Therapeutic effects of oral benzoic acid application during acute murine campylobacteriosis.

Serious risks to human health are posed by acute campylobacteriosis, an enteritis syndrome caused by oral infection with the food-borne bacterial enteropathogen Campylobacter jejuni. Since the risk for developing post-infectious autoimmune complications is intertwined with the severity of enteritis, the search of disease-mitigating compounds is highly demanded. Given that benzoic acid is an organic acid with well-studied health-promoting including anti-inflammatory effects we tested in our present study whether the compound might be a therapeutic option to alleviate acute murine campylobacteriosis. Therefore, microbiota-depleted IL-10-/- mice were perorally infected with C. jejuni and received benzoic acid through the drinking water from day 2 until day 6 post-infection. The results revealed that benzoic acid treatment did not affect C. jejuni colonization in the gastrointestinal tract, but alleviated clinical signs of acute campylobacteriosis, particularly diarrheal and wasting symptoms. In addition, benzoic acid mitigated apoptotic cell responses in the colonic epithelia and led to reduced pro-inflammatory immune reactions in intestinal, extra-intestinal, and systemic compartments tested on day 6 post-infection. Hence, our preclinical placebo-controlled intervention trial revealed that benzoic acid constitutes a promising therapeutic option for treating acute campylobacteriosis in an antibiotic-independent fashion and in consequence, also for reducing the risk of post-infectious autoimmune diseases.

Essential oils of Zingiber officinale: Chemical composition, in vivo alleviation effects on TPA induced ear swelling in mice and in vitro bioactivities.

Zingiber officinale (ZO) is a traditional food condiment. The essential oils of Z. officinale (ZOEOs) are known to have multiple bioactivities. In this study, gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analytical method was used to identify active ingredient present in ZOEOs. A total of 41 compounds were identified in ZOEOs. Major components in ZOEOs were zingiberene (19.71%), (+)-ß-cedrene (12.85%), farnesene (12.17%), α-curcumene (10.18%) and ß-elemene (3.54%). Experimental results of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate (TPA) induced ear swelling validation mice model showed that ZOEOs treatment has better anti-inflammatory effect compared with ibuprofen (positive control) at high concentrations. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis showed that ZOEOs significantly decreased COX-2, IL-6 and NF-κB expression in a dose dependent manner. The mRNA levels of COX-2 and NF-κB were also down regulated by the application of ZOEOs. This indicated that ZOEOs exhibited positive effects in ear skin protection. Antibacterial experimental results showed that EOZOs had anti-bacterial effects on Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. DPPH radical scavenging, A549 cell line and LNCaP cell line inhibition results indicated that ZOEOs exhibited potential antioxidant and anti-tumor properties. The findings of these study provide scientific basis on therapeutic use of ZO in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

[Preparation of nanoemulsion spray from Moslae Herba volatile oil and its antibacterial activity].

Moslae Herba is a commonly used aromatic Chinese medicinal with volatile oil as the main effective component and exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral effects. However, the irritation and instability of Moslae Herba volatile oil necessitate the preparation into a specific dosage form. In this study, the steam distillation method was employed to extract the Moslae Herba volatile oil. The content of thymol and carvacrol in Moslae Herba volatile oil was determined by HPLC as(0.111 9±0.001 0) and(0.235 4±0.004 7) mg·mL~(-1), respectively. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams and surfactants compounding were applied in the selection of the optimal excipients(surfactant and cosurfactant). On this basis, a nanoemulsion was prepared from the Moslae Herba volatile oil and then loaded into pressure vessels to get sprays, whose stability and antibacterial activity were evaluated afterward. With clarity, viscosity, smell and body feeling as comprehensive indexes, the optimal formulation of the Moslae Herba volatile oil nanoemulsion was determined as follows: Moslae Herba volatile oil∶peppermint oil∶cremophor EL∶absolute ethanol∶distilled water 7.78∶1.58∶19.26∶6.15∶65.23. The as-prepared nanoemulsion was a light yellow transparent liquid, with Tyndall effect shown under the irradiation of parallel light. It has the pH of 5.50, conductivity of 125.9 µS·cm~(-1), average particle size of 15.45 nm, polydispersity index(PDI) of 0.156, and Zeta potential of-17.9 mV. Under a transmission electron microscope, the Moslae Herba volatile oil nanoemulsion was presented as regular spheres without adhesion and agglomeration. Stability test revealed that the Moslae Herba volatile oil nanoemulsion was stable at 4-55 ℃, which was free from demulsification and stratification within 30 days. After the centrifugation at 12 000 r·min~(-1) for 30 min, there was no stratification either. The nanoemulsion had good inhibitory effects on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and resistant S. aureus strains, with the minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.39, 3.12 and 1.56 mg·mL~(-1), respectively. The above results demonstrated that the nanoemulsion was prepared feasibly and showed stable physical and chemical properties and good antibacterial effects. This study provides a practicable technical solution for the development of anti-epidemic and anti-infection products from Moslae Herba volatile oil.

