Effect of plant phenolic compounds on biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In the natural environment, bacteria predominantly exist in matrix‐enclosed multicellular communities associated with various surfaces, referred to as biofilms. Bacteria in biofilms are extremely resistant to antibacterial agents thus causing serious problems for antimicrobial therapy. In this study, we showed that different plant phenolic compounds, at concentrations that did not or weakly suppressed bacterial growth, increased the capacity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 to form biofilms. Biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa PAO1 was enhanced 3‐ to 7‐fold under the action of vanillin and epicatechin, and 2‐ to 2.5‐fold in the presence of 4‐hydroxybenzoic, gallic, cinnamic, sinapic, ferulic, and chlorogenic acids. At higher concentrations, these compounds displayed an inhibiting effect. Similar experiments carried out for comparison with Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58 showed the same pattern. Vanillin, 4‐hydroxybenzoic, and gallic acids at concentrations within the range of 40 to 400 μg/mL increased the production of N–3‐oxo‐dodecanoyl‐homoserine lactone in P. aeruginosa PAO1 which suggests a possible relationship between stimulation of biofilm formation and Las Quorum Sensing system of this bacterium. Using biosensors to detect N‐acyl‐homoserine lactones (AHL), we demonstrated that the plant phenolics studied did not mimic AHLs.     

Vulnerology: a new term to describe the discipline of wound care

Although wound healing is probably the most critical aspect of essential medical and surgical care, it has been neglected for a long time. With the tremendous surge over the last two decades in basic research, wound healing is emerging as a well‐defined medical entity transcending existing specialties and subdivisions. In view of the multitude of health professionals interested in the field of wounds and wound healing, it seems reasonably warranted to group them under one and single appellation. We suggest ‘vulnerology’ as a new term to describe the discipline of wound care.     

Effects of dietary fruits,vegetables and a herbal tea on the in vitro transport of cimetidine: Comparing the Caco-2 model with porcine jejunum tissue

Context: Dietary botanicals are often consumed together with allopathic medicines, which may give rise to pharmacokinetic interactions. In vitro intestinal models are useful to identify botanical-drug interactions, but they may exhibit different expressions of transporters or enzymes.

Objective: To compare the effects of selected dietary botanical extracts on cimetidine transport across two in vitro intestinal models.

Materials and Methods: Bi-directional transport of cimetidine was measured across Caco-2 cell monolayers and excised porcine jejunum tissue in the absence (control) as well as the presence of verapamil (positive control) and selected plant extracts.

Results: Sclerocarya birrea Hochst. (Anacardiaceae) (marula) and Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) (guava) crude extracts significantly decreased cimetidine efflux in both in vitro models resulting in increased absorptive transport of the drug. On the other hand, Dovyalis caffra Sim. (Flacourtiaceae) (Kei-apple), Prunus persica (L.) Batsch (Rosaceae) (peach), Aspalathus linearis (Burm. f.) R. Dahlgren (Fabaceae) (rooibos tea), Daucus carota L. (Apiaceae) (carrot), Prunus domestica A. Sav. (Rosaceae) (plum), Beta vulgaris L. (Chenopodiaceae) (beetroot) and Fragaria x ananassa (Weston) Duchesne ex Rozier. (Rosaceae) (strawberry) crude extracts exhibited different effects on cimetidine transport between the two models.

Discussion: Caco-2 cells were more sensitive to changes in cimetidine transport by the plant extracts and therefore may overestimate the effects of co-administered plant extracts on drug transport compared to the excised pig tissue model, which is congruent with findings from previous studies.

Conclusions: The excised porcine jejunum model seemed to provide a more realistic estimation of botanical-drug pharmacokinetic interactions than the Caco-2 cell model.     

变黑白头翁提取物降低亚砷酸盐对小鼠精细胞的毒性

目的：研究变黑白头翁提取物降低亚砷酸盐对小鼠精细胞毒性的作用。方法：给予实验小鼠亚砷酸钠（20mg／kg每日），并分别在第30、60、90天对小鼠进行检测。亚砷酸盐中毒小鼠被分为2组，其中一组给予变黑白头翁提取物（35mg／kg），另一组给予85％乙醇。通过检测小鼠精细胞凋亡标志蛋白CYP1A1、p53及caspase3的活性，确定细胞及DNA的损伤情况，并测定睾丸毒性标志物的水平。通过圆二色光谱仪及熔化温度数据检测变黑白头翁提取物与DNA的相互作用情况。结果：亚砷酸盐中毒小鼠的所有细胞凋亡标志蛋白及睾丸毒性标志物的水平均有所上升，而经变黑白头翁提取物治疗的小鼠上述各项指标均降低或恢复至正常水平。变黑白头翁提取物与DNA相互作用，引起了DNA结构和构象的变化。结论：变黑白头翁提取物可作为砷中毒引起的生殖功能损害的治疗药物给予研究和开发。     

