Class

Article

College

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department

English Department

Faculty Mentor

Amita Kaundal

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Abstract

Plants produce secondary metabolites for a variety of functions, one of which is for antibiotic reasons. Sagebrush has historically been used by Native Americans for a variety of medicinal purposes, suggesting that it may have secondary metabolites that would make good antibiotics. The purpose of this study is to continue previous research on antimicrobial activity of sagebrush by specifically testing the root extract against a handful of bacteria. Six BSL 1 bacteria were tested: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, E. coli DHSα, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pseudomonas syringa pv. Tabacia, and Pseudomonas syringa pv Tomato DC3000. All of the bacteria tested had some level of inhibition shown against them by the root extract. P. syringa pv. Tabacia, P. syringa pv. Tomato DC3000, A. tumefaciens, and B. subtilis all had decent zones of inhibition with P. syringa pv. Tabacia having the largest size zone. The root extract was leasteffective against E. coli which only got a zone of inhibition of 0.25mm at 20mg. Ultimately, sagebrush roots do show inhibition of bacteria which suggests it does have the potential for use as an antibiotic.

Location

Logan, UT

Start Date

4-8-2022 12:00 AM

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

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Apr 8th, 12:00 AM

Antimicrobial Activity of Sagebrush Roots

Logan, UT

Plants produce secondary metabolites for a variety of functions, one of which is for antibiotic reasons. Sagebrush has historically been used by Native Americans for a variety of medicinal purposes, suggesting that it may have secondary metabolites that would make good antibiotics. The purpose of this study is to continue previous research on antimicrobial activity of sagebrush by specifically testing the root extract against a handful of bacteria. Six BSL 1 bacteria were tested: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, E. coli DHSα, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pseudomonas syringa pv. Tabacia, and Pseudomonas syringa pv Tomato DC3000. All of the bacteria tested had some level of inhibition shown against them by the root extract. P. syringa pv. Tabacia, P. syringa pv. Tomato DC3000, A. tumefaciens, and B. subtilis all had decent zones of inhibition with P. syringa pv. Tabacia having the largest size zone. The root extract was leasteffective against E. coli which only got a zone of inhibition of 0.25mm at 20mg. Ultimately, sagebrush roots do show inhibition of bacteria which suggests it does have the potential for use as an antibiotic.