Unravelling the Phytochemical Composition and the Pharmacological Properties of an Optimized Extract from the Fruit from Prunus mahaleb L.: From Traditional Liqueur Market to the Pharmacy Shelf.

Prunus mahaleb L. fruit has long been used in the production of traditional liqueurs. The fruit also displayed scavenging and reducing activity, in vitro. The present study focused on unravelling peripheral and central protective effects, antimicrobial but also anti-COVID-19 properties exerted by the water extract of P. mahaleb. Anti-inflammatory effects were studied in isolated mouse colons exposed to lipopolysaccharide. Neuroprotection, measured as a blunting effect on hydrogen-peroxide-induced dopamine turnover, was investigated in hypothalamic HypoE22 cells. Antimicrobial effects were tested against different Gram+ and Gram- bacterial strains. Whereas anti-COVID-19 activity was studied in lung adenocarcinoma H1299 cells, where the gene expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 was measured after extract treatment. The bacteriostatic effects induced on Gram+ and Gram- strains, together with the inhibition of COX-2, TNFα, HIF1α, and VEGFA in the colon, suggest the potential of P. mahaleb water extract in contrasting the clinical symptoms related to ulcerative colitis. The inhibition of the hydrogen peroxide-induced DOPAC/DA ratio indicates promising neuroprotective effects. Finally, the downregulation of the gene expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in H1299 cells, suggests the potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 virus entry in the human host. Overall, the results support the valorization of the local cultivation of P. mahaleb.

Preparation of nanoemulsion spray from Moslae Herba volatile oil and its antibacterial activity / 中国中药杂志

Moslae Herba is a commonly used aromatic Chinese medicinal with volatile oil as the main effective component and exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral effects. However, the irritation and instability of Moslae Herba volatile oil necessitate the preparation into a specific dosage form. In this study, the steam distillation method was employed to extract the Moslae Herba volatile oil. The content of thymol and carvacrol in Moslae Herba volatile oil was determined by HPLC as(0.111 9±0.001 0) and(0.235 4±0.004 7) mg·mL~(-1), respectively. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams and surfactants compounding were applied in the selection of the optimal excipients(surfactant and cosurfactant). On this basis, a nanoemulsion was prepared from the Moslae Herba volatile oil and then loaded into pressure vessels to get sprays, whose stability and antibacterial activity were evaluated afterward. With clarity, viscosity, smell and body feeling as comprehensive indexes, the optimal formulation of the Moslae Herba volatile oil nanoemulsion was determined as follows: Moslae Herba volatile oil∶peppermint oil∶cremophor EL∶absolute ethanol∶distilled water 7.78∶1.58∶19.26∶6.15∶65.23. The as-prepared nanoemulsion was a light yellow transparent liquid, with Tyndall effect shown under the irradiation of parallel light. It has the pH of 5.50, conductivity of 125.9 μS·cm~(-1), average particle size of 15.45 nm, polydispersity index(PDI) of 0.156, and Zeta potential of-17.9 mV. Under a transmission electron microscope, the Moslae Herba volatile oil nanoemulsion was presented as regular spheres without adhesion and agglomeration. Stability test revealed that the Moslae Herba volatile oil nanoemulsion was stable at 4-55 ℃, which was free from demulsification and stratification within 30 days. After the centrifugation at 12 000 r·min~(-1) for 30 min, there was no stratification either. The nanoemulsion had good inhibitory effects on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and resistant S. aureus strains, with the minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.39, 3.12 and 1.56 mg·mL~(-1), respectively. The above results demonstrated that the nanoemulsion was prepared feasibly and showed stable physical and chemical properties and good antibacterial effects. This study provides a practicable technical solution for the development of anti-epidemic and anti-infection products from Moslae Herba volatile oil.

Anti-bacterial Effects of MnO2 on the Enrichment of Manganese-oxidizing Bacteria in Downflow Hanging Sponge Reactors.

