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Studies of the antibacterial activity of plant extracts and their constituents against periodontopathic bacteria.

Plant extracts and their constituents were tested for antibacterial activity against periodontopathic bacteria, including Actinobacillus, Capnocytophaga, Fusobacterium, Eikenella and Bacteroides species. The essential oils of two labiatae plants, Mosla chinensis Maxim. and Pogostemon cablin Benth., and five terpenoids, hinokitiol, thymol, carvacrol, patchoulialcohol and pogostone, showed antibacterial activity. The terpenoids were especially effective against Bacteroides species.

Bacteria↗

Plant extracts in the medical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia: fact or fiction?

The objective of this study was to critically review the published literature on the role of phytotherapeutic agents and phytosterols (also referred to as plant extracts) in the medical management of benign prostatic hyerplasia. Data sources included a bibliographic database that was searched to retrieve articles on benign prostatic hyperplasia with a time constraint of 1985-1993. Indexing terms used included plant extracts, phytosterols, cernilton, paraprost and medical management. Studies selected were randomized trials incorporating plant extracts. English abstracts were reviewed for articles published in other languages and these reviews are noted. English articles were critically reviewed based on study design, patient selection, length of follow up, postulated mechanisms of action and benign prostatic hyperplasia subjective and objective outcome measures. A number of plant extracts are being used in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia, predominantly in Europe. These plant extracts, which are biochemically heterogenous, have been found to act through a variety of mechanisms: an anti-inflammatory effect, a decrease in globulin, a direct cytotoxic effect, anti-prolactin activity and bladder compliance modification. More importantly, these plant extracts have not been associated with the side effects of chemical castration. Their alleged efficacy may be based upon a mechanism which is currently not understood and a combination of these extracts with accepted medications may have the potential of improving the overall efficacy of medical therapy in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Despite the shortcomings of the published trials, there is enough evidence to warrant additional study in the form of randomized control trials using scientific validated outcome measures. Using validated scores with patients of mild to moderate symptomatology would help to further elucidate the relative efficacy of cernilton, curbicin and permixon.

Journal Article↗

Validation of a colorimetric assay for the in vitro screening of inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) from plant extracts.

A new method for the in vitro screening of plant extracts with potential angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity is proposed. The method is based on the cleavage of the substrate hippuryl-glycyl-glycine by ACE and subsequent reaction with trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid to form 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-glycyl-glycine, whose absorbance is determined at 415 nm in a microtitre plate reader. Rabbit lung dehydrated by acetone was employed as an enzyme source. Validation of the method showed satisfactory intra-day (CV = 7.63%) and inter-day precision (CV = 13.61%), recovery (97-102.1%), sensitivity (IC50 = 14.1 nmol/l) and linearity in the range 7.5-120 mmol/l of glycyl-glycine (r2 = 0.9921). Besides, the method showed good correlation with a HPLC assay already established for the screening of ACE inhibitors (r = 0.9935 and 0.9034, respectively, for captopril solutions and for plant extracts). The method involves only inexpensive reagents and apparatus.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Effect of certain bioactive plant extracts on clinical isolates of beta-lactamase producing methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Ethanolic extracts and some fractions from 10 Indian medicinal plants, known for antibacterial activity, were investigated for their ability to inhibit clinical isolates of beta-lactamase producing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). Synergistic interaction of plant extracts with certain antibiotics was also evaluated. The MRSA test strains were found to be multi-drug resistant and also exhibited high level of resistance to common beta-lactam antibiotics. These strains produced beta-lactamases, which hydrolyze one or other beta-lactam antibiotics, tested. The extract of the plants from Camellia sinensis (leaves), Delonix regia (flowers), Holarrhena antidysenterica (bark), Lawsonia inermis (leaves), Punica granatum (rind), Terminalia chebula (fruits) and Terminalia belerica (fruits) showed a broad-spectrum of antibacterial activity with an inhibition zone size of 11 mm to 27 mm, against all the test bacteria. The extracts from the leaves of Ocimum sanctum showed better activity against the three MRSA strains. On the other hand, extracts from Allium sativum (bulb) and Citrus sinensis (rind) exhibited little or no activity, against MRSA strains. The antibacterial potency of crude extracts was determined in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the tube dilution method. MIC values, of the plant extracts, ranged from 1.3 to 8.2 mg/ml, against the test bacteria. Further, the extracts from Punica granatum and Delonix regia were fractionated in benzene, acetone and methanol. Antibacterial activity was observed in acetone as well as in the methanol fractions. In vitro synergistic interaction of crude extracts from Camellia sinensis, Lawsonia inermis, Punica granatum, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia belerica was detected with tetracycline. Moreover, the extract from Camellia sinensis also showed synergism with ampicillin.TLC of the above extracts revealed the presence of major phytocompounds, like alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols and saponins. TLC-bioautography indicated phenols and flavonoids as major active compounds.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Investigation of Bolivian plant extracts for their radical scavenging activity and antioxidant activity.

