Unlocking natureʼs Pharmacy from Bogland Species: Root and aerial extracts of Tormentil exhibit antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects against Acinetobacter baumannii

Potentilla erecta L. (Rosacea), “Tormentil”, is found on peat soil associated with Irish boglands and is widespread across Europe. The species has been used traditionally with mentions of P. erecta in ancient herbal texts to treat oral cavity ulcerations, along with certain contagious diseases [1]. Research into P. erecta has revealed anti-viral and antibacterial properties, with several publications attributing this to the tannin levels present in the rhizome. P. erecta has proven effective against biofilm-forming strains of Streptococcus mutans, as well as strains that exhibit antibiotic resistance. Contemporary research into the antibacterial properties have attributed this to the total tannin content, but there still capacity for a more profound correlation between the bioactivity and the phytochemical composition of the species. Acinetobacter baumannii is currently at the top of the World Health Organisationʼs list for pathogens that are in urgent need for novel therapeutics [2]. Following preliminary testing, we have found tormentil root and plant extracts to have an antimicrobial and antibiofilm effect against a multidrug resistant strain of A. baumannii ([Fig. 1]). Both antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects appear to be dose dependant. This plant contains up to 20% tannins and 5% ellagitannins and one of the most abundant phytochemicals in this plant is the hydrolysable tannin agrimoniin [3]. In this study we found that agrimoniin displayed an antimicrobial and antibiofilm against A. baumannii suggesting that this may be the primary phytochemical responsible for the antimicrobial activity of Tormentil.

Fig. 1 Phytochemical characterisation and biological analysis of Potentilla erecta L.

• References

• 1 Matthias F, Melzig SB. Tormentillae rhizoma – Review for an Underestimated European Herbal Drug. Planta Med 2020; 86: 1050-1057
• 2 Asokan G, Ramadhan T, Ahmed E, Sanad H. WHO Global Priority Pathogens List: A Bibliometric Analysis of Medline-PubMed for Knowledge Mobilization to Infection Prevention and Control Practices in Bahrain. Oman Medical Journal 2019; 34 (03) 184-193
• 3 Hoffmann J, Casetti F, Bullerkotte U. et al. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Agrimoniin-Enriched Fractions of Potentilla erecta. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 2016; 21(6). Available at:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27322232/

Publication History

Article published online:
12 December 2022