Gram-negative and gram-positive antibacterial properties of the whole plant extract of willow herb (Epilobium angustifolium).

The emergence of new pathogens and the increase in the number of multidrug-resistant strains in well-established pathogens during the past decade represent a growing public health concern globally. With the current lack of research and development of new antibiotics by large pharmaceutical companies due to poor financial returns, new alternatives need to be explored including natural herbal or plant-based extracts with reported antibacterial properties. Willow herb (Epilobium angustifolium) preparations have been used in traditional aboriginal and folk medicine preparations externally as an antiphlogistic to treat prostate and gastrointestinal disorders and as an antiseptic to treat infected wounds. The authors hypothesized that a whole plant extract of willow herb would exhibit antimicrobial properties on a variety of both Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in culture. The authors found that, in comparison to growth controls, willow herb extract significantly inhibited the growth of Micrococcus luteus (p < .01), Staphylococcus aureus (p < .05), Escherichia coli (p < .001), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p < .001). They also found that willow herb extract inhibited the growth of bacteria in culture more effectively than vancomycin (p < .05) or tetracycline (p < .004). These results provide preliminary support for the traditional folkloric claim that the plant willow herb possesses antibacterial properties against a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Given that whole plant extract was utilized for this study, further investigations are warranted to determine which specific part of the plant (i.e., leaves, stem, roots, and flowers) possess the antibacterial properties.

Natural killer cells and exercise training in the elderly: a review.

Consistent reports of the positive relationship between regular physical activity and immunosenescence have generated much excitement in the field of exercise immunology. It is generally accepted that natural killer (NK) cell activity per NK cell decreases with age; decreases in NKCA have been associated with infection and death in the aged. The effects of exercise and training on natural killer cells, components of the innate immune system, have been studied extensively in young people. However, the published research on the elderly population is limited. Generally it has been found that training increases or does not change natural killer cell activity or counts in the elderly. The clinical relevance of these results is yet to be fully explored. In addition, the limitations of these studies on immune function have been many, and studies are often difficult to compare due to differences in their methods and presentation of results.