Antibacterial and anti-coronavirus investigation of selected Senegalese plant species according to an ethnobotanical survey.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Senegal, upper and lower respiratory tract infections constitute a real health problem. To manage these disorders, most people rely on the use of local medicinal plants. This is particularly the case for species belonging to the botanical families, Combretaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Rubiaceae, which are widely used to treat various respiratory problems such as colds, flu, rhinitis, sinusitis, otitis, angina, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and also pneumonia. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to identify medicinal plants traditionally used for the management of infectious diseases, in particular those of the respiratory tract. On the basis of these ethnopharmacological uses, this study made it possible to highlight the antibacterial, antiviral and cytotoxic activities of selected plant species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Senegal among informants, including herbalists, traditional healers, and households, using medicinal plants in the management of infectious diseases, with a focus on respiratory tract infections. The most cited plant species were evaluated in vitro on a panel of 18 human pathogenic bacteria may be involved in respiratory infections and against the human coronavirus HCoV-229E in Huh-7 cells. The antiviral activity of the most active extracts against HCoV-229E was also evaluated on COVID-19 causing agent, SARS-CoV-2 in Vero-81 cells. In parallel, cytotoxic activities were evaluated on Huh-7 cells. RESULTS: A total of 127 informants, including 100 men (78.74%) and 27 women (21.26%) participated in this study. The ethnobotanical survey led to the inventory of 41 plant species belonging to 19 botanical families used by herbalists and/or traditional healers and some households to treat infectious diseases, with a specific focus on upper respiratory tract disorders. Among the 41 plant species, the most frequently mentioned in the survey were Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel. (95.2%), Combretum glutinosum Perr. Ex DC. (93.9%) and Eucalyptus spp. (82.8%). Combretaceae (30.2%) represented the most cited botanical family with six species, followed by Fabaceae (29.3%, 12 species). A total of 33 crude methanolic extracts of the 24 plant species selected for their number of citations were evaluated in vitro for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Guiera senegalensis, Combretum glutinosum, Vachellia nilotica subsp. tomentosa (Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., and Terminalia avicennioides Guill. & Perr., showed antibacterial activities. The most active plants against HCoV-229E were: Ficus sycomorus L., Mitragyna inermis (Willd.) Kuntze, Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir., and Spermacoce verticillata L. One of these plants, Mitragyna inermis, was also active against SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSION: This work confirmed the anti-infective properties of plant species traditionally used in Senegal. Overall, the most frequently cited plant species showed the best antibacterial activities. Moreover, some of the selected plant species could be considered as a potential source for the management of coronavirus infections. This new scientific data justified the use of these plants in the management of some infectious pathologies, especially those of the respiratory tract.

Discovery of Anti-Coronavirus Cinnamoyl Triterpenoids Isolated from Hippophae rhamnoides during a Screening of Halophytes from the North Sea and Channel Coasts in Northern France.

The limited availability of antiviral therapy for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spurred the search for novel antiviral drugs. Here, we investigated the potential antiviral properties of plants adapted to high-salt environments collected in the north of France. Twenty-five crude methanolic extracts obtained from twenty-two plant species were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and antiviral effectiveness against coronaviruses HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2. Then, a bioguided fractionation approach was employed. The most active crude methanolic extracts were partitioned into three different sub-extracts. Notably, the dichloromethane sub-extract of the whole plant Hippophae rhamnoides L. demonstrated the highest antiviral activity against both viruses. Its chemical composition was evaluated by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) and then it was fractionated by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC). Six cinnamoyl triterpenoid compounds were isolated from the three most active fractions by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified by high resolution MS (HR-MS) and mono- and bi-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Specifically, these compounds were identified as 2-O-trans-p-coumaroyl-maslinic acid, 3ß-hydroxy-2α-trans-p-coumaryloxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid, 3ß-hydroxy-2α-cis-p-coumaryloxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid, 3-O-trans-caffeoyl oleanolic acid, a mixture of 3-O-trans-caffeoyl oleanolic acid/3-O-cis-caffeoyl oleanolic acid (70/30), and 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl oleanolic acid. Infection tests demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of these triterpenes against HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2. Notably, cinnamoyl oleanolic acids displayed activity against both SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-229E. Our findings suggest that Hippophae rhamnoides could represent a source of potential antiviral agents against coronaviruses.

