A molecule from chestnut leaves may defeat staphylococcus

According to statistics, from year to year, bacterial infections kill approximately 700,000 people worldwide. If no new treatments are found, the number will rise.

As we know, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been recognized as one of the most dangerous pathogens. It provokes diseases that are intractable and most often fatal hospital infections. Scientists from Quave's lab have found compounds in European chestnut leaves that actively block MRSA virulence, allowing tissues and cells to heal from infection naturally. This molecule that is neutralized by drug-resistant and dangerous staphylococci was named Castaneroxy A.

The scientists carried out an experiment on MRSA infected mice and confirmed the effectiveness of Castaneroxy A in suppressing MRSA virulence. This compound does not affect the balance of the skin microflora, but only suppresses the activity of MRSA, while weakening the bacteria. As a result the immune system can cope with the infection on its own. The scientists hope that this discovery may help them to develop new innovative antimicrobial drugs that act on a completely new principle than antibiotics.

Source: sciencedaily