Journal of Environmental Biology

Antibacterial effects of minerals from ores indigenous to Korea

Seul Ki Park¹, Chang Won Lee² and Mi Young Lee*¹

¹Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam - 336 600, Korea

²NT and BT Co. Ltd, Galsan-Myun, Hongsung-Gun, Chungnam - 350 850, Korea

(Received: April 30, 2008; Revised received: July 30, 2008; Accepted: August 10, 2008)

Abstract: We tested the antibacterial properties of a mix of minerals consisting mainly of sericite, talc, and halloysite from Korea. The preparation showed clear growth inhibition of the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, S. epidermidis, and Bacillus cereus, as well as the anaerobic bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. These results indicate that this preparation, made from ore minerals indigenous to Korea, could be used to develop new antibacterial reagents.

Key words: Ore minerals, Antibacterial effect, Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria

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