MRSA could be wiped out with... OREGANO, say British scientists

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MRSA could be wiped out with... OREGANO, say British scientists

Daily Mail - UK

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 12:02 PM on 24th November 2008

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1088893/MRSA-wiped--

OREGANO-say-British-scientists.html

Bug-killer: Oregano, above, was found to be a more effective

antimicrobial agent than 18 pharmaceutical drugs

The MRSA super-bug could be wiped out using natural oil from

oregano, scientists revealed today.

Researchers have discovered that the herb, commonly used in cooking,

could eradicate the deadly infection from hospital wards.

Tiny quantities of carvacrol, a naturally occurring compound in

oregano, were found to be a more effective antimicrobial agent than

18 pharmaceutical drugs, investigators found.

University of the West of England researchers, working with partners

in India, said carvacrol, which contains potent anti-fungal and anti-

bacterial properties, has a range of medicinal uses.

It can sterilise septic water, kill giardia, treat fungal infections

such as candida and rivals pharmaceutical antibiotics such as

streptomycin and penicillin in its ability to eliminate microbes.

Preliminary research into the oil found that tiny doses are capable

of wiping out fungi and bacteria, including MRSA.

Researchers found that the oil still works at boiling temperature,

meaning it could be used for disinfecting hospital sheets.

Its vapour is equally effective and could be turned into an

antibacterial spray.

Frontline: Alcohol-based hand gel is currently used to fight the

hospital superbug

Mr Heron, whose firm Biolaya led the research in northern India,

said: `Himalayan oregano oil kills MRSA at dilution's of less than

one to 1,000 and the antimicrobial properties, unlike most

conventional anti-bacterial agents, are not affected by heat

treatment.

`Once we have completed our research and published a paper, we aim

to find additional partners to work together with to manufacture

hand soaps, multi-purpose anti-bacterial wipes and other products

for use in hospitals as a preventative against MRSA.

`In this way we to hope to create a direct link between oregano

collectors in the Himalayan foothills and users of the oil in a

partnership that benefits everyone involved.

`Not only will this provide income to herb collectors, it will

reduce pressure on endangered medicinal herbs and provide an

effective natural treatment against MRSA in hospitals.'

Last week Bioloaya, which encourage sustainable methods of farming

in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, was presented with the UN-

funded Seed Award 2008 for entrepreneurship in sustainable

development.

Research: Himalayan oregano has a high content of anti-bacterial

agent carvacrol

The Seed Initiative will work with Biolaya to publish its research

in a scientific journal and find partners to develop oregano oil-

based soaps and sprays.

After initial tests by the leading SGS laboratory in Delhi showed

crop killed MRSA more effectively than all 18 antibiotics it was

compared against, Biolaya made links with the microbiology

department at the University of the West of England in Bristo.

Researchers there confirmed the high anti-microbial potency.

Project leader and professor of microbiology, Vyv Salisbury,

said 'Preliminary tests show that oregano oil is very effective

against MRSA in really quite low doses.

'A small amount will kill MRSA and also the vapour will kill the

bacteria.

'It could be that in hospitals there are places which are difficult

to reach and perhaps the oregano could be used to get rid of MRSA

where there are nooks and crannies.'

Both SGS and the university are continuing the research and aim to

publish a paper with the results in a scientific journal later this

year.

The average NHS hospital deals with 26 cases of MRSA each year, with

more than 4,000 cases reported in Britain in 2007.

Team: Ben Heron, middle, with his Biolaya research assistants in

India

Mr Heron revealed he became interested in combating MRSA after his

father was taken into hospital.

He said: `I was really shocked at the amount of hand-washing,

disposable aprons and gloves the nurses were having to use to try to

prevent infection. Anybody who has been into an NHS hospital in the

last few years will be aware to some extent of the problem.

`I started looking on the internet and found out there was some

research that suggested oregano oil could be used to combat MRSA but

no one had conducted the proper studies.

`I was already working in India promoting organic farming and

sustainable land management practices that benefit people and the

environment. We were already looking at sustainable ways to harvest

oregano.

`I was stunned to find out how powerful oregano could be in the

fight against MRSA.'

The University of the West of England has integrated research into

oregano oil as part of a pilot MSc project.

It had previously been discovered that oregano had the ability to

kill off bacteria, but researchers have now proved the Himalayan

variety could be slightly more effective than the Mediterranean type

used more commonly in Europe.

The variety is known as `bekaar ghaas,' meaning useless grass in

Hindi as even their cows, goats and sheep refuse to eat the herb.

It is thought the high altitude gives the oregano higher than normal

percentage of carvacrol, ranging from 78per cent in July to 71per

cent.