1,000-year-old eye infection discovered to tackle antibiotic-resistant infections

According to scientists, the treatment of eye infections was used 1,000 years ago to address antibiotic-resistant infections.

Antibiotic resistance is an increasing challenge for modern medicine, as more naturally occurring antibacterial agents are needed to tackle infectious diseases that are resistant to currently used treatments.

A new Warwick University study explored natural remedies to fill the antibiotic market gap from a 1,000-year-old text called Bald’s Leechbook.

Based on previous research from the University of Nottingham that used medieval therapies to treat MRSA, scientists reconstructed a potion known as the “bald eye.”

Orbital ingredients used to treat itchy eye infections include onions, garlic, wine, and bile salts.

The team experimented with it and found that it showed promising antibacterial activity.

Bacteria can survive in two ways, either as individual cells or as part of a multicellular biofilm. Biofilm-related infections are far more difficult to treat.

The eye drops tested by the researchers seem to cause only a small level of damage to human cells, which alone (planktonically) alone and as part of a biofilm are effective against a variety of pathogens. did.

In particular, we have worked particularly well on the five multicellular, unmanageable forms of bacteria.

The researchers explained that these bacteria are commonly found in biofilms that infect patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers are sometimes very difficult to treat and sometimes lead to amputations as doctors try to avoid the risk of lethal bacteria spread deadly to the patient’s blood system.

According to the researchers, the use of a mixture of bold eye drops of garlic containing Alligee could explain how it can tackle a single bacterium-but garlic alone can prevent biofilm infections. Cannot be treated

They therefore, that bald eye anti-biofilm activity cannot be attributed to a single active ingredient, and that it requires a combination of all listed ingredients to achieve practically full activity. Suggests.

Dr. Freya Harrison of Warwick University said: “We have shown that medieval remedies made from onions, garlic, wine and bile can kill the problematic bacteria that grow on both plankton and biofilms.”

“This mixture did not cause significant damage to human cells or mice in the laboratory, so it is possible that the treatment could develop a safe and effective antibacterial treatment.

“While most of the antibiotics we use today are derived from natural compounds, our research shows that not only a single compound but a mixture of natural products to treat biofilm infections. The need to explore is highlighted.

“We believe that future discoveries of antibiotics from natural products can be enhanced by studying combinations of ingredients rather than single plants or compounds,” Dr. Harrison added.

“In this first example, we believe this combination may offer a new treatment for infected wounds such as diabetic foot and foot ulcers.”

Her colleague and co-author, Dr. Jessica Farner Padeau, said: “Our research shows how important it is to use realistic models in the lab when looking for new antibiotics in plants.

“A single ingredient is enough to kill suspension cultures, but fails a more realistic model of infection where a complete cure is successful,” Dr. Ferner-Pard added.

They were assisted in their work by Dr. Christina Lee, Associate Professor of Viking Studies at the English School at Nottingham University, rather than by additional research done by medical scientists.

Dr. Lee examined Bold’s reachbook, an old English leather textbook, the only manuscript of which was kept in the British Library to see if it could really act as an antimicrobial agent.

The Reach Book is one of the earliest renowned medical textbooks written in old English, spoken in England before the Norman invasion of 1066. It contains Anglo-Saxon medical advice and recipes for medicines, ointments, and remedies.

Dr. Christina also said: “The bald eye emphasizes the importance of timeless medical treatment. It shows that the people of England in the early Middle Ages had at least some effective treatments.

“The collaboration that provided input to this project demonstrates the importance of art in interdisciplinary research,” added Dr. Lee.