We focused on the use of abiotic MnO2 to develop reactors for enriching manganese-oxidizing bacteria (MnOB), which may then be used to treat harmful heavy metal-containing wastewater and in the recovery of useful minor metals. Downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactors were used under aerobic and open conditions to investigate the potential for MnOB enrichment. The results of an experiment that required a continuous supply of organic feed solution containing Mn(II) demonstrated that MnOB enrichment and Mn(II) removal were unsuccessful in the DHS reactor when plain sponge cubes were used. However, MnOB enrichment was successful within a very short operational period when sponge cubes initially containing abiotic MnO2 were installed. The results of a microbial community analysis and MnOB isolation revealed that MnOB belonging to Comamonadaceae or Pseudomonas played a major role in Mn(II) oxidation. Successful MnOB enrichment was attributed to several unidentified species of Chitinophagaceae and Gemmataceae, which were estimated to be intolerant of MnO2, being unable to grow on sponge cubes containing MnO2. The present results show that MnO2 exerted anti-bacterial effects and inhibited the growth of certain non-MnOB groups that were intolerant of MnO2, thereby enabling enriched MnOB to competitively consume more substrate than MnO2-intolerant bacteria.

Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Toothpaste with Swiss Medicinal Herbs towards Patients Suffering from Gingivitis and Initial Stage of Periodontitis: from Clinical Efficacy to Mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE: To distinguish clinical effects and mechanisms of sodium monofluorophosphate plus xylitol and herbal extracts of Swiss medicinal plants (Chamomilla recutita, Arnica montana, Echinacea purpurea, and Salvia officinalis). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 2-month-long comparative clinical study of toothpaste containing 1450 ppm sodium monofluorophosphate and xylitol (control, 15 patients) and toothpaste additionally containing extracts of the medicinal herbs (experiment, 35 patients) was performed on patients with gingivitis and the initial stage of periodontitis. Clinical indices of gingivitis/periodontitis were quantified by Loe & Silness's, CPITN, OHI-S, and PMA indexes. The pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory interleukins, nitrites/nitrates, total antioxidant activity, and bacterial pattern characteristic for gingivitis and periodontitis were quantified in the gingival crevicular fluid and plaque. In the in vitro tests, direct anti-bacterial effects, inhibition of catalase induction in Staphylococcus aureus, in response to oxidative burst of phagocytes, and intracellular bacterial killing were determined for the toothpastes, individual plant extracts, and their mixture. RESULTS: Experimental toothpaste was more efficient clinically and in the diminishing of bacterial load specific for gingivitis/periodontitis. Although the control toothpaste exerted a direct moderate anti-bacterial effect, herbal extracts provided anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, direct, and indirect anti-bacterial actions through inhibition of bacterial defence against phagocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Chemical and plant-derived anti-bacterials to treat gingivitis and periodontitis at the initial stage should be used in combination amid their different mechanisms of action. Plant-derived actives for oral care could substitute toxic chemicals due to multiple modes of positive effects.

Analysis of Chemical Constituents of Volatile Oils in Menthae Haplocalycix Herba-Schizonepetae Herba and Herbal Pairs and Comparison of Anti-bacterial Effects in Vitro / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To discuss the effect of herbal compatibility on the components of volatile oils in Menthae Haplocalycix Herba and Schizonepetae Herba,and the comparison of the anti-bacterial effects in vitro,in order to provide the experimental basis for investigating the effective material basis of their herb-pair. Method: Steam distillation was used to extract volatile oils of Menthae Haplocalycix Herba, Schizonepetae Herba,and their combination. GC-MS was employed to analyze their volatile oils,and the anti-bacterial effects in vitro were compared. Result: Totally 50 compounds were identified from the volatile oils of Menthae Haplocalycix Herba;41 compounds were identified from the volatile oils of Schizonepetae Herba;and 60 compounds were identified from the volatile oils of their herbal pairs. A total of 27 common compounds were found in the samples of three volatile oils. Totally 5 new compounds were detected in the volatile oils of their herbal pairs,and 9 compounds were not detected. In vitro,volatile oils of both their herbal pairs and individual herbs had bacteriostatic effects on dung Enterococcus (ATCC2922),Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC2923),Escherichia coli (ATCC35218),and E. coli (ATCC25922). Among them,volatile oils of their herbal pairs had stronger bacteriostatic effects on dung enterococcus (ATCC2922) and staphylococcus aureus (ATCC2923) than volatile oils of individual herbs. Moreover,the order of the inhibitory effects of volatile oils on E. coli (ATCC35218 and ATCC25922) were "herbal pairs=peppermint > herba schizonepetae". Conclusion: There were some changes between the volatile oils of individual herbs and the volatile oils of their herbal pairs. These phenomena may be caused by the occurrence of certain chemical reactions and physical changes in compatibility of decocting process. The antibacterial effects of volatile oils of their herbal pairs were better than those of individual herbs in vitro.

