Thanaka, powder from Hesperethusa crenulata tree bark, has been used in Burmese culture for acne treatment and prevention for over 2000 years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of thanaka against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Propionibacterium acnes. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion revealed no zones of inhibition for thanaka against the tested microorganisms. Disk diffusion may not be the best modality for definitive analysis of the antimicrobial activity of thanaka. Furthermore, the utility of thanaka in acne treatment may be related to anti-inflammatory, rather than antimicrobial properties.
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