Salmonella is the name of a genus of bacteria that causes salmonellosis, an infection in the intestinal tract that produces nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The Mayo Clinic states that there are more than 2,000 varieties of salmonella bacteria, but only about 12 cause salmonellosis in humans. The most common way of getting a salmonella infection is from eating raw or undercooked foods that have been contaminated with the bacteria, including meat, fish, vegetables and eggs. The infection may last up to a week, and doctors can prescribe antidiarrheals and antibiotics. Herbs high in antioxidants and phenolic compounds are useful in fighting the symptoms and pathogens in salmonella infections.
Schizandra
Schizandra berries (Schisandra chinensis), also known as "wu wei zi" in traditional Chinese medicine, are a popular herb for treating diarrhea, due to their potent astringent properties. The berries also cause antibacterial action against several salmonella strains. A study published in the October 2006 issue of the "International Journal of Food Microbiology" found that Schizandra berries were effective against 19 different strains of salmonella bacteria. The researchers concluded that schizandra berries may be an effective treatment for salmonellosis.
Raspberry and Cloudberry
Berries have always played a role in herbal medical systems. Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) are high in antioxidant chemicals, including phenolics and organic acids, and are potent microbe fighters. One of the characteristics of salmonella bacteria is that, unlike other forms of bacteria, they possess an outer membrane that is difficult for antimicrobial agents to breach. A study published in the 2006 issue of "Nutrition and Cancer" found that the phenolics in the extracts of cloudberry and raspberry passed through and disintegrated the salmonella membrane, which was made permeable by the gallic acid in the plant extracts. The study also found that the antimicrobial properties in the herbs was still active a year after the berries were frozen.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) has been an important herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine to treat diarrhea and dysentery. The peel of the fruit contains ellagitannins, which are potent antioxidants with antimicrobial actions. A study published in the June 2007 issue of the "International Journal of Food Microbiology" examined the antibacterial activity of 46 herbs and found that an extract of pomegranate peel had the strongest activity against salmonella and four other food-borne bacteria. The researchers found a correlation between the level of antibacterial action in the plants they studied and the plant's phenolic content. Pomegranate peel extract scored high in both areas.
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