Luteolin Isolated from Juncus acutus L., a Potential Remedy for Human Coronavirus 229E.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, addressed the lack of specific antiviral drugs against coronaviruses. In this study, bioguided fractionation performed on both ethyl acetate and aqueous sub-extracts of Juncus acutus stems led to identifying luteolin as a highly active antiviral molecule against human coronavirus HCoV-229E. The apolar sub-extract (CH2Cl2) containing phenanthrene derivatives did not show antiviral activity against this coronavirus. Infection tests on Huh-7 cells, expressing or not the cellular protease TMPRSS2, using luciferase reporter virus HCoV-229E-Luc showed that luteolin exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of infection. Respective IC50 values of 1.77 µM and 1.95 µM were determined. Under its glycosylated form (luteolin-7-O-glucoside), luteolin was inactive against HCoV-229E. Time of addition assay showed that utmost anti-HCoV-229E activity of luteolin was achieved when added at the post-inoculation step, indicating that luteolin acts as an inhibitor of the replication step of HCoV-229E. Unfortunately, no obvious antiviral activity for luteolin was found against SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV in this study. In conclusion, luteolin isolated from Juncus acutus is a new inhibitor of alphacoronavirus HCoV-229E.

Antifungal Activity of Hop Leaf Extracts and Xanthohumol on Two Strains of Venturia inaequalis with Different Sensitivities to Triazoles.

Hop cones are well-known for their antimicrobial properties, attributed to their specialized metabolites. Thus, this study aimed to determine the in vitro antifungal activity of different hop parts, including by-products such as leaves and stems, and some metabolites against Venturia inaequalis, the causal agent of apple scab. For each plant part, two types of extracts, a crude hydro-ethanolic extract and a dichloromethane sub-extract, were tested on spore germination of two strains with different sensitivities to triazole fungicides. Both extracts of cones, leaves and stems were able to inhibit the two strains, whereas rhizomes did not show activity. The apolar sub-extract of leaves appeared as the most active modality tested with half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 5 and 10.5 mg·L-1 on the sensitive strain and the strain with reduced sensitivity, respectively. Differences in activity level between strains were noticed for all active modalities tested. Sub-extracts of leaves were then separated into seven fractions by preparative HPLC and tested on V. inaequalis. One fraction, containing xanthohumol, was especially active on both strains. This prenylated chalcone was then purified by preparative HPLC and showed significant activity against both strains, with IC50 of 1.6 and 5.1 mg·L-1. Therefore, xanthohumol seems to be a promising compound to control V. inaequalis.

Multivariate analysis of chemical and genetic diversity of wild Humulus lupulus L. (hop) collected in situ in northern France.

The hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) has been exploited for a long time for both its brewing and medicinal uses, due in particular to its specific chemical composition. These last years, hop cultivation that was in decline has been experiencing a renewal for several reasons, such as a craze for strongly hopped aromatic beers. In this context, the present work aims at investigating the genetic and chemical diversity of fifty wild hops collected from different locations in Northern France. These wild hops were compared to ten commercial varieties and three heirloom varieties cultivated in the same sampled geographical area. Genetic analysis relying on genome fingerprinting using 11 microsatellite markers showed a high level of diversity. A total of 56 alleles were determined with an average of 10.9 alleles per locus and assessed a significant population structure (mean pairwise FST = 0.29). Phytochemical characterization of hops was based on volatile compound analysis by HS-SPME GC-MS, quantification of the main prenylated phenolic compounds by UHPLC-UV as well as untargeted metabolomics by UHPLC-HRMS and revealed a high level of chemical diversity among the assessed wild accessions. In particular, analysis of volatile compounds revealed the presence of some minor but original compounds, such as aromadendrene, allo-aromadendrene, isoledene, ß-guaiene, α-ylangene and ß-pinene in some wild accessions; while analysis of phenolic compounds showed high content of ß-acids in these wild accessions, up to 2.37% of colupulone. Genetic diversity of wild hops previously observed was hence supported by their chemical diversity. Sample soil analysis was also performed to get a pedological classification of these different collection sites. Results of the multivariate statistical analysis suggest that wild hops constitute a huge pool of chemical and genetic diversity of this species.

Antimicrobial Properties of Compounds Isolated from Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. and L.M. Perry and Medicinal Plants Used in French Polynesia.

A preliminary ethnopharmacological survey, achieved in French Polynesia, led to the collection of the most cited plants among 63 species used to treat "infectious" diseases, with a description of their medicinal uses. Bibliographical investigations and antimicrobial screening permitted the selection of the botanical species Syzygium malaccense (Myrtaceae) for phytochemical analysis. Leaves of Syzygium malaccense were usually used in mixture with rhizomes of Curcuma longa to treat infectious diseases such as cystitis. The methanolic plant extracts were tested in vitro with an agar microdilution method on 33 bacteria strains and 1 yeast to obtain their Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells were evaluated. Antimicrobial synergistic effects of methanolic plant extracts from leaves of Syzygium malaccense and rhizomes from Curcuma longa were also evaluated. The bio-guided isolation of leaf extract from Syzygium malaccense led to the identification of seven alkyl-salicylic acids (anacardic acids or ginkgolic acids C15:0, C15:1, C17:0, C17:1, C17:2, C17:3 and C19:1) described for the first time in this species. All compounds were tested against Staphylococcus aureus (18.75 < MIC < 75.0 µg/mL), Streptococcus pyogenes (2.34 < MIC < 18.75 µg/mL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 150 µg/mL), and their structure−activity relationships were discussed. The methanolic extract and salicylic derivatives from S. malaccense showed an interesting antimicrobial activity against Gram+ bacteria, without toxicity on hepG2 cells at 400 µg/mL. Moreover, these antibacterial compounds have already been studied for their anti-inflammatory activity, which supports the therapeutic interest of S. malaccense against infectious diseases.

Lavandula pedunculata (Mill.) Cav. Aqueous Extract Antibacterial Activity Improved by the Addition of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn., Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl and Origanum compactum Benth.

Lavender aqueous extracts are widely used in the Moroccan traditional medicine for their antibacterial properties. However, previous research have generally focused on investigating the antibacterial activity of lavender essential oils. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the Moroccan Lavandula pedunculata (Mill.) Cav. aqueous extract, alone, as well as in combination with extracts of other plant species known for their antibacterial activity: Salvia rosmarinus Spenn., Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl. and Origanum compactum Benth. We have tested the antibacterial activity of L. pedunculata, S. rosmarinus, S. lavandulifolia and O. compactum aqueous extracts individually and in combination against 34 strains using the agar dilution method. The combination effect was evaluated using the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC). Polyphenol and tannin contents were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and then some phenolic compounds were identified using UHPLC-MS. All the extracts displayed a large spectrum of antibacterial activity, especially against staphylococci, streptococci, Mycobacterium smegmatis and Proteus mirabilis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values reached 0.15 ± 0.00 mg/mL for Staphylococcus warneri tested with S. lavandulifolia and 0.20 ± 0.07 mg/mL for Staphylococcus epidermidis tested with L. pedunculata or S. rosmarinus. Association of the L. pedunculata extract with S. rosmarinus, S. lavandulifolia and O. compactum showed synergistic effects (FIC ≤ 1). Moreover, the association of L. pedunculata with S. lavandulifolia was active against most of the Gram-negative strains resistant to the individual extracts. Determination of polyphenol and tannin contents showed the richness of the studied plants in these compounds. Additionally, chromatographic analysis demonstrated the high presence of rosmarinic acid in all the studied plant extracts. To our knowledge, this is the first study that shows the enhancing effect of the antibacterial activity of L. pedunculata aqueous extract combined with S. rosmarinus, S. lavandulifolia and O. compactum. These results confirm the effectiveness of the plant mixtures commonly used by traditional healers in Morocco and suggest that L. pedunculata might be used as an antibacterial agent either alone or, more efficiently, in combination with S. rosmarinus, S. lavandulifolia and O. compactum.

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of a novel enol ether nor-sesquiterpene isolated from Myrtus nivellei Batt. & Trab.

Myrtus nivellei is a plant traditionally used to treat diseases including infection of microbial origin. Several M. nivellei Batt. & Trab. extracts (dichloromethane, methanol and ethanol/water) were screened for their activity against 36 microorganisms, including strains resistant to antibiotics. These extracts inhibited on average 15 bacteria strains with minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.07 to 1.20 mg/mL. Bioassay guided fractionation was carried out with bioautography on TLC plates using four pathogenic bacteria strains, and following chromatographies (CPC and HPLC) led to the isolation of two novel enol ether nor-cadinane sesquiterpenes from the dichloromethane extract. The major compound (1) showed a strong antibacterial activity. Minimal inhibition concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were determined against four bacteria: Acinetobacter baumanii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Staphylococcus lugdunensis. The best activity was observed against Acinetobacter baumanii with a MIC value of 9.7 µg/mL. This novel compound was also very active against a Staphylococcus aureus strain resistant to amoxicillin (MIC 19.5 µg/mL). In addition, compound 1 showed a very high antioxidant activity with both DPPH and metal chelate methods.

Anti-HCV Tannins From Plants Traditionally Used in West Africa and Extracted With Green Solvents.

Millions of people are still infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) nowadays. Although recent antivirals targeting HCV proteins are very efficient, they are not affordable for many people infected with this virus. Therefore, new and more accessible treatments are needed. Several Ivorian medicinal plants are traditionally used to treat "yellow malaria", a nosological category including illness characterized by symptomatic jaundice such as hepatitis. Therefore, some of these plants might be active against HCV. An ethnobotanical survey in Côte d'Ivoire allowed us to select such medicinal plants. Those were first extracted with methanol and tested for their anti-HCV activity. The most active ones were further studied to specify their IC50 and to evaluate their toxicity in vitro. Greener solvents were tested to obtain extracts with similar activities. Following a phytochemical screening, tannins of the most active plants were removed before re-testing on HCV. Some of these tannins were identified by UPLC-MS and pure molecules were tested against HCV. Out of the fifteen Ivorian medicinal plants selected for their putative antiviral activities, Carapa procera DC. and Pericopsis laxiflora (Benth. ex Baker) Meeuwen were the most active against HCV (IC50: 0.71 and 0.23 µg/ml respectively) and not toxic for hepatic cells. Their crude extracts were rich in polyphenols, including tannins such as procyanidins A2 which is active against HCV. The same extracts without tannin lost their anti-HCV activity. Replacing methanol by hydro-ethanolic solvent led to tannins-rich extracts with similar antiviral activities, and higher than that of aqueous extracts.

MeJA Elicitation of Chicory Hairy Roots Promotes Efficient Increase of 3,5-diCQA Accumulation, a Potent Antioxidant and Antibacterial Molecule.