Fifty-four different extracts of nine Bolivian plants belonging to the family Asteraceae were evaluated for their radical scavenging activity by the DPPH*, NBT/hypoxanthine superoxide, and (*)OH/luminol chemiluminescence methods, and for their antioxidant activity by the beta-carotene bleaching test. The total phenolic content was also determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the oxidative stability by the Rancimat test. Both remarkably high phenolic content and radical scavenging and antioxidant activities were found mainly in the ethyl acetate fractions among the different plant extracts. Some ethyl acetate and even some defatted crude extracts exhibited activities comparable to those of commercial extracts/compounds, thus making it possible to consider some of the studied plants as a potential source of antioxidants of natural origin.

Antioxidants↗

Antioxidant properties of some hydroalcoholic plant extracts with antiinflammatory activity.

The hydroalcoholic extracts of Calendula officinalis, Hypericum perforatum, Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra which exhibited different anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated for the possible mode of action by studying their antioxidant potential. In the present study we investigated if standardized hydroalcoholic extracts of plants such as Calendula officinalis, Hypericum perforatum, Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra produced by Hofigal Stock Company could modulate the respiratory burst of human activated neutrophils, as a consequence of their antioxidant capacity. Their antioxidant properties were measured using a colorimetric assay (Total Antioxidant Status kit). We demonstrated that Hypericum perforatum and Calendula officinalis hydroalcoholic extracts possessed a significant antioxidant activity while Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra hydroalcoholic extracts had a minor antioxidant status. Using reactive oxygen species-generating systems (OZ-activated human PMN neutrophils), Calendula officinalis and Hypericum perforatum extracts showed strong reactive oxygen species scavenging property, Hypericum perforatum extract exhibing the highest scavenging activity. These results confirm the potential of Calendula officinalis and Hypericum perforatum investigated hydroalcoholic extracts as medicinal remedies to be used in different inflammatory/allergic diseases. These extracts could be a useful tool for obtaining new antioxidant/anti-inflammatory agents.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Effects of plant extract Centella asiatica (Linn.) on cold restraint stress ulcer in rats.

Extract of C. asiatica (Linn.) inhibited significantly gastric ulceration induced by cold and restraint stress (CRS) in Charles-Foster rats, Antiulcer activity of plant extract was compared with famotidine (H2-antagonist) and sodium valproate (anti-epileptic). Plant extract, formotidine and sodium valproate showed a dose dependent reduction of gastric ulceration. Plant extract increased brain GABA level which was also dose dependent. Pretreatment with bicuculline methiodide (specific GABAA-antagonist) at the dose level of 0.5 mg/kg im, reversed the antiulcerogenic activity of both plant extract and sodium valproate. Bicuculline as such did not induce gastric ulceration in normal rat.

Animals↗

Data-directed scan sequence for the general assignment of C-glycosylflavone O-glycosides in plant extracts by liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry.

An ion trap LC-MS/MS method is described for the analysis of C-glycosylflavone O-glycosides in crude methanolic extracts of plants. The method employs survey scans with and without the application of up-front collision induced dissociation (CID) to generate diagnostic ions for data-directed MS/MS. The spectra acquired allow assignment of the C-linked sugar to either the C-6 or C-8 position of the aglycone and provide data on the molecular mass of the compound, the number and type of O-linked sugars and the molecular mass of the flavone aglycone. These data for the majority of C-glycosylflavone O-glycosides in an extract are obtained automatically in one LC-MS/MS analysis without manual pre-programming. Key to the assignment of the C-6 or C-8 site of C-glycosylation is the generation, by up-front CID, of the (0,1)X+ product ion formed by internal cleavage of the C-linked sugar. MS/MS of this ion is found to have diagnostic value in addition to the (0,2)X+ product ion described by other authors. Ion trap MS/MS spectra of [M+H]+ of the 6,8-di-C-glycosylflavones schaftoside and isoschaftoside show an additional and previously unreported diagnostic product ion that is useful in determining the type of sugar at the C-6 position. The product ion spectra of protonated kaempferol 3-O-glucosylrhamnosides show similarities to the spectra of C-glycosylflavone O-glycosides; this is a potential source of confusion if the analysis of such glycosides is limited solely to MS/MS of [M+H]+.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

An orally active Amazonian plant extract (BIRM) inhibits prostate cancer growth and metastasis.

