SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF Ananas comosus…

1.0 Introduction

Bacterial infections nowadays are beginning to become major threat, and the
advancement of antibacterial drugs are beginning to fall behind due to the abuse and misuse of
consumers that aren’t well-versed in the proper use of antibiotics. The masses use antibacterial
drugs to treat even self-limiting diseases that do not need those antibiotics, some even discontinue
using antibacterial drugs right after they begin to feel better. This action would do more harm
than good to the one consuming the antibacterial due to the fact that the bacteria inside their body
is not yet fully killed off effectively, giving the bacteria time to transfer genetic codes to other
bacteria of the same species developing a resistance to the antibacterial drug, thus developing
superbugs. Another problem is the supply and demand of antibiotics in the past few years.
Antibacterial drugs are beginning to face a global crisis, as the resistance of bacteria are getting
far ahead of the antibiotics that come out. It is stated that most of the antimicrobial drugs that are
in development and those that come out of development are all modifications of previous
antibiotics and are not good in the long run. (Gray, Dan. “There’s a Shortage of New Antibiotics.
What Can We Do?” www.healthline.com, 5 Oct. 2017, www.healthline.com/health-
news/shortage-of-new-antibiotics#1).

These trends and issues would affect even the most common of infections. The
Staphylococcus aureus is the second most common overall cause of healthcare associated
infection reported to National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). This organism is a gram
positive cocci bacteria that belongs to the family Micrococcacae, phylum Firmicutes. It is a
commensal and opportunistic pathogen that can cause wide spectrum of infection, from
superficial skin infection to severe and potential fatal, invasive diseases. Also a leading causes of
skin related diseases such as furuncles and carbuncles impetigo.

Escherichia coli is a gram negative, facultative anaerobe rod-shape bacteria that belongs
to the family of Enterobacteriaceae, which normally live in the intestines of people and animals,
and may also be seen in the environment. Escherichia coli are pathogenic, meaning they can
cause various illnesses. Some strains of Escherichia coli are beneficial but there are also harmful
that can cause diarrhea, gastrointestinal infection. To control these infections stated above
healthcare workers and scientists worked on a weapon against them, antibiotics.

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SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF Ananas comosus… 2

Antibiotics also known as antibacterials, are substances produced by a microorganism or

a similar product produced synthetically or semi-synthetically by chemical synthesis. There are
different actions produced by antibiotics, namely, inhibition of cell wall synthesis, injury to the
plasma membrane, inhibition of protein synthesis, inhibition of nucleic acid and inhibition of
synthesis of essential metabolites. There are two types of activity spectrum of antibiotics, narrow
spectrum and broad spectrum. Narrow spectrum acts against gram positive and gram negative
bacteria, while broad spectrum acts against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic under penicillin group of drugs that inhibits cell wall synthesis, it is
commonly used to treat middle ear infections and bronchitis.

There are instances in which one antibiotic drug is used in conjunction with another to
bring about an even greater effectivity and efficacy. This technique of combining an antibiotic
with another antibiotic to enhance its effects is called synergism. Synergism is defined as the
action of one drug enhances the activity of the other or vice versa. Combining agents or
antibiotics is a strategy for increasing treatment efficacy and for controlling resistance evolution.
When drugs are combined, their effects on cells may be amplified or weakened. The interaction
of two drugs is synergistic if the effect of the drugs is stronger. (Bollenbach, 2015)

Due to the problem imposed by antibiotic resistance researchers and healthcare workers
turned to traditional and alternative medicine to provide a remedy to the infections. One of the
most popular remedies are herbs and fruits that synthesize biochemical defenses against bacterial
infections, which could be used in synergism with cheaper antibiotics that are beginning to lose
their efficacy to provide a cheaper alternative to consumers that have no access to expensive
antibiotics or those that have no access to a nearby health institution which supplies antibiotics.

The Ananas comosus is common found in the grocery and in many homes around the
world, but Ananas comosus or pineapples, are not only valued for its sweet taste it has been used
to treat inflammation and digestion problems. Also, it could help in range of the condition,
including diabetes and asthma. One cup of Ananas comosus contains 82 calories and 131 percent
of daily vitamin C needs of our body. It contains bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme which is an
enzyme that break down the protein which can be found naturally in the stems of pineapple. It
fights infections and kills bacteria. . In addition to consumption, the Ananas comosus leaves are
used to produce the textile fiber, piña in the Philippines, commonly used as materials for men’s
barong tagalong and women’s baro’t saya, formal wears in the country. Historically, Hawaii had

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SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF Ananas comosus… 3

the largest production of pineapples, but they are now cultivated in large quantities in Brazil, the
Philippines and Costa Rica. That being said, that fruit is native to Paraquay and Brazil, and
possibly parts of the Caribbean. The exact evolution of Ananas comosus as popular global fruit is
still unknown. However it is believed that pineapple was first brought to Europe following
Christopher Columbus’s return there in 1493. The fruiting season of Ananas comosus runs from
March until June and each plant can produce a number of fruits. Due to the fruit’s pulp being a
popular snack to most people, the peel is most often thrown out without an alternative use. The
peel in theory should contain bromelain in a significant amount to work in synergism with
Amoxicillin to provide a cheap and eco-friendly way of combating common infections among the
masses.

In lieu of these statements and facts, the research team is willing to conduct a study to test
the synergistic effect of Ananas comosus and Amoxicillin against Staphylococcus aureus and
Escherichia coli.

1.1 Statement of the problem

Generally, this will determine the “title of the study”

1.1.1. What is the MIC of the peel extract of Ananas comosus and Amoxicillin against
Staphylococcus aureus?

1.1.2. What is the MIC of the peel extract of Ananas comosus and Amoxicillin against
Escherichia coli?

1.1.3. What is the Checkered Board Assay result of the peel extract of Ananas comosus
with Amoxicillin against Staphylococcus aureus?

1.1.4. What is the Checkered Board Assay result of the peel extract of Ananas comosus
with Amoxicillin against Escherichia coli?

1.1.5. Does the peel extract of Ananas comosus have a synergistic effect with Amoxicillin
against Staphylococcus aureus?
1.1.6. Does the peel extract of Ananas comosus have a synergistic effect with Amoxicillin
against Escherichia coli?

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SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF Ananas comosus… 4

1.2 Hypotheses

1.2.1. The peel extract of Ananas comosus has no synergistic effect with Amoxicillin
against Staphylococcus aureus

1.2.2 The peel extract of Ananas comosus has no synergistic effect with Amoxicillin
against Escherichia coli

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