Anti-Bacterial Effects of Echinacea Extract Using Kirby-Bauer Antibiotic Testing

Session Number

Project ID: CHEM 06

Advisor(s)

Dr. John Thurmond; Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Discipline

Chemistry

Start Date

22-4-2020 9:45 AM

End Date

22-4-2020 10:00 AM

Abstract

Test the antibacterial effect of Echinacea on Bacillus Subtilis, Enterococcus Raffinosus, Acinetobacter Aylyi, Pseudomonas Putida, Pseudomonas Fluorescens, E.coli, and Tuberculosis.

Echinacea, a plant used in teas and supplements for medical purposes, is rumored to have a significant effect on the immune system and reduce flu and cold symptoms with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial effects. In this study we tested the antibacterial effects of Echinacea on 7 different bacterias: Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus raffinosus, Acinetobacter aylyi, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluorescens, E.coli, and Tuberculosis. To test it, we created 6 extract solutions by shaking 1 gram of echinacea powder with 8 mL of water for 6 hours. We conducted Kirby-Bauer antibiotic testing of each bacteria with our extract. To do this we prepared 7 agar plates and divided them into four sections. One section was left blank while the others contained antibiotic disks. One disk contained 10 μL of ampicillin, one disk contained 10 μL of our extract, and the last one was left blank. After letting the bacteria marinate at 30 and 37 degrees celsius for 24 hours, we compared the results of the extract to the amplicin and blank disks. Through experiment, Echinacea extract has been determined to have minimal to zero effect on the bacteria tested because there was no visible zone of inhibition around the antibiotic disks.

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Apr 22nd, 9:45 AM Apr 22nd, 10:00 AM

Anti-Bacterial Effects of Echinacea Extract Using Kirby-Bauer Antibiotic Testing

Test the antibacterial effect of Echinacea on Bacillus Subtilis, Enterococcus Raffinosus, Acinetobacter Aylyi, Pseudomonas Putida, Pseudomonas Fluorescens, E.coli, and Tuberculosis.

Echinacea, a plant used in teas and supplements for medical purposes, is rumored to have a significant effect on the immune system and reduce flu and cold symptoms with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial effects. In this study we tested the antibacterial effects of Echinacea on 7 different bacterias: Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus raffinosus, Acinetobacter aylyi, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluorescens, E.coli, and Tuberculosis. To test it, we created 6 extract solutions by shaking 1 gram of echinacea powder with 8 mL of water for 6 hours. We conducted Kirby-Bauer antibiotic testing of each bacteria with our extract. To do this we prepared 7 agar plates and divided them into four sections. One section was left blank while the others contained antibiotic disks. One disk contained 10 μL of ampicillin, one disk contained 10 μL of our extract, and the last one was left blank. After letting the bacteria marinate at 30 and 37 degrees celsius for 24 hours, we compared the results of the extract to the amplicin and blank disks. Through experiment, Echinacea extract has been determined to have minimal to zero effect on the bacteria tested because there was no visible zone of inhibition around the antibiotic disks.