PURPOSE: Poor efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs against metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer (CaP) drives patients to try "alternative medicine". The antitumor activity of one such agent, "BIRM" (biological immune response modulator; "Simple Ecuadorian Oral Solution: an extract of an Amazonian plant"), was characterized in vitro and in vivo using established CaP cell lines and a tumor model. METHODS: The cytotoxicity of BIRM in four human and one rat CaP cell line was evaluated using cell proliferation-inhibition and clonogenic survival assays. BIRM-induced apoptosis, alterations in cell cycle phase progression and inhibition of the extracellular matrix-degrading enzyme hyaluronidase were also investigated in these cells. The in vivo efficacy of BIRM was evaluated in rats with subcutaneous tumor implants of Dunning EGFP-MAT LyLu cells. The active species in BIRM were characterized by gel filtration chromatography. RESULTS: BIRM inhibited cell proliferation and clonogenic growth of the CaP cells (IC(50) about 8.0 microl/ml). It increased cell accumulation in the G(0)/G(1) phase by 33.8% and decreased the proportion of cells in S phase by 54.6%. Apoptotic cell death in BIRM-treated cells was associated with activation of cell death-associated caspases. BIRM inhibited the activity of hyaluronidase, a hyaluronic acid-degrading enzyme, at 1 microl/ml. Treatment of MAT LyLu tumor-bearing rats with BIRM by oral gavage resulted in a significant decrease in tumor incidence (50%), tumor growth rate (18.6+/-1.3 days for 1 cc tumor growth in control rats and 25.7+/-2.6 days in BIRM-treated rats), and only one out of six BIRM-treated rats versus four out of six in the control group developed lung metastasis. Three active ingredients in BIRM with a relative molecular mass (Mr) of >or=3500 were identified by ultracentrifugation and gel filtration chromatography and were found to be resistant to proteinase and heat (100 degrees C). CONCLUSION: The plant extract BIRM contains antitumor compounds of Mr >or=3500 with potent antiproliferative activity in vitro and in vivo against prostate cancer cells.

Administration, Oral↗

[Thromboplastic activity of higher plant extracts].

Hemostatic properties of extracts isolated from the birch floscules and willow blossoms have been revealed. An agent of thromboplastic nature which is identical to thromboplasin of the rat brain according to its biochemical composition and procoagulative action has been found in these extracts. In contrast to brain thromboplastin thromboplastic activity of plant extracts does not possess the species specificity. After intravenous injection of the plant extracts a reaction similar to defence reaction of the anticoagulation system in response to thromboplastin infusion of the rat brain develops in rats.

Animals↗

Improved RNA extraction and one-tube RT-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of control plant RNA plus several viruses in plant extracts.

A procedure was developed for simultaneous detection of plant RNA viruses and of plant RNA, as a control. RT-PCR amplification with primers designed for the detection of the plant mRNAs encoding malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and the large subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (RubiscoL) was used for the development of a plant extraction procedure that consistently yields extracts that can be amplified. The control amplification was used successfully on extracts from cane, leaf and/or bud tissues from grapevine, apple, raspberry, strawberry, peach, apricot, plum and wheat. Multiplex RT-PCR conditions were established for the simultaneous detection in grapevine extracts of either arabis mosaic virus, rupestris stem pitting associated virus and malate dehydrogenase mRNA, or grapevine virus A, grapevine virus B, grapevine leafroll associated virus-3, and RubiscoL mRNA.

Malate Dehydrogenase↗

Effects of Central Kalimantan plant extracts on intraerythrocytic Babesia gibsoni in culture.

The inhibitory effects of 45 plant extracts selected from Central Kalimantan, Indonesia on Babesia gibsoni in vitro and their acute toxicity to mice were evaluated. Of these plant extracts studied, Arcangelisia flava, Curcuma zedoaria, Garcinia benthamiana, Lansium domesticum and Peronema canescens were found to have appreciable antibabesial activity with IC50 values from 5.3 to 49.3 microg/ml without acute toxicity in mice at the intraperitoneal dose of 0.7 g/kg of body weight.

