ABSTRACT
Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis) and Gymnema inodorum (Lour.) Decne. (G. inodorum) have been widely used for treating various illnesses. The study focused on exploring the effects of C. sinensis extract (CSE), G. inodorum extract (GIE), using alone and combined (COM) on ameliorating glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and obesity in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). The results revealed that the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and LDL-cholesterol (LDL) exhibited a significant decrease in all groups treated with CSE, GIE, and COM compared to the control (p < 0.05). Obviously, CSE plus GIE exhibited a synergistic effect on amelioration of OGTT, TC, TG, and LDL, which is also the first report. Furthermore, the extracts showed no toxicity in the mice's vital organs. These results suggest that CSE, GIE, and their combined could have the potential as complementary therapeutic approaches for managing hyperglycaemia and dyslipidemia.
ABSTRACT
Currently, antibiotic resistance is widespread among bacteria. This problem requires greater awareness because bacterial resistance increases, reducing antibiotic use effectiveness. Consequently, new alternative treatments are needed because the treatment options for these bacteria are limited. This work aims to determine the synergistic interaction and mechanism of action of Boesenbergia rotunda essential oil (BREO) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 24 BREO chemicals (GC-MS). The main components of BREO were ß-ocimene (36.73%), trans-geraniol (25.29%), camphor (14.98%), and eucalyptol (8.99%). BREO and CLX inhibited MRSA DMST 20649, 20651, and 20652 with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4 mg/mL and 512 µg/mL, respectively. The checkerboard method and the time-kill assay revealed synergy between BREO and CLX with fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) <0.5 and log reduction >2log10 CFU/mL at 24 hours compared to the most effective chemical. BREO inhibited biofilm formation and increased membrane permeability. Exposure alone to BREO or in combination with CLX inhibited biofilm formation and increased cytoplasmic membrane (CM) permeability. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results revealed that alterations in the cell walls, cytoplasmic membrane, and leakage of intracellular components of MRSA DMST 20651 after treatment with BREO alone and in combination with CLX were observed. These results indicate that BREO synergizes and could reverse the antibacterial activity of CLX against MRSA strains. The synergy of BREO may lead to novel drug combinations that increase the effectiveness of antibiotics against MRSA.
ABSTRACT
Increasing antibiotic resistance in enterococci is among the most serious public health problems worldwide. The new naturally occurring antibacterial agents were explored. This study, therefore, investigated the antibacterial potential of Stephania suberosa extract (SSE) and its synergism with ampicillin (AMP) or vancomycin (VAN) against AMP- and VAN-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Disc diffusion assay revealed that SSE inhibited E. faecium DMST 12829, 12852, 12970, and a reference strain of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29,212 in a dose-dependent manner. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of SSE against all E. faecium isolates was 0.5 mg/mL. E. faecium DMST 12,829 and 12,852 were highly resistant to AMP, as indicated by high MIC values, and E. faecium DMST 12,829 and 12,970 were resistant to VAN. Enterococcus spp. were killed by SSE at the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) ranging from 0.5 to 4 mg/mL. Checkerboard determination showed that SSE plus AMP and SSE plus VAN combinations exhibited synergistic interaction against E. faecium isolates. The killing curve assay of E. faecium isolates confirmed the antibacterial and synergistic activities of combined agents by dramatically reducing the viable counts compared to a single agent. Scanning electron microscope elucidated the cell damage and abnormal cell division. Enterococcal proteases were also inhibited by SSE. These findings support that SSE could reverse the activity of AMP and VAN. Moreover, it can synergistically inhibit AMP- and VAN-resistant E. faecium. Our combined agents could be attractive candidates for developing new combinatorial agents to resurrect the efficacy of antibiotics for treating AMP- and VAN-resistant E. faecium infections.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz (O. indicum) is found in Thailand. It has been used for the treatment of obesity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of an O. indicum extract (OIE) on the adipogenic and biomolecular change in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. METHODS: Initial studies examined the chemical components of OIE. The cell line 3T3-L1 was used to establish potential toxic effects of OIE during the differentiation of pre-adipocytes to adipocytes. The inhibitory effect of OIE on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was investigated. Moreover, the impact of OIE on pancreatic lipase activity was determined. In further experiments, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) was used to monitor and discriminate biomolecular changes caused by the potential anti-adipogenic effect of OIE on 3T3-L1 cells. RESULTS: Chemical screening methods indicated that OIE was composed of flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, and tannins. The percentage viability of 3T3-L1 cells was not significantly decreased after exposure to either 200 or 150 µg/mL of OIE for 2 and 10 days, respectively compared to control cells. The OIE exhibited a dose-dependent reduction of lipid accumulation compared to the control (p < 0.05). The extract also demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory effect upon lipase activity compared to the control. The inhibitory effect of the OIE on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was also confirmed using FTIR microspectroscopy. The signal intensity and the integrated areas relating to lipids, lipid esters, nucleic acids, glycogen and carbohydrates of the OIE-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were significantly lower than the non-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated four distinct clusters for the FTIR spectra of 3T3-L1 adipocytes based on biomolecular changes (lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates). This observation was confirmed using Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis (UHCA). CONCLUSIONS: These novel findings provide evidence that the OIE derived from the fruit pods of the plant is capable of inhibiting lipid and carbohydrate accumulation in adipocytes and also has the potential to inhibit an enzyme associated with fat absorption. The initial observations indicate that OIE may have important properties which in the future may be exploited for the management of the overweight or obese.
