Biologists Proved the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Baltic Orchids
Together with colleagues from Russian universities, a group of scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University examined the properties of the heath spotted-orchid and its extracts. They discovered that the plant has antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity, which is comparable to the effect of the antibiotic. This orchid, found at the Baltic Peninsula, doesn't contain heavy metals, pesticides, or radioactive elements. The plant is suggested to be used as a natural antibiotic for cattle and poultry. The study was published in Plants journal.
Today the cattle breeding is impossible without antibiotics. However, antibiotics are widely used not only as treatment but as disease prevention material and animal growth boost. Due to irrational use, the number of antibiotic-resistant microbes is increasing. It harms not only animals but humans as well. The United Nations report states: by 2050, the number of deaths from diseases caused by highly resistant micro-organisms will increase from 700,000 to 10 million annually. The problem can be solved by reducing the use of antibiotics in cattle breeding and partially replacing them with phytogenous food additives. It means using plant-based substances rich in phenols and flavonoids with bioactive properties.
Part of the orchid family, the heath spotted orchis is widely used in traditional medicine for curing gastrointestinal and bladder diseases. However, there was no detailed research yet. Scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University studied the composition and bioactive properties of this plant. Together with colleagues from Kemerovo State University and Kuzbass State Agricultural Academy, researchers evaluated the safety, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of plants extracts collected at the Kaliningrad region.
Researchers proved that the content of heavy metals, pesticides, toxins, and radionuclides of the tested extracts does not exceed the allowed limit. Moreover, these extracts have high antimicrobial activity: they killed of pathogenic bacteria and fungi with an efficiency comparable to the rifampicin antibiotic. This drug is using to treat and prevent animals' gastrointestinal diseases. In particular, the activity was successful against intestinal E.coli and prosthetic protease, which are causing gastrointestinal diseases. It was also effective against the S. aureus, which causes skin and respiratory infections, and against the fungi that cause candidiasis. In addition, the extracts provided had high antioxidant activity, which promotes faster healing of wounds and recovery from disease. Researchers believe that the use of food additives based on heath spotted orchis will help to reduce the number of antibiotics used in cattle and poultry breeding. Beyond that, it will help to improve animal health and to make the mass intake faster.
"The initiator of the research was the largest producer of fodder for agricultural animals in Kaliningrad region—LLC " Znamenskiy Kombikormovyy Zavod". Based on our research, new feed formulations were developed. The traditional antibiotics replaced with natural components, - says Olga Babich, the Head of Research, Director of the School of Life Science IKBFU. - Our technology does not involve the use of living plants, so we do not affect their populations in nature. To achieve a high concentration of useful properties, we grow cultures of cells of medicinal plants in the laboratory. They are more stable in healing properties and safety. Moreover, they are not that affected by the environmental situation of the region, as the whole plants".
Provided by Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University