Animals↗

Expression of estrogen receptor alpha gene in breast cancer cells treated with transcription factor decoy is modulated by Bangladeshi natural plant extracts.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the expression of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) gene may be a possible target for compounds present in plant extracts from Aegle marmelos and Emblica officinalis, used in traditional Asian medicine in the treatment of tissue inflammation and cancer. To this aim, we evaluated the potential of the selected plant extracts to affect proliferation and differentiation of ERalpha-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, which become ERalpha positive after treatment with a decoy molecule against a regulatory region of the human ERalpha gene. All the plant extracts inhibited cell proliferation and showed no effect on ERalpha gene expression, but when they were added in combination with the decoy molecule, a modulatory effect was observed, depending on the extract employed. The extracts exhibiting the greatest effects were those obtained from Aegle marmelos. Gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry (GC/ MS) analysis enabled us to identify lupeol, a known triterpenoid, as the major bioactive component of A. marmelos plant extracts. Similar to the Aegle marmelos extracts, lupeol was found to stimulate the decoy effect of RA4 DNA sequence, increasing at a high level ERa gene expression in MDA-MB-231 ERalpha-negative breast cancer cells, and also inhibited cell proliferation.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Antibacterial activity of plant extracts used externally in traditional medicine.

Plants of 28 families, selected on the basis of medicinal folklore reports and literature data, were studied in a screening program. Aqueous extracts of plants used externally for the treatment of infected skin lesions were tested for their antibacterial potential. The results indicated that about 60% of the plant extracts tested exhibited some level of antibacterial action.

Administration, Topical↗

Antiplasmodial activity of plant extracts used in west African traditional medicine.

Five plants originating from Ivory Coast were selected after an ethnobotanical survey, Alchornea cordifolia, Mitragyna inermis, Nauclea diderrichii, Pterocarpus santalinoides, and Terminalia glaucescens. Traditional healers for the treatment of malaria commonly used these plants. Extracts of these plants were tested on three strains of Plasmodium falciparum, FcB1-Colombia and FcM29-Cameroon (chloroquine-resistant strains) and a Nigerian chloroquine-sensitive strain. Extracts were obtained by preparing decoction in water of the powdered plant, the technique used by most of the traditional healers. A radioactive micromethod allowed the evaluation of the in vitro activity of the extracts on P. falciparum. Concentrations inhibiting 50% of the parasite growth (IC(50)) ranged from 2.34 to more than 500 microg/ml according to the plant. For the most active plants (A. cordifolia and T. glaucescens) ethanol and pentane extracts were made and tested. The IC(50) values obtained for these extracts ranged from 0.35 to 43.40 microg/ml. The stage specificity of the ethanol extracts of A. cordifolia and T. glaucescens and pentane extract of T. glaucescens on the parasite erythrocytic cycle were determined. The ethanol extract of T. glaucescens showed its highest activity at the transition from the trophozoite to the schizont stages. Cytotoxicity was estimated on human fibroblasts (HeLa) cells and a cytotoxicity/antiplasmodial index was calculated, it ranged between 5 and 21, and the best antiplasmodial extract (T. glaucescens ethanol extract) had the higher index (>20).

Animals↗

Antioxidant activity of plant extracts on the inhibition of citral off-odor formation.

Grape seed, pomegranate seed, green tea, and black tea extracts were used to inhibit the off-odor from citral degradation. A 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 3), containing 100 ppm citral and 200 ppm gallic acid equivalent plant extract, was incubated at 40 degrees C. The reaction mixtures were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at days 0, 6, 10, 13, and 16 to monitor degradation of citral and formation of alpha, p-dimethylstyrene, p-cymene-8-ol, and p-methylacetophenone. The addition of plant phenolic extracts could not inhibit citral degradation, however, all four plant extracts significantly inhibited p-methylacetophenone formation. The samples, with the addition of plant extracts, exhibited higher concentrations of alpha, p-dimethylstyrene and p-cymene-8-ol than the control. This is presumed to be due to the oxygen-scavenging effect of plant extracts blocking the pathway from p-cymene-8-ol to p-methylacetophenone. Our results suggest that these plant extracts act as general antioxidants inhibiting the generation ofp-methylacetophenone regardless of the types of water-soluble phenolic compounds existing in the plant extracts.

Acyclic Monoterpenes↗

Inhibitory activity of plant extracts on nitric oxide synthesis in LPS-activated macrophages.

Nitric oxide (NO) produced in large amounts by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is known to be responsible for the vasodilation and hypotension observed in septic shock and inflammation. Inhibitors of iNOS, thus, may be useful candidates for the treatment of inflammatory diseases accompanied by overproduction of NO. We prepared alcoholic extracts of woody plants and screened the inhibitory activity of NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages after the treatment of these extracts. Among 83 kinds of plant extracts, 23 kinds of extracts showed potent inhibitory activity of NO production above 60% at the concentration of 80 micro g/ml. Some of potent extracts showed dose dependent inhibition of NO production of LPS-activated macrophages at the concentration of 80, 40, 20 micro g/ml. Especially, Artemisia iwayomogi, Machilus thunbergii, