Cytotoxicity and Determination of Antibacterial Properties in Taraxacum officinale and Cichorium intybus — 15p — Joy Main, Lexa Burtzlaff, Kaesha Davis, Dr. Kathleen Gibson, Ph.D.

Department of Natural Resources, Mount Marty University, Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network, South Dakota USA

Throughout history, plants have been used to treat illnesses and heal wounds, but now it’s becoming more apparent just how well these plants can be harnessed to help solve some of the most emergent medical problems we have today. Specifically, finding solutions to the increase of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) or Cichorium intybus (Chicory) inhibit certain bacteria using a Kirby-Bauer assay, with Gentamicin as our positive control, and a cytotoxicity assay using Artemia salina (brine shrimp) to determine if the plant will damage eukaryotic cells. The results of the Kirby-Bauer assay determined that Dandelion can not inhibit Gram-positive or negative bacteria, Chicory can inhibit Gram-positive bacteria, and the cytotoxicity results determined that Chicory was minimally cytotoxic to brine shrimp. The results mean that Chicory can now be tested for a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).

Mount Marty University
Dr. Kathleen Gibson