Antibacterial efficacy of manuka honey, ocimum sanctum, curcuma longa and 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash on the level of streptococcus mutans and lactobacillus acidophilus - A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To assess the effects of Manuka honey, Ocimum sanctum, Curcuma longa, and 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus levels. Material and Methods: A randomized controlled trial will be conducted on dental students of Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad. The study participants will be divided into four groups. Each group will have a total of 20 individuals. By using a lottery system, Group A (Manuka honey mouthrinse), Group B (Ocimum sanctum mouthrinse), Group C (Curcuma longa mouthrinse), and Group D (0.2% chlorhexidine mouthrinse) will be chosen. To match the circadian cycle, saliva will be collected at baseline and again after 2 weeks between 10 and 10.30 a.m. The sterile container will subsequently be delivered to the microbiological laboratory and processed as soon as possible to measure Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus count. For 2 weeks, participants were told to use 10 mL of mouthrinse twice daily. Results: The mean oral hygiene index?simplified (OHI?S) score of all the four groups showed reduction in their scores from baseline to after the study period. For both S. mutans and L. acidophilus, there was a substantial Percentage Reduction (PR) between the prerinse and postrinse samples in all four groups. Discussion: Because quantitative actions play a crucial part in the caries disease process, the changes in microbial activity before and after administration of experimental mouthwashes were examined. Conclusion: Essential oil aqueous extracts were as efficient antibacterial mouthwashes as chlorhexidine and iodine mouthwashes

Manuka honey enhanced sensitivity of HepG2, hepatocellular carcinoma cells, for Doxorubicin and induced apoptosis through inhibition of Wnt/ß-catenin and ERK1/2

BACKGROUND: Recently, there is increasing awareness focused on the identification of naturally occurring anticancer agents derived from natural products. Manuka honey (MH) has been recognized for its biological properties as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. However, its antiproliferative mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma is not investigated. The current study focused mainly on investigating the molecular mechanism and synergistic effect of anticancer properties of MH on Doxorubicin (DOX)-mediated apoptotic cell death, using two different p53 statuses (HepG2 and Hep3B) and one non-tumorigenic immortalized liver cell line. RESULTS: MH treatment showed a proliferative inhibitory effect on tested cells in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 concentration of (6.92 ± 0.005%) and (18.62 ± 0.07%) for HepG2 and Hep3B cells, respectively, and induced dramatic morphological changes of Hep-G2 cells, which considered as characteristics feature of apoptosis induction after 48 h of treatment. Our results showed that MH or combined treatments induced higher cytotoxicity in p53-wild type, HepG2, than in p53-null, Hep3B, cells. Cytotoxicity was not observed in normal liver cells. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of MH and Dox on apoptosis was evidenced by increased annexin-V-positive cells and Sub-G1 cells in both tested cell lines with a significant increase in the percentage of Hep-G2 cells at late apoptosis as confirmed by the flow cytometric analysis. Consistently, the proteolytic activities of caspase-3 and the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase were also higher in the combined treatment which in turn accompanied by significant inhibitory effects of pERK1/2, mTOR, S6K, oncogenic ß-catenin, and cyclin D1 after 48 h. In contrast, the MH or combined treatment-induced apoptosis was accompanied by significantly upregulated expression of proapoptotic Bax protein and down-regulated expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein after 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed a synergistic inhibitory effect of MH on DOX-mediated apoptotic cell death in HCC cells. To our knowledge, the present study provides the first report on the anticancer activity of MH and its combined treatment with DOX on HCC cell lines, introducing MH as a promising natural and nontoxic anticancer compound.

A review on the therapeutic effects of NetiKriya with special reference to JalaNeti

Neti kriya is an integral part of shatkarmas/the six cleansing techniques that form the most important aspect of hatha yoga. Neti helps in preventing and managing upper respiratory tract diseases. An attempt is being made to collate and review articles that highlight the therapeutic effects of neti kriya. Databases like PubMed (January 1980–April 2016), Scopus and Ayush Portal were searched. We used keywords like jala neti, neti kriya, neti combined with terms such as yoga, sinusitis, rhinitis, common cold, vision, snoring, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and mental health for the search. As only a few results were obtained, we reviewed relevant studies with saline nasal irrigation. Evidence emerging from this review suggests that neti offers manifold benefits and relief from the antibiotic grip. Most studies support the role of neti in treating sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, allergic conditions and in improving vision. Jala neti has a significant role in improving the presence of mind and intelligence. We identified that it can be applied in mitigating post irradiation rhinosinusitis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, randomized control trials must be conducted to substantiate the therapeutic efficacy of this simple cost-effective, non-pharmacological mode of treatment.

