Ginger Extract Inhibits the Replication of T2 Bacteriophage by Inhibiting the Synthesis of Nucleosides

Abstract

Extracts of ginger inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses of animal cells. At concentrations of 1, 2, 4, and 6 ml of a ginger extract per 100 ml of LB broth, E. coli replication was 104.6, 117.7, 117.7, and 122.8% of the control. At concentrations of 2, 4, and 6 ml of ginger extract per 100 ml of LB broth, the yield of T2 bacteriophage decreased by 36.2, 41.8, and 43.7%, respectively. The longer ginger extract was in contact with the bacterial cells prior to infection, the larger was the inhibition of T2 bacteriophage yield. When added 50 min before infection, the yield of T2 bacteriophage was 93.7% of the control, at 100 min prior to infection, the yield was 87.0% of the control and at 150 min prior to infection the yield was 79.9% of the control. The addition of excess glutamine partially reversed the inhibition of T2 yield by ginger extract. With 2 ml of ginger extract, the yield of T2 phage was 71.3% of the control. With ginger extract and 30 mM glutamine, the yield was 81.4% of the control and with 45 mM glutamine, the yield was 93.0% of the control. With ginger extract plus 1, 3 and 5 mM nucleosides, the yield was 129.85, 206.1 and 203.0% of the control. These results suggest that one or more chemicals in ginger extract inhibit the replication of T2 bacteriophage by inhibiting the metabolism of glutamine and the synthesis of nucleotides.

Keywords: Ginger extract, T2 bacteriophage, glutamine, nucleosides

Cite this Article Goldstein G, Bergman SM, Buss MK, et al. Ginger Extract Inhibits the Replication of T2 Bacteriophage by Inhibiting the Synthesis of Nucleosides. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Biotechnology. 2017; 7(3): 20–27p.