Identifying the Molecular Targets of an Anti-pathogenic Hydroalcoholic Extract of Punica granatum Peel Against Multidrug-resistant Serratia marcescens.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic-resistant members of the family Enterobacteriaceae are among the serious threats to human health globally. This study reports the anti-pathogenic activity of Punica granatum peel extract (PGPE) against a multi-drug resistant, beta-lactamase producing member of this family i.e. Serratia marcescens. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at assessing the anti-pathogenic activity of PGPE against the gramnegative bacterial pathogen S. marcescens and identifying the molecular targets of this extract in the test bacterium. METHODS: Effect of PGPE on S. marcescens growth and quorum sensing (QS)-regulated pigment production was assessed through broth dilution assay. In vivo anti-infective and prophylactic activity of PGPE was assessed employing the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans as a model host. Differential gene expression in PGPE-exposed S. marcescens was studied through a whole transcriptome approach. RESULTS: PGPE was able to modulate QS-regulated pigment production in S. marcescens without exerting any heavy growth-inhibitory effect at concentrations as low as ≥2.5 µg/mL. It could attenuate the virulence of the test bacterium towards the worm host by 22-42% (p≤0.01) at even lower concentrations (≥0.5 µg/mL). PGPE also exerted a post-extract effect on S. marcescens. This extract was found to offer prophylactic benefit too, to the host worm, as PGPE-pre-fed worms scored better (34-51%; p≤0.001) survival in face of subsequent bacterial attack. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that PGPE affected the expression of a total of 66 genes in S. marcescens by ≥1.5 fold. CONCLUSION: The anti-virulence effect of PGPE against S. marcescens is multifaceted, affecting stress-response machinery, efflux activity, iron homeostasis, and cellular energetics of this bacterium notably. Among the major molecular targets identified in this study are LPS export transporter permease (LptF), t-RNA pseudouridine synthase (TruB), etc.

An observational study on acceptability, palatability, and safety of Ayurveda immunity booster kit for the prevention of COVID-19 in frontline workers in Jaipur, India.

Background: National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, India, had distributed Ayurveda immunity booster kit (AIBK) (prepared at own pharmacy and comprising Chyawanprasha - 300 g, Vyadhi Kshamatva Kwatha - 300 g, and Vyadhi Kshamatva capsule - 30 g) for 15 days among the health-care workers, sanitation workers, and security and police staff engaged in the containment zones for prevention of COVID-19. Aim: The aim of present study was to explore the medication that may be effective in prevention of the COVID -19. Hence, this study was done to assess the compliance of these medicines and their effects in the prevention of COVID-19. Methods: One thousand seven hundred and fourteen frontline workers were provided with the AIBK for 15 days from April 24, 2020, to June 27, 2020. Data of frontline workers who had participated in AIBK and completed the treatment regimen with 2 weeks of follow-up after treatment with complete available data for safety, palatability, efficacy, and compliance were included in the study. Any adverse event needing hospitalization or medication, drug compliance and palatability, and appearance of the symptoms of COVID-19 or testing positive for COVID-19 were the outcome measures. Results: Out of 1714 participants, 1003 participants were found to be eligible for this analysis. The median age of these participants was 39 years (range, 19-70), and males accounted for 90.1% (904 of 1003). A total of 7.5% of participants (75 of 1003) reported having adverse events after taking the study treatment. None of the participants reported any serious adverse effects after the administration of the AIBK. The acceptability of the AIBK was as high as 97.4%. None of the participants reported positive for COVID-19 results or COVID-19 symptoms up to 2 weeks of follow-up after completion of the study treatment. Conclusion: The acceptability of AIBK is good and indicates its role in the prevention of COVID-19-like illness, hence further randomized control trials or cohort studies can be done to assess the mechanism of action and efficacy of AIBK as the preventive strategy in COVID-19.

In vitro thrombolytic activity of Dhamasa (Fagonia arabica Linn.), Kushta (Saussurea lappa Decne.), and Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia Thunb.).

INTRODUCTION: Thrombotic disorders are among the major fatal conditions affecting the society. Treatment modalities used for such disorders are either surgical interventions or use of drugs such as urokinase, streptokinase (SK), or tissue plasminogen activators to dissolve the blood clots. These modalities have their own limitations and side effects apart from being expensive. There is a need for safer and cost effective antithrombolytic agents. AIM: To evaluate in vitro thrombolytic property of Dhamasa (Fagonia arabica Linn.), Kushta (Saussurea lappa Decne.), and Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia Thunb.) plant extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Venous blood drawn from 20 healthy volunteers was allowed to form clots which was weighed and treated with the extract of test plant materials to disrupt the clots. Weight of clot after and before treatment provided a percentage of clot lysis. SK was used as a positive and water as a negative control. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The significance between % clot lysis of five groups by means of weight difference was tested by the one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Clot lysis observed were 68.06%, 14.85%, 25.01%, 92.54%, and 3.00% for Dhamasa, Kushta, Guduchi, SK, and distilled water, respectively. CONCLUSION: Herbal extracts possess thrombolytic properties and lyse blood clots in vitro.