Effect of Manuka Honey on Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1-Induced Extracelluar Matrix Production in Nasal Polyp Derived Fibroblasts / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Manuka honey has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative action with a high concentration of methylglyoxal compound. It is also effective in killing Staphylococcus aureus biofilm and effective for the acute exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-fibrotic effect of manuka honey in nasal polyp fibroblasts. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Primary nasal fibroblasts were isolated from nasal polyps and treated with transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1). To determine the anti-fibrotic effect of manuka honey, fibroblasts were pre-treated with various concentration of the honey. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were then performed to determine α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen type I, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and protein production in nasal polyp fibroblasts. Phosphorylated Smad (pSmad) 2/3 and phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (pAMPK) were then determined by western blotting. RESULTS: TGF-β1 stimulation increased α-SMA, collagen type I, and MMP-9 mRNA expression and protein production in nasal polyp fibroblasts. Manuka honey effectively suppressed α-SMA, collagen type I, and MMP-9 mRNA expression and protein production. Its inhibitory role on TGF-β1 induced myofibroblast differentiation and its extracellular matrix production was associated with Smad2/3 and AMPK pathway. CONCLUSION: Manuka honey can inhibit TGF-β1 induced myofibroblast differentiation, collagen type I, and MMP-9 production in nasal fibroblasts. These results suggest that manuka honey might be a useful candidate for the inhibition of nasal polyp formation if further studies in vivo were accompanied.

Comparison of Manuka, Kanuka, and Black Locust Honey on the Production of Chemical Mediators by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Honey has various biological and pharmacological activities and has been used as treatment against various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the anti-inflammatory characteristics of manuka, kanuka, and black locust honey. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy human volunteers were isolated and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without pre-treatment of various concentrations of honey for 72 hours. The cytotoxic effects of honeys were measured using an aqueous cell proliferation kit, and the supernatants were analyzed for interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-10, interferon-γ (INF-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Samples of 1% manuka and kanuka honey were found to have cytotoxic effects on PBMCs. Honey itself enhanced the production of IL-10 and TNF-α production. Manuka and kanuka honeys suppressed LPS-induced IL-10 and INF-γ production, while black locust honey only suppressed IL-10 production from PBMCs. CONCLUSION: Honeys had immunomodulatory properties of both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects on PBMCs. Different honeys might have different immune modulatory functions due to their different components.

Manuka honey protects middle-aged rats from oxidative damage

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of manuka honey on the oxidative status of middle-aged rats. METHOD: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into young (2 months) and middle-aged (9 months) groups. They were further divided into two groups each, which were either fed with plain water (control) or supplemented with 2.5 g/kg body weight of manuka honey for 30 days. The DNA damage level was determined via the comet assay, the plasma malondialdehyde level was determined using high performance liquid chromatography, and the antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) were determined spectrophotometrically in the erythrocytes and liver. The antioxidant activities were measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assays, and the total phenolic content of the manuka was analyzed using UV spectrophotometry and the Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. RESULTS: Supplementation with manuka honey reduced the level of DNA damage, the malondialdehyde level and the glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver of both the young and middle-aged groups. However, the glutathione peroxidase activity was increased in the erythrocytes of middle-aged rats given manuka honey supplementation. The catalase activity was reduced in the liver and erythrocytes of both young and middle-aged rats given supplementation. Manuka honey was found to have antioxidant activity and to have a high total phenolic content. These findings showed a strong correlation between the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. CONCLUSIONS: Manuka honey reduces oxidative damage in young and middle-aged rats; this effect could be mediated through the modulation of its antioxidant enzyme activities and its high total phenolic content. Manuka honey can be used as an alternative supplement at an early age to improve the oxidative status. .