Anti-Helicobactor pylori activity of some Jordanian medicinal plants.

CONTEXT: Natural flora are considered a major source of new agents for the treatment of Helicobactor pylori. The plants used in this study were selected based on previous traditional use. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated the effect of extracts of 16 medicinal plants grown in Jordan against clinical isolates of H. pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tested plant extracts included Aloysia triphylla (L'Her.) Britton (Verbenaceae), Anethum graveolens L. (Apiaceae), Artemisia inculata Delile (Asteraceae), Capparis spinosa L. (Capparaceae), Crataegus aronia (L.) Bosc ex. DC. (Rosaceae), Inula viscose (L.) Ait (Asteraceae), Lavandula officinalis Chaix. (Lamiaceae), Lepidium sativum L. (Cruciferae), Origanum syriaca L. (Lamiaceae), Paronychia argentea Lam. (Caryophyllaceae), Passiflora incarnate L. (Passifloraceae), Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae), Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach (Rosaceae), Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae), Urtica urens L. (Urticaceae) and Varthemia iphionoids Boiss (Asteraceae). Clinical isolates of H. pylori were tested in vitro for susceptibility to each of the above plant crude extracts using disk diffusion method, and the MIC value was determined for each plant extract using the serial dilution method. RESULTS: Results showed that ethanol extracts of most medicinal plants exerted cytotoxiciy against H. pylori isolates. Among the tested plant extracts, A. triphylla (MIC: 90 µg/mL, MBC: 125 µg/mL) and I. viscosa (MIC: 83 µg/mL, MBC: 104 µg/mL) showed the strongest activity against both isolates of H. pylori. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Jordanian medicinal plants might be valuable sources of starting materials for the synthesis of new antibacterial agents against H. pylori.

Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis practice and guideline adherence in Jordan: a multi-centre study in Jordanian hospitals.

INTRODUCTION: The use of antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgical procedures is one of the measures employed to prevent the development of surgical site infections (SSI). The appropriate choice of antimicrobial agents, dosage regimen, timing, duration and use of intravenous route must be evidence based. This study aimed to assess the practice of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis and adherence of practitioners to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery and to explore reasons for non-compliance. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 20 Jordanian hospitals from October 2006 to June 2007. A questionnaire was designed to collect information from physicians regarding the practice of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP), references used for guiding SAP practice, prevalence of surgical site infection (SSI), and causative microorganisms. RESULTS: SAP was employed in almost all surgical departments of hospitals. The improper timing of antimicrobial administration for SAP was attributed to lack of knowledge of the guidelines (46.1%), while the improper antimicrobial choice was ascribed to drug unavailability (61.8%). CONCLUSION: This study shows that physicians are aware of the importance of antimicrobial prophylaxis before surgical procedures. However, further efforts are needed to ensure the implementation of the standard SAP guidelines in Jordanian hospitals.

Synergistic effect of the combination triclosan with 2-phenylphenol against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and fungi.

OBJECTIVE: Triclosan is active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria but lesser against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa). 2-phenylphenol is considered as an effective agent against fungi but its antifungal action is more important than its antibacterial activity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the bactericidal and fungicidal activities of triclosan and 2-phenylphenol alone, and in combination against standard strains of bacteria and fungi. METHODS: The study was carried out in the Research Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan, during the year 2004. The standard French method of in-vitro dilution quantitative suspension test, according to the Association Françoise de Normalization (AFNOR) guideline, has been used to determine the antibacterial and antifungal activity of each agent alone as well as the combination of the agents. RESULTS: The antibacterial activity of the combination triclosan-2-phenylphenol was significantly enhanced over that of each agent used alone against P.aeruginosa. Synergistic effect was observed against all tested strains of fungi. CONCLUSION: This synergistic effect that was exhibited by triclosan-2-phenylphenol combination can be considered to enhance the antibacterial activity against P.aeruginosa and the antifungal activity of the 2 agents, to reduce the in-use concentration of each agent used alone, that may minimize any possible side effect of the 2 agents, and to avoid the occurrence of bacterial resistance to one of the 2 agents.