Anti-Helicobacter pylori and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Eugenia uniflora L

Abstract Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that reaches half of the world population and it's recognized as the main cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer. In this study, we evaluated the anti-H. pylori, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities of the methanolic (MeOH) extract of Eugenia uniflora leaves and chemical profile. Anti-H. pylori activity was evaluated by spectrophotometric broth microdilution technique by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), in addition to the evaluation of the effect on the urease enzyme. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by capturing O2 •-, HOCl e NO• radicals. The immunomodulatory effect was evaluated on the cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and on nitric oxide through inhibition in LPS-stimulated macrophages. The chemical profile was performed by total phenolic, tannin and flavonoid contents and mass spectrometry analysis by ESI-FT-ICR MS. In the anti-H. pylori assay the extract showed MIC of 128 μg/mL, however it did not obtain MBC. The extract also showed ability to inhibit the urease enzyme about 20%. The antioxidant activity of the MeOH extract showed EC50 values of 29.77 µg/mL, 15.71 µg/mL and 442.10 µg/mL to O2 •-, HOCl and NO•, respectively. The extract also showed influence on the release of TNF-α, IL-6 and NO in LPS-stimulated macrophages, ranging from 39% to 97% inhibition. Flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, tannins, triterpenoids and carbohydrates were the major classes of compounds present in the MeOH extract as identified by (-)-ESI-FT-ICR MS. The results indicate important anti-H. pylori, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities from Eugenia uniflora highlighting its importance in the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by H. pylori infection.

Activity of the plant syzygium jumbos against Biomphularia alexandrina snail's reproduction and infection with schistosoma mansoni

The toxic effects of dry powder water suspension [cold and boiled] and methanol extract of Syzygium jambos leaves determined against Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. Snail's fecundity and their infection with Schistosoma mansoni miracidia were evaluated post exposure to sublethal concentrations of methanol extract. In addition, the activities of aminotransferases [ASAT and ALAT] and phosphatases [AcP and A Ik P] enzymes and total protein levels in tissues of snails under such methanol extract concentrations were detected. The methanol extract was more toxic to the snails than both cold and boiled dry powder water suspension with LC[90]- s 17.9, 876 and 388 ppm respectively, after 24- hr of exposure at 25°C +/- 1. Snails exposed to LC[50] of methanol extract [13.4 ppm] for 24 hours followed by 6 weeks of recovery showed a low survival rate by the 6th week, being 23%. The survived snails laid few eggs, being 1.0 eggs/snail at the 5[th] week. However, no eggs were laid by the 6[th] week. This has a negative reflect on the net reproductive rate [Ro] that was reduced by 74.0%. Twenty-four hours in vivo exposure to the same concentration of methanolic extract [LC[50] caused a significant reduction in the activity of AcP while it increased AlkP, ASAT and ALAT activities in snail's tissues. Infection rate of B. alexandrina snails treated with LC[10] [8.7 ppm] during their exposure to S. mansoni miracidia was significantly less than control group being 32% and 67% respectively. The duration of cercarial shedding was shorter than that of control ones and the cercarial production was significantly reduced being 3209 cercariae/shedding snail compared to 13330 cercariae/control infected snails. From the forgoing data, methanol extract from leaves of the plant S. jambos may be suggested as a promising agent for control of medically important snails may be used as an alternative method to control the size of the populations of B. alexandrina