Antimicrobial and Toxic Effects of Boswellia serrata Roxb. and Mentha piperita Linn. Essential Oils on Vaginal Inhabitants.

Commercial essential oils (EOs) of incense, Boswellia serrata Roxb, and mint, Mentha piperita L., were investigated against vaginal bacterial and Candida albicans isolates for antimicrobial potential and safety use. The antimicrobial activity of EOs was investigated through a double-dilution micro-plate assay. A brine shrimp assay was used for the determination of toxicity, while the determination of the chemical composition of EOs was carried out using GS-MS. Obtained minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) point to the activity of mint essential oil (EO) against the multi-resistant P. aeruginosa isolate (MIC/MBC at 6.25 µL/mL), while MIC and MBC values for other isolates were reached at higher concentrations (25-50 µL/mL). According to the toxicity assay, the incense EO reached the LC50 value at 3.07 µL/mL, while mint EO showed higher toxicity at lower concentrations (0.5 µL/mL) and the LC50 could not be determined. The highest antimicrobial potential was obtained for incense against P. aeruginosa. Although the toxicity assay showed high toxicity of mint EO to the eggs of aquatic crustaceans Artemia salina, further testing of EO toxicity is proposed, for example on healthy cell-lines. According to the GC/MS spectrometry, the most represented components of mint EO were the oxygenated hydrocarbons L-menthone (20.86%) and menthol (31.86%), and they could be proposed for further antimicrobial and toxicity investigation.

A Prospective Study of Mid-Trimester MCP-1 Levels as a Predictor of Preterm Delivery.

Background: The prevention of preterm delivery (PTD) represents one of the major topics in modern obstetrics. The aim was to design a prospective study and investigate if mid-trimester serum and amniotic fluid levels of MCP-1 could predict the occurence of spontaneous PTD. Methods: The study involved 198 women who underwent genetic amniocentesis and blood sampling in the middle of their trimester. After applying the criteria for inclusion in the study, there were 16 respondents in the study group, and 38 respondents in the control group. Level of MCP-1 in amniotic fluid and serum was measured with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and statistical analysis was conducted. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in serum or amniotic fluid MCP1 levels between PTD and the control groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that MCP-1 is probably not the most relevant marker for predicting PTD. This study provides new normative data for MCP-1 levels in amniotic fluid and maternal sera and is a valuable tool for future diagnostic and comparative studies.

Antimicrobial Potential of Rosmarinus officinalis Commercial Essential Oil in the Treatment of Vaginal Infections in Pregnant Women.

Treating inflammatory conditions .such as vaginosis, vaginitis, and vulvovaginitis in pregnancy is- a special problem due to limitations. of available drugs. However, possible treatment options can be found also in naturally originated products, such as essential oils (EOs) of different plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate in -vitro antimicrobial and toxic activities of the commercial EO of Rosmiarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) against five Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains and two Candida strains obtained from pregnant women with Vaginal infection. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the tested EO revealed oxygenated monoterpenes to be the major ingredients, while microdilution assay showed the highest activity on Staphylococcus aureus II strain at 6.2 mg/mL. After 24 hours, toxicity was determined at 19.4 mg/mL on Artemia salina nauplii. The obtained results show this EO to be a promising alternative therapy for vaginal infections, although further toxicity and safety research is required.

Lipid peroxidation in the first trimester of pregnancy.

AIM: To determine the existence and level of oxidative stress caused by lipid peroxidation in pregnancy. METHODS: The research was conducted as prospective examination that included 60 healthy women (age 18-45). The women included in the examination were divided into two groups. The group I (N-31) included women in the first trimester of normal, healthy pregnancy. The group II included healthy nongravid women (N-29). Concentrations of markers of lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) were determined using commercial ELISA tests OxiSelect(™) TBARS Assay Kit and OxiSelect(™) MDA ELISA Kit. RESULTS: The results of this research indicate that the concentrations of the markers of lipid peroxidation TBARS and MDA are detectable in both groups. Higher mean values of MDA (>20 pmol/mg) were measured in the group of pregnant women, than in the group of nongravid women. The results indicate that mean values of TBARS markers are lower in pregnant women (≤50 µM) than in nongravid women (>100 µM). CONCLUSION: The marker of lipid peroxidation MDA proved to be a sensitive marker for following lipid peroxidation during pregnancy, therefore it can be considered as a good predictor of possible complications during pregnancy.

Unusual high rate of asymptomatic maternal parvovirus B19 infection associated with severe fetal outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of asymptomatic maternal parvo B19 infection in severe fetal outcome in Province of Vojvodina. METHODS: One hundred seventy-six pregnant women (13-25 weeks of gestation) were divided in two groups - patients with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion and poor pregnancy outcome and patients with normal course of pregnancy. Double serum samples were analyzed to quantify IgM and IgG to parvovirus B19. RESULTS: Among pregnant women with symptoms of spontaneous abortion, we found significantly higher percentage of acute parvovirus B19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic parvo B19 infection is associated with poor fetal outcome much more than we presumed previously.

Can we use neopterin as marker of viral infections in pregnant women with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion?

PURPOSE: To find out if determination of neopterin can be used for the detection of viral infections in pregnant women with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion. METHODS: Eighty-eight pregnant women with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion (investigated group) and 88 healthy pregnant women were evaluated (control group). Neopterin level and IgM and IgG antibodies for eight viruses in the blood were determined. RESULTS: Parvo B19 virus and elevated neopterin values were found in significantly higher number in investigated group than in control. There was no correlation between women with acute ParvoB19 infection and elevated neopterin level. CONCLUSIONS: The determination of neopterin in the sera cannot be used for screening of viral infections in pregnancy.

Serum proinflammatory cytokine - interleukin-8 as possible infection site marker in preterm deliveries.

AIM: To evaluate serum level of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 as a biochemical marker of local infections in patients with clinical symptoms of preterm deliveries. METHODS: We studied 74 pregnant women at 24-36 gestational weeks (GW) with preterm delivery. Serum interleukin-8 was measured. RESULTS: The mean value of interleukin-8 in the study group (n=36) was 19.13 pg/mL vs. 5.02 pg/mL in the controls (n=38). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that serum level of interleukin-8 might be used as non-invasive marker of infections in pregnancy, as well as a marker of preterm deliveries.