In vitro antiparasitic and antibacterial evaluation of organic extracts of Salvadoran flora / Evaluación antiparasitaria y antibacterial in vitro de extractos orgánicos de la flora salvadoreña

Currently, in developing countries, parasitic and bacterial diseases as amebiasis, giardiasis, trichonomiasis, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, tuberculosis, and nocardiasis are a public health problem. The pharmacological treatment for these diseases is not completely effective and causes several side effects in patients. Therefore, the search for new compounds with biological activity is very important to develop new drugs safely and more efficiently. In this study, different organic extracts obtained from thirty-seven species of the Salvadoran flora were evaluated in several in vitro models to determine their potential activity against five protozoa (Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Trichomonas vaginalis, Leishmania mexicana, and Trypanosoma cruzi) and three bacteria (Acinetobacter baumanni, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Nocardia brasiliensis). The results showed the activity of eight extracts with IC50values of less than 100 µg/mL against L. mexicanaand five extracts with MICs values less than <50 µg/mL against M. tuberculosis. Besides, seven plant species showed MICs ≤3.125 µg/mL against N. brasiliensis. Additionally, secondary metabolites (flavonoids and monoterpene oxygenate) previously reported as active were fingerprint by UPLC-MS to establish a potential correlation with the biological activity showed.

Actualmente, en los países en vías de desarrollo, enfermedades parasitarias y bacterianas como la amebiasis, giardiasis, trichonomiasis, leishmaniasis, tripanosomiasis, tuberculosis y nocardiasis son un problema de salud pública. El tratamiento farmacológico de estas enfermedades no es del todo eficaz y provoca varios efectos secundarios en los pacientes. Por lo tanto, la búsqueda de nuevos compuestos con actividad biológica es muy importante para desarrollar nuevos fármacos, seguros y eficaces. En este estudio se evaluaron diferentes extractos orgánicos obtenidos de treinta y siete especies de la flora salvadoreña en varios modelos in vitro para determinar su actividad potencial contra cinco parásitos (Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Trichomonas vaginalis, Leishmania mexicana y Trypanosoma cruzi) y tres bacterias (Acinetobacter baumanni, Mycobacterium tuberculosis y Nocardia brasiliensis). Los resultados mostraron la actividad de ocho extractos con valores de CI50 menores a 100 µg/mL contra L. mexicana y cinco extractos con valores de CIMs <50 µg/mL contra M. tuberculosis. Además, siete especies de plantas presentaron CIM ≤3,125 µg/mL frente a N. brasilienses. Finalmente, los metabolitos secundarios (flavonoides y monoterpenos oxigenados) previamente reportados como activos fueron determinados por UPLC-MS para establecer una posible correlación con la actividad biológica mostrada.

Molecular characterization of microbial contaminants isolated from Umbilical Cord Blood Units for transplant

ABSTRACT Disposal of Umbilical Cord Blood Units due to microbial contamination is a major problem in Cord Blood Banks worldwide as it reduces the number of units available for transplantation. Additionally, economic losses are generated as result of resources and infrastructure used to obtain such units. Umbilical Cord Blood Units that showed initial microbial contamination were subject to strains isolation, identification, and characterization by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene and Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC-PCR). Moreover, tests of antimicrobial resistance/sensitivity and phenotypic activities that may play an important role in microbial infection were performed. Microbial contamination was detected in 120 Umbilical Cord Blood Units (2.31%) in the period from 2003 to 2013. The most frequently isolated strains were Enterococcus faecium, followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus haemoliticus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus durans, Lactobacillus helveticus, Enterococcus hiriae and Roseomonas genomospecies 5. The ERIC-PCR assays revealed a wide genetic diversity in some strains although belonging to the same genus and specie, indicating different sources of contamination. Broad-spectrum penicillins, third generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones showed lower inhibitory activity on the tested strains. All strains were proteolytic, 67.69% were amylase-positive, 27.6% hemolysis-positive, and 34.71% nuclease-positive. The most common sources of contamination were: vaginal flora, digestive tract, and skin flora, highlighting the need for staff training in good manufacturing practices in collection SCU since all contaminants identified are part of the microbial flora of the donors. Implications and consequences in the therapeutic use of Umbilical Cord Blood Units for transplantation contaminated by multiresistant bacteria in immunocompromised patients are discussed.