Originally published July 23 2015
This little-known fruit from Mexico could be the key to destroying deadly, drug-resistant superbugs
by L.J. Devon, Staff Writer
(NaturalNews) Plant medicine has been and always will be mankind's superior companion in the art and science of healing.
Modern medicine's antibiotics are now failing mankind, giving rise to drug-resistant superbugs that have the potential to ravage weakened immune systems, taking the lives of patients.
The antibacterial compounds of plants, often neglected by Western medicine, are now providing answers where modern medicine is failing. The antibacterial properties of a little-known Mexican fruit could stop drug-resistant superbugs in their tracks.
If the modern medicine machine would just stop and listen to nature, then doctors would gain a new level of intuition for correcting imbalances in ailing patients. If this wisdom was passed on to patients, then the patients could become their own doctors. The wisdom of plant medicine is waiting to be explored, is begging to be heard, in the shadows of a healthcare system that is so caught up in the profitability of the next pharmaceutical.
Antibacterial properties of Bromelia pinguin L. effective against drug-resistant superbugs
A group of experts, from the Department Biochemistry Engineering at the Merida Institute of Technology (ITM) in Southern Mexico have been studying a little-known fruit native to Southern Mexico. They have found wonderful results. Chemist Barbara Carolina Arias Argaez, PhD Jorge Carolos Ruiz, and Elizabeth de la Luz Ortiz Vazquez have discovered the astounding antibacterial potential of the fruit, Bromelia pinguin L. The pulp of the fruit contains proteins that can destroy drug-resistant superbugs. Likewise, the anti-bacterial Bromeliad extract could be used as a food preservative in a food industry saturated with toxic preservatives.
"We know that proteins inside the fruit have antibacterial activity. We have tested it with S. aureus, a bacterium with high incidence in hospitals which has developed resistance to antibiotics, so they do not work against it," explains research advisor Dr. Elizabeth de la Luz Ortiz Vazquez.
Bromelia pinguin L. had never been clinically studied up until this point. The native people of southern Mexico, including their ancestors, have used the fruit as an anti-parasitic medicine as far as they can remember. Their indigenous experiences prompted the ITM study in 2009.
The fruit, which is a cousin of the pineapple, is located inside the plant, which can grow up to two meters long. Grown from November to May, each bush can potentially produce up to 50 of these delicious fruits.
"We try to find alternatives for the food and health industry, and in this we have achieved a soluble plant extract; we are also characterizing proteins. It will probably serve to exploit this resource or produce within a bacteria, as it is done with insulin production," Dr. Ortiz Vazquez added.
Specific protein in the fruit does the trick
The secret of the Bromeliad extract lies in its proteins. A specific protein within the fruit gives it its superb antibacterial powers and can even inhibit the growth of fungi. The scientists could introduce this specific antibacterial protein into the genetics of deadly bacteria strains, disrupting the bacteria's ability to survive.
"If we find any protein or peptide of 5-10 amino acids, we could produce it at a biotechnological level by introducing genetic information in a bacteria," says Dr. Ortiz Vazquez. Their work was recognized by the National Science and Technology Council in Mexico and awarded the 2014 National Prize in Science and Food Technology in the student category. The Bromeliad extract may very well work its way into modern medicine, helping hospitals defend against drug resistant superbugs.
Sources:
http://www.alphagalileo.org
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml