Mentha cordifolia Leaf Extract Improves Hepatic Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Obese Mice Fed with High-Fat Diet.

Mentha cordifolia (MC) is a popular herb used to flavor food in Thailand that exhibits several biological effects. The present study aimed to determine the role of MC in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). ICR obese mice were fed an HFD (45 kcal% lard fat) for 12 weeks, with MC (100 and 200 mg/kg/d) treatment from Week 7. After treatment with MC for 6 weeks, mice showed significantly lower rates of hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, and hyperlipidemia, and increased amounts of serum adiponectin. Furthermore, in mice treated with MC, serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were significantly inhibited and liver histology results showed decreased lipid accumulation and liver triglyceride content vs. untreated mice. In addition, MC treatment was associated with smaller fat cells and lower gene expression of liver sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase. However, MC treatment was associated with higher carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a gene expression and significantly higher rates of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in liver, but lower levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase. These results indicate MC regulates glucose and lipid metabolism in a HFD-induced obese mouse model, possibly via activation of AMPK signaling pathway.

Antibacterial activity of crude extracts of prasaprohyai formula and its components against pathogenic bacteria.

BACKGROUND: Prasaprohyai formula is a Thai Traditional Medicine which has been used for reducing feverish in child. Fever is a symptom resulting from various infections and diseases. The major cause of fever is bacterial and viral infections. The Prasaprohyai formula and its components potentially have biological activities including antipyretic and antimicrobial activities. It is in a hope to develop the formula and its components for an alternative medicine of infectious diseases. OBJECTIVE: To study antibacterial activity of Prasaprohyai formula and its components against pathogenic bacteria. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Prasaprohyai formula and its components were extracted by different methods, A: maceration with 95% ethanol followed by evaporation (ET), B: ET followed by freeze drying (EF) and C: water distillation (VO). All extracts were tested against clinical isolates from Thammasat University Hospital, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Disk diffusion and broth dilution methods were performed. RESULTS: Crude extracts of ET had higher yield of extraction than other methods. The results showed that the crude extract from different methods of Syzygium aromaticum (Linn) Merr & Perry (Flower) was effective against all bacterial strains with the inhibition zone ranging from 9 to 19 mm. The VO extract of Prasaprohyai formula showed antibacterial activity against most of the pathogenic bacteria in the present study. The activity against Streptococcus pyogenes was found in the VO extract of some components. The ET extracts of Lepidium sativum Linn, Myristica fragrans Houtt (seed) and Myristica fragrans Houtt (aril) had no antibacterial activity against all microorganism. However the EF extracts of this formula and some components were able to mostly inhibit Gram positive bacteria. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that Prasaprohyai formula and its components were able to inhibit the growth of both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria including multiresistant strains. The volatile oil extracts seemed to play an important role in antimicrobial activities. The development of Prasaprohyai formula for alternative medicine will be approached in future.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities from Siamese crocodile blood.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of the Siamese crocodile blood against bacteria and fungi. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty Siamese crocodile blood samples including freeze dried whole blood (FDWB), fresh serum (FS), and freeze dried serum (FDS) were evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibility and MIC values against ATCC-registered strains of nine bacterial species and two fungal species and one fungus isolated from a clinical specimen, by using the standard broth microdilution method and a modified resazurin microtiter plate assay. RESULTS: The result showed that FS (80 mg/ml) and FDS (100 mg/ml) inhibited Gram negative bacteria including Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC 13048, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 27736, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 13311 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 with the susceptibility rate at 23.30%, 10.00%, 40.00%, 70.00%, and 86.67%, respectively for FS, and 30.00%, 10.00%, 43.33%, 76.67% and 90.00%, respectively for FDS. The MIC and MBC were in the range of 12.50-100.00 mg/ml and 25.00-100.00 mg/m1 respectively. FS and FDS also inhibited Cryptococcus neoformans 250309 and Aspergillus niger with the susceptibility rate at 90.00% and 80.00%, respectively for FS and 100.00% and 83.33%, respectively for FDS. The MIC was in the range of 25.00-100.00 mg/ml. However, FS and FDS did not inhibit Gram positive bacteria and did not kill fungi. FDWB (100 mg/ml) could neither inhibit bacteria nor fungi. CONCLUSION: FS and FDS from Siamese crocodile exhibited potential antibacterial and antifungal activities.

Antibacterial activity of Thai medicinal plants Pikutbenjakul.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial infections caused by resistant strains have been increased dramatically. Pikutbenjakul, a Thai medicinal plant formula containing Piper longum, Piper sarmentosum, Piper interruptum, Plumbago indica and Zingiber officinale have been widely used in Thai traditional medicine. OBJECTIVE: To determine antimicrobial activity of Pikutbenjakul formula and its components in order to develop the medicinal plants for alternative treatment of bacteria causing diarrhea. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Activity of Pikutbenjakul formula and its components was tested using disc diffusion and broth dilution methods against bacteria associated a set of bacteria associated with diarrheal disease including Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio vulnificus, Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli (EIEC, ETEC, EPEC, EAEC and EHEC) and Staphylococcus aureus. The extraction was performed by maceration in 95% ethanol. RESULTS: The results showed all tested strains were susceptible to P. indica while other components were able to inhibit some strains. P. sarmentosum showed antimicrobial activity against Vibrios with the MIC values between 0.625 to > or =5 mg/ml. P. sarmentosum, P. indica and Pikutbenjakul formulas inhibited the growth of all Vibrios. P. interruptum inhibited V. cholerae serogroups O1 and non-O1/non-O139. P. longum was able to inhibit only two isolates of V. cholerae serogroup O139 (MIC = 1.25 mg/ml) and V. vulnificus (MIC > or =5 mg/ml). The activity of Pikutbenjakul containing Zingiber spp. and Pikutbenjakul containing Z. officinal against Vibrios, Shigella spp. and S. aureus was not significantly different. P. indica could inhibit Salmonella (MIC > or =5 mg/ml), E. coli (MIC > or =5 mg/ml) and S. aureus (MIC = 1.25 mg/ml). CONCLUSION: The results support the Thai medicinal plants for treatment of diarrhea caused by these bacteria. This study also provides an insightful knowledge on antimicrobial activity which would lead to further development of an effective formula of Pikutbenjakul for diarrheal disease and other infectious diseases in future.