Rapid radiosynthesis of [11C] and [14C]azelaic,suberic, and sebacic acids for in vivo mechanistic studies of systemic acquired resistance in plants

A recent report that the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, azelaic acid (1,9‐nonanedioic acid) but not related acids, suberic acid (1,8‐octanedioic acid) or sebacic (1,10‐decanedioic acid) acid induces systemic acquired resistance to invading pathogens in plants stimulated the development of a rapid method for labeling these dicarboxylic acids with ¹¹C and ¹⁴C for in vivo mechanistic studies in whole plants. ¹¹C‐labeling was performed by reaction of ammonium [¹¹C]cyanide with the corresponding bromonitrile precursor followed by hydrolysis with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. Total synthesis time was 60 min. Median decay‐corrected radiochemical yield for [¹¹C]azelaic acid was 40% relative to trapped [¹¹C]cyanide, and specific activity was 15 GBq/µmol. Yields for [¹¹C]suberic and sebacic acids were similar. The ¹⁴C‐labeled version of azelaic acid was prepared from potassium [¹⁴C]cyanide in 45% overall radiochemical yield. Radiolabeling procedures were verified using ¹³C‐labeling coupled with ¹³C‐NMR and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The ¹¹C and ¹⁴C‐labeled azelaic acid and related dicarboxylic acids are expected to be of value in understanding the mode‐of‐action, transport, and fate of this putative signaling molecule in plants. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ethnobotanical inventory and medicinal uses of some important woody plant species of Kotli,Azad Kashmir,Pakistan

To document ethnobotanical informations of useful woody plant species in the region of Kotli, Azad Kashmir.MethodsAn ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Kotli. Data were collected by interview and semi structured questionnaire from selected local informants and traditional practitioners as well as by field assessment.ResultsThe present study documented the etnobotanical uses of 33 woody plant species. Most of the species have been used for dual purpose. Only 5 species are used for one purpose. Study revealed all species have medicinal value, among which 21 were used as fuel wood species, 16 as fodder species, 4 as timber wood species, 12 as edible fruit species, 6 as fence or hedge plant, 7 as ornamental species and 12 species had other uses.ConclusionsMedicinal plants are still widely used for health care by locals of Kotli. Some species of woodlands seem to be vulnerable to overcollection and deforestation. As the young generation is diverted toward allelopathic medicines, ethnobotanical knowledges of important medicinal plants are restricted to the old people only. It is suggested to close the forest of district Kotli for next two to three decades for the conservation of plant biodiversity.     

Phytochemical analysis and mode of action against Candida glabrata of Paeonia emodi extracts

In the present study, we have evaluated the antifungal activity of the seed, root and leaf of Paeonia emodi (commonly known as Himalayan peony) in four common solvents (acetone, chloroform, methanol and water) against six fungal strains. The methanolic seed extract (MSE) showed promising antifungal activity against Candida albicans (6.25 mg/mL), Candida glabrata (3.12 mg/mL) and Candida parapsilosis (12.50 mg/mL) among all the fungal strains tested. Combination of the MSE with the well-known commercial antifungal drugs amphotericin B (Amp B), nystatin (NYS) and fluconazole (FLC) resulted in the killing of C. glabrata at non-inhibitory concentrations, i.e., 0.35 μg/mL for Amp B, 0.55 μg/mL for NYS and 1.19 μg/mL for FLC. Notably, MSE caused cell wall damage of C. glabrata cells, as confirmed by confocal microscopy, flowcytometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The MSE was fractionated by thin layer chromatography (TLC). TLC-bioautography was used to determine the active compounds present in the MSE. Column chromatography was used to separate the potential active compounds from the MSE. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) andfourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to identify the phytocomponents of the MSE. These experiments revealed 13-docosenamide/9-octadecenamide/trans-13-docosenamide (89.70%) as being the predominant compound using a chloroform/methanol solvent system for the separation. Interestingly, the MSE also exhibited less significant cytotoxicity at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against mammalian cells (HeLa and HEK293). This study suggests that the MSE of P. emodi can be used for the treatment of C. glabrata infection.     

Diet components can suppress inflammation and reduce cancer risk

Epidemiology studies indicate that diet or specific dietary components can reduce the risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. An underlying cause of these diseases is chronic inflammation. Dietary components that are beneficial against disease seem to have multiple mechanisms of action and many also have a common mechanism of reducing inflammation, often via the NFκB pathway. Thus, a plant based diet can contain many components that reduce inflammation and can reduce the risk for developing all three of these chronic diseases. We summarize dietary components that have been shown to reduce cancer risk and two studies that show that dietary walnut can reduce cancer growth and development. Part of the mechanism for the anticancer benefit of walnut was by suppressing the activation of NFκB. In this brief review, we focus on reduction of cancer risk by dietary components and the relationship to suppression of inflammation. However, it should be remembered that most dietary components have multiple beneficial mechanisms of action that can be additive and that suppression of chronic inflammation should reduce the risk for all three chronic diseases.