Transcript Man_made_vs_Herbal_Remedies (3)

Man-made vs. Herbal
Remedies
By: Gillian Chandler
Grade 9
Question:
Are herbal remedies more effective in killing bacteria
than man-made medicines?
Research:
• Escherichia coli (E. Coli)
 Gram negative
 thin cell wall made of peptidoglycan
 outer membrane that covers wall
 inner membrane
 less resistant to antibiotics
 bacterial infection
 causes food poisoning
• Bacillus cereus (B. Cereus)
 Gram positive
 has a thick cell wall made of peptidoglycan
 thin cell membrane
 generally more resistant to antibiotics
 bacterial infection
 causes food borne illness
Research:
• Erythromycin works by preventing the bacteria from
producing the proteins it needs to survive
o inhibits the bacteria's ribosomes from producing protein
o can specifically target bacterial ribosomes, sparing the
human cells
o does not kill bacteria, just inhibits its reproduction
o the immune system eventually kills the remaining
bacteria
• used for bacterial infections in the lungs, sinuses, throat, ear,
mouth, stomach, and intestines
• also used to prevent bacterial infection during surgery
Research
• Penicillin works by destroying the cell wall of the bacteria
o without the cell wall, what enters and exits the cell cannot
be controlled
o water quickly passes into the cell, and the cell swells and
bursts in seconds
• used for any type of bacterial infection
• can help prevent infection in a person with a weakened
immune system due to an illness
• to prevent bacterial infection during surgery
Research
• the leaf and oil of the peppermint plant are commonly used
as a medicine
o can be used for the common cold, cough, inflammation of
the mouth and throat, sinus infections, respiratory
infections, and digestive problems linked to bacterial
growth
 the peppermint oil is attracted to the lipids in the
bacteria's cell membrane
 the peppermint oil breaks up the membrane as it tries
to enter the bacterial cell
 the bacteria will then eventually die
Research
• dandelion root is used as a diuretic
• it can be used with other herbs to prevent bacterial
infections
• the compounds in the dandelion root can enhance digestion
o if whatever is ingested by the person moves quicker
through the digestive system there is a less likely chance
of a bacterial infection to occur
 the bacteria will be carried through the intestines
swiftly, more likely without infecting or beginning to
grow there
Hypothesis:
If both man-made and herbal remedies are used
against bacteria, then the man-made ones will be
more effective.
Materials:
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1 molar dandelion root solution
1 molar peppermint solution
Distilled Water
E.Coli
Bacillus cereus
Penicillin
Erythromycin
20 Petri dishes
o tryptic soy agar
• Bunsen burner
• Tweezers
• Inoculation loop
Procedure:
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Crush the dandelion root extract and dissolve into water
Measure and prepare peppermint extract
Prepare Erythromycin and Penicillin discs
Coat a petri dish with E. Coli, then place 2 blank discs and 2
discs soaked in water on the dish
o repeat
• Coat a petri dish with B. Cereus, then place 2 blank discs and
2 discs soaked in water on the dish
o repeat
• Coat a petri dish with E. Coli and place 4 discs soaked in the
dandelion root solution
o repeat with another E. Coli dish
o repeat with 2 petri dishes coated with B. Cereus
Procedure:
• Coat a petri dish with E. Coli, then place 4 discs submerged
in peppermint solution
o repeat with another E. Coli coated dish
o repeat with two petri dishes coated with B. Cereus
• Coat a petri dish with E. Coli, then place 4 discs of penicillin
o repeat with another E. Coli coated dish
o repeat with two petri dishes coated with B. Cereus
• Coat a petri dish with E. Coli, then place 4 discs of
erythromycin
o repeat with another E. Coli coated dish
o repeat with two petri dishes coated with B. Cereus
• place 20 dishes in incubator for 48 hours
• record results
Variables
Control- the blank discs and discs soaked in water placed on the
dishes
Independent variable- type of remedy used against the bacteria
Dependent variable- diameter of the zone of inhibition
Constants- same type of petri dish used for each trial, the same
discs used for each trial, two types of bacteria, two herbal
remedies, two man-made remedies
Data:
Data:
Discussion
My hypothesis: If man-made and herbal remedies are used
against bacteria, then the man-made ones will be more
effective.
My hypothesis was partially supported.
The Bacillus Cereus results proved my hypothesis true.
 the erythromycin had a greater zone of inhibition than
the natural remedies
The Escherichia Coli results proved my hypothesis false.
 the peppermint had a greater zone of inhibition than
the man-made remedies.
Discussion:
Improvements:
-use different types of herbal remedies
-use stronger antibiotics
-allow the bacteria to incubate for a longer period of time
Thank You
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