Cichorium intybus L. (Asteraceae) is an important industrial crop, as well as a medicinal plant which produces some bioactive compounds implicated in various biological effects with potential applications in human health. Particularly, roots produce hydroxycinnamic acids like 5-caffeoyquinic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (di-CQA). The present investigation relates to the use of methyl jasmonate for enhancing phenolic compounds accumulation and production in hairy root cultures of C. intybus. Elicitated hairy root growth rate increased 13.3 times compared with the initial inoculum in a period of 14 days and di-CQA production represented about 12% of DW. The elicitation has also promoted the production of tricaffeoylquinic acid never described in the chicory roots and identified as 3,4,5-tricaffeoyquinic acid by means of nuclear magnetic resonance. Our study confirmed the strong anti-oxidant effect of di-CQA. Our results also confirmed globally a selectivity of action of di-CQA against Gram-positive bacteria, in particular against some strains of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. However, a non-negligible antibacterial activity of di-CQA against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also underlined (MIC = 0.156 mg.mL-1 against some P. aeruginosa strains). The influence of di-CQA has been explored to evaluate its impact on the physiology of P. aeruginosa. Di-CQA showed no effect on the biofilm formation and the production of extracellular pyocyanin. However, it demonstrated an effect on virulence through the production of pyoverdine with a dose-dependent manner by more than 7-fold when treated at a concentration of 128 µg·mL-1, thus suggesting a link between di-CQA and iron sequestration. This study shows that elicitated hairy root cultures of chicory can be developed for the production of di-CQA, a secondary metabolite with high antibacterial potential.

Viral hepatitis in the Peruvian Amazon: Ethnomedical context and phytomedical resource.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: An extensive ethnopharmacological survey was carried out in the Peruvian Amazonian district of Loreto with informants of various cultural origins from the surroundings of Iquitos (capital city of Loreto) and from 15 isolated riverine Quechua communities of the Pastaza River. A close attention was paid to the medical context and plant therapy, leading to the selection of 35 plant species (45 extracts). The extracts were tested for antiviral activity against HCV with counting of Huh-7 cellular death in case of toxicity, and cytotoxicity was evaluated in HepG2 cells. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to inventory the plants used against hepatitis in Loreto, then to evaluate their antiviral activity and to suggest a way to improve local therapeutic strategy against viral hepatitis, which is a fatal disease that is still increasing in this area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ethnographic survey was carried out using "participant-observation" methodology and focusing on plant therapy against hepatitis including associated remedies. 45 parts of plant were extracted with methanol and tested in vitro for anti-HCV activity in 96-well plate, using HCV cell culture system with immunofluorescent detection assisted by automated confocal microscopy. Toxicity of plant extracts was also evaluated in microplates on hepatic cells by immunofluorescent detection, for the Huh-7 nuclei viability, and by UV-absorbance measurement of MTT formazan for cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. RESULTS: In vitro assay revealed interesting activity of 18 extracts (50% infection inhibition at 25 µg/mL) with low cytotoxicity for 15 of them. Result analysis showed that at least 30% of HCV virus were inhibited at 25 µg/mL for 60% of the plant extracts. Moreover, the ethnomedical survey showed that remedies used with low and accurate dosing as targeted therapy against hepatitis are usually more active than species indicated with more flexible dosing to alleviate symptoms of hepatic diseases. CONCLUSION: Together with bibliographic data analysis, this study supported the traditional medicinal uses of many plants and contributed to a better understanding of the local medical system. It also permitted to refine the therapeutic plant indications regarding patients' liver injuries and vulnerability. Only 2 of the 15 most active plant species have already been studied for antiviral activity against hepatitis suggesting new avenues to be followed for the 13 other species.

