such as subcutaneous abscesses, to life-threatening infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis. Various microbes are involved in skin diseases including Staphylococcus aureus, which is a leading cause of SSTIs and is implicated in atopic dermatitis (Dryden, 2009); Cutibacterium acnes (formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes) another Gram-positive bacterium, which can cause acne vulgaris, blepharitis, dandruff and psoriasis (Findley and Grice, 2014); Streptococcus pyogenes, a group A streptococci, which cause. A. baumannii, K. pneumonia, and S. aureus are included in the list of six “ESKAPE” pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.). These six pathogens show growing number of strains with multidrug-resistant profile which are responsible for high morbidity and mortality in patients (Boucher et al, 2009). The treatment of these infections has become increasingly challenging and there is a rising need for new antibacterial agents
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