Antibacterial Effect of Liquidambar Orientalis Miller Resin on Nosocomial Infection Agents

Abstract

Aim: Today, nosocomial infections are becoming an important problem due to antibiotic resistance, and high mortality rates. There is a need for novel and natural antimicrobial agents that can be used in the treatment of nosocomial infections. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the antibacterial effect of Liquidambar Orientalis Miller (Sweetgum tree) resin, an endemic species grown only in our country, on nosocomial infection-caused bacteria.

Material and Methods: In our study, Liquidambar Orientalis Miller resin was obtained from the Marmaris district of Muğla province. The antibacterial effect of this resin on P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, K. pneumonia ATCC 700603, S. haemolyticus ATCC 43252, A. baumannii ATCC 19606 and E. faecalis ATCC 29212 bacteria, was investigated by agar well diffusion method. Penicillin (10U), Streptomycin (10µg), and Vancomycin (30µg) antibiotics were used as a control in the study.

Results: As a result of the study, it was observed that the sweetgum tree resin exhibited an inhibition zone (average: 23.2 mm) on all tested bacteria. It has been determined that sweetgum tree resin formed a higher inhibition zone on Gram-positive bacteria than on Gram-negative bacteria.

Conclusion: In studies with different drugs (balsam, leaf extracts, etc.) of the Liquidambar Orientalis tree, it has been reported that they have antibacterial effects on various bacteria. However, in this study, it was determined that Liquidambar Orientalis Miller resin has an antibacterial effect on nosocomial infection agent bacteria. Our results show that the resin of Liquidambar Orientalis has the potential to be used as an alternative to antibiotics for nosocomial infections.