Plant therapy in the Peruvian Amazon (Loreto) in case of infectious diseases and its antimicrobial evaluation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The plant species reported here are used in contemporary phytotherapies by native and neo-urban societies from the Iquitenian surroundings (district of Loreto, Peruvian Amazon) for ailments related to microbial infections. Inhabitants of various ethnic origins were interviewed and 81 selected extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against a panel of 36 sensitive and multi-resistant bacteria or yeast. Medicinal plant researches in the Peruvian Amazon are now significant, but none of them has focused on an exhaustive listing of identified species tested on so many microbes with standardized experiments (to obtain MIC value). AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to inventory the plants used against infections in the Loreto, an Amazonian region of Peru. It led to the new identification of secondary metabolites in two plant species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnographic survey was carried out using "participant-observation" methodology and focus on bioprospecting of antimicrobial remedies. Selected plant extracts and antimicrobial drugs were tested in vitro with agar dilution method on 35 bacteria strains and 1 yeast to evaluate their Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Microdilution methods using 96-well microtiter plates were used for the determination of MIC from isolated compounds, and cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells from some selected extracts were also evaluated. Activity-guided isolation and identification of compounds were performed by various chromatographic methods and structural elucidations were established using HRMS and NMR spectroscopy. RESULTS: This study outlined antimicrobial activities of 59 plant species from 33 families (72 single plant extracts and 2 fermented preparations), 7 mixtures, and one insect nest extract against 36 microorganisms. Of the 59 species analysed, 12 plants showed relevant antibacterial activity with MIC ≤0.15 mg/mL for one or several of the 36 micro-organisms (Aspidosperma excelsum, Brosimum acutifolium, Copaifera paupera, Erythrina amazonica, Hura crepitans, Myrciaria dubia, Ocotea aciphylla, Persea americana, Spondias mombin, Swartzia polyphylla, Virola pavonis, Vismia macrophylla). Examination by bioautography of E. amazonica, M. dubia and O. aciphylla extracts allowed the phytochemical characterization of antimicrobial fractions and compounds. CONCLUSION: This study suggested an a posteriori correlation of the plant extract antimicrobial activity with the chemosensory cues of the drugs and attested that those chemosensory cues may be correlated with the presence of antimicrobial compounds (alkaloids, tannins, saponosids, essential oil, oleoresin …). It also led to the first isolation and identification of three secondary metabolites from E. amazonica and M. dubia.

Phenolic Compounds from Humulus lupulus as Natural Antimicrobial Products: New Weapons in the Fight against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Leishmania mexicana and Trypanosoma brucei Strains.

New anti-infective agents are urgently needed to fight microbial resistance. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are particularly responsible for complicated pathologies that are difficult to treat due to their virulence and the formation of persistent biofilms forming a complex protecting shell. Parasitic infections caused by Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania mexicana are also of global concern, because of the mortality due to the low number of safe and effective treatments. Female inflorescences of hop produce specialized metabolites known for their antimicrobial effects but underexploited to fight against drug-resistant microorganisms. In this study, we assessed the antimicrobial potential of phenolic compounds against MRSA clinical isolates, T. brucei and L. mexicana. By fractionation process, we purified the major prenylated chalcones and acylphloroglucinols, which were quantified by UHPLC-UV in different plant parts, showing their higher content in the active flowers extract. Their potent antibacterial action (MIC < 1 µg/mL for the most active compound) was demonstrated against MRSA strains, through kill curves, post-antibiotic effects, anti-biofilm assays and synergy studies with antibiotics. An antiparasitic activity was also shown for some purified compounds, particularly on T. brucei (IC50 < 1 to 11 µg/mL). Their cytotoxic activity was assessed both on cancer and non-cancer human cell lines.

Biocontrol activity of effusol from the extremophile plant, Juncus maritimus, against the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici.

Zymoseptoria tritici, responsible for Septoria tritici blotch, is the most important pathogen of wheat. The control of this parasite relies mainly on synthetic fungicides, but their use is increasingly controversial and searching for alternative management strategies is encouraged. In this context, the biocontrol potential of crude methanolic extracts of eight extremophile plant species from Tunisia, including three xerophytes and five halophytes, against Z. tritici was assessed. Only the extract of Juncus maritimus rhizomes showed significant in vitro antifungal activity. In extremophile plants, the production of secondary metabolites is often influenced by abiotic conditions. Thus, we collected several samples of J. maritimus rhizomes at different vegetative stages, at different periods, and from different substrates to compare their antifungal activities. Our results suggest that the plant environment, especially the substrate of the soil, should be taken into account to identify great sources of natural antifungal products. From the most active sample, a 9,10-dehydrophenanthrene derivative, effusol, absent from other J. maritimus rhizomes extracts, was purified. This product showed a strong antifungal activity against the pathogen, with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 19 µg mL-1 and an half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 9.98 µg mL-1. This phenanthrene derivative could be a promising biocontrol molecule against Z. tritici.

Risperidone-induced metabolic dysfunction is attenuated by Curcuma longa extract administration in mice.