Anti-bacterial effects of lavender and peppermint oils on Streptococcus mutans / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The main objectives of this study were to verify the antibacterial activity of two essential oils, lavender and peppermint, against dental caries and to review their synergistic effect when used in combination. Our results provide basic data for the evaluation of the use of these two substances towards the prevention and cure of dental caries. METHODS: The sample solutions of lavender and peppermint oils were prepared in three different concentrations (30%, 50%, and 70% (v/v)) by diluting them with third-distilled water and Tween 20. Streptococcus mutans was selected as the bacterial species for testing. The disk diffusion method was used to measure the antibacterial activity of the sample solutions. For generating growth curves and measuring the number of clusters of the bacterial, the liquid medium-dilution method was used; the absorbance of the medium was measured at 600 nm after 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours. RESULTS: When the antibacterial activity of the oils was tested via the disk diffusion method, the activity improved with increasing concentrations of all the sample solutions of peppermint, lavender, and the blend, but there was no significant difference between them with respect to the type of oil. In the growth curves of S. mutans, growth inhibition was observed after 12 hours. The inhibitory effect of 30% lavender oil on growth was 64.9% and 80.1% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively whereas that of peppermint oil was 71.3% and 80.1% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively. The inhibitory effect of the blended oil was 71.9% and 81.0% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is still required in order to determine the efficacy of lavender and peppermint oils, as well as other essential oils, for wider use in preventing dental caries.

The Effects of Topical Application of Polycal (a 2:98 (g/g) Mixture of Polycan and Calcium Gluconate) on Experimental Periodontitis and Alveolar Bone Loss in Rats.

The aim of this study was to observe whether Polycal has inhibitory activity on ligation-induced experimental periodontitis and related alveolar bone loss in rats following topical application to the gingival regions. One day after the ligation placements, Polycal (50, 25, and 12.5 mg/mL solutions at 200 µL/rat) was topically applied to the ligated gingival regions daily for 10 days. Changes in bodyweight, alveolar bone loss index, and total number of buccal gingival aerobic bacterial cells were monitored, and the anti-inflammatory effects were investigated via myeloperoxidase activity and levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß and TNF-α. The activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were also evaluated. Bacterial proliferation, periodontitis, and alveolar bone loss induced by ligature placements were significantly inhibited after 10 days of continuous topical application of Polycal. These results indicate that topical application of Polycal has a significant inhibitory effect on periodontitis and related alveolar bone loss in rats mediated by antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative activities.

Anti-bacterial Effects of Baicalin on One Escherichia coli Strain Carrying NDM-1 Gene / 现代检验医学杂志

Objective To examine the bacteriostasis of baicalin against Escherichiacoli strain carrying NDM-1 gene.Methods Minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC)and minimal bactericidal concentration(MBC)were determined by broth dilution method.Synergy function was designed withcheckerboard method.Anti-infection effect in vivo of baicalin was observed in mice with bacteremia.Results In vitro antibacterial tests showed that the MIC and MBC baicalin were 8 mg/ml.Synergistic inhibitory effect was observed between baicalin and imipenem (FIC=0.125).In vivo inhibition experiments showed that ba-icalin had decreased the mortality of 25% of Escherichiacoli Strain carrying NDM-1 gene infection in mice.Conclusion Ba-icalin has antibacterial effect on NDM-1 E.coli.

Evaluation of anti-bacterial effects of some novel thiazole and imidazole derivatives against some pathogenic bacteria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has motivated the researchers to evaluate the novel anti-bacterial compounds such as some thiazole and imidazole derivatives. Thereby, in this work, we investigated the anti-bacterial effects of one new thiazole and two new imidazole derivatives on Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis and Shigella dysenteriae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The thiazole and imidazole derivatives were dissolved in DMSO. The disk diffusion method was utilized to measure the growth inhibition zone diameter values, and the broth micro-dilution method was applied to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. RESULTS: The synthesized imidazole derivatives lacked any inhibitory effect against the tested bacteria. On the other hand, although the synthesized thiazole derivative showed no inhibitory effect against Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli, it inhibited the growth of Proteus mirabilis, Shigella dysenteriae, and Listeria monocytogenes with the MIC values of 1000, 125, and 1000 µg/ml, respectively, and the growth inhibition zone diameter values of 9.3 ± 0.1, 15.6 ± 0.2, and 8.1 ± 0.0 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The anti-bacterial effect of the synthesized thiazole derivative on Shigella dysenteriae, Proteus mirabilis and Listeria monocytogenes was proven. However, its inhibition effect against Shigella dysenteriae was more than that against the others. Many in-vitro and in-vivo experiments are required to evaluate the effects of this compound on the bacteria and the human body.