February 12, 2009 -- Biotoxicology researchers Bachir Raho Ghalem and Benali Mohamed from Djillali Liabès University in Algeria have identified antibacterial activity in oils distilled from the traditional stomach medicine known as mastic gum (resin from the stem of the Atlas pistachio trees) which appears to protect against common pathogens like Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus.