A thousand-year-old ointment made from ox bile, wine, garlic, and onions has been found to kill many bacteria that are already immune to conventional antibiotics. Many bacteria, including strains of the hospital superbug Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the wound bacterium Acinetobacter baumanii, have developed immunity to almost all antibiotics. Even more difficult to combat are pathogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans, which form a protective biofilm that shields them from antibacterial agents. Scientists at the University of Warwick have discovered a salve in Bald’s Leechbook, a medieval recipe book, that is said to treat common wound bacteria. The salve, which is made up of equal parts of ox bile, wine, garlic, and onions, was tested on various bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Acinetobacter baumanii, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The researchers found that the salve was effective in killing almost all of the bacteria cultures.
The researchers also found that the medieval ointment was effective in killing bacteria with protective biofilms. However, biofilms made up of multi-resistant MRSA bacteria could not be completely killed, but were significantly reduced by the medication. The study shows that Bald’s Eye Salve is a promising candidate for an antimicrobial agent. The study also shows that medicine was able to develop effective drugs against dangerous pathogens in the Middle Ages. The high efficacy of the ingredients is only triggered by their combination. The study suggests that the research on natural substances has so far focused on isolating individual active ingredients and compounds. However, the results show that scientists could overlook potent, biofilm-effective agents because the effect of such natural remedies often only occurs through the cocktail of various substances.
In the future, the medieval ointment could be used directly, for example, in the treatment of slow-healing wounds in diabetics. The discovery of the Bald’s Eye Salve is a significant breakthrough in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The study highlights the importance of exploring natural remedies and the potential of combining various substances to create effective treatments.