Antipsychotics, such as risperidone, increase food intake and induce alteration in glucose and lipid metabolism concomitantly with overweight and body fat increase, these biological abnormalities belong to the metabolic syndrome definition (high visceral adiposity, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, low HDL-cholesterol and high blood pressure). Curcumin is a major component of traditional turmeric (Curcuma longa) which has been reported to improve lipid and glucose metabolism and to decrease weight in obese mice. We questioned the potential capacity of curcumin, contained in Curcuma longa extract (Biocurcuma™), to attenuate the risperidone-induced metabolic dysfunction. Two groups of mice were treated once a week, for 22 weeks, with intraperitoneal injection of risperidone (Risperdal) at a dose 12.5 mpk. Two other groups received intraperitoneal injection of the vehicle of Risperdal following the same schedule. Mice of one risperidone-treated groups and of one of vehicle-treated groups were fed a diet with 0.05% Biocurcuma™ (curcumin), while mice of the two other groups received the standard diet. Curcumin limited the capacity of risperidone to reduce spontaneous motricity, but failed to impede risperidone-induced increase in food intake. Curcumin did not reduce the capacity of risperidone to induce weight gain, but decreased visceral adiposity and decreased the risperidone-induced hepatomegaly, but not steatosis. Furthermore, curcumin repressed the capacity of risperidone to induce the hepatic over expression of enzymes involved in lipid metabolism (LXRα, FAS, ACC1, LPL, PPARγ, ACO, SREBP2) and decreased risperidone-induced glucose intolerance and hypertriglyceridemia. Curcumin decreased risperidone-induced increases in serum markers of hepatotoxicity (ALAT, ASAT), as well as of one major hepatic pro-inflammatory transcription factor (NFκB: p105 mRNA and p65 protein). These findings support that nutritional doses of curcumin contained in Curcuma longa extract are able to partially counteract the risperidone-induced metabolic dysfunction in mice, suggesting that curcumin ought to be tested to reduce the capacity of risperidone to induce the metabolic syndrome in human.

In vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Traditional Plant Used in Mestizo Shamanism from the Peruvian Amazon in Case of Infectious Diseases.

CONTEXT: Our survey was performed near Iquitos (Peruvian Amazon) and its surroundings and leads us to consider Mestizo ethnomedical practices. The plant species reported here are traditionally used for ailments related to microbial infections. Inhabitants of various ethnic origins were interviewed, and 52 selected plants extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against a panel of 36 sensitive and multi-resistant bacteria or yeast. The study aimed at providing information on antimicrobial plant extract activities and the ethnomedical context of Mestizo riverine populations from Loreto (Peru). MATERIAL AND METHOD: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the plant crude extracts were carried out using the agar dilution method and ranged between 0.075 and 5.0 mg/ml. RESULTS: Of the 40 plants analyzed, 9 species showed MIC ≤0.3 mg/ml (Anacardium occidentale, Couroupita guianensis, Croton lechleri, Davilla rugosa, Erythrina amazonica, Jacaranda copaia subsp. Spectabilis, Oenocarpus bataua, Peperomia macrostachya, and Phyllanthus urinaria) for one or several of the 36 microorganisms and only 6 drug extracts were inactive. Among the 40 plants, 13 were evaluated for the first time for an antibacterial activity. CONCLUSION: This evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of 40 plants using an approved standard methodology allowed comparing those activities against various microbes to establish antimicrobial spectra of standardized plant extracts, and give support to the traditional use of these plants. It may also help discovering new chemical classes of antimicrobial agents that could serve against multi-resistant bacteria. SUMMARY: This study leads us to consider Mestizo ethnomedical practices near Iquitos (Peruvian Amazon) and its surroundings. The plant species reported here are traditionally used for ailments related to microbial infections. 52 selected plants extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against a panel of 36 sensitive and multi resistant bacteria or yeast. The study aimed at providing information on antimicrobial plant extract activities and the ethnomedical context of Mestizo riverine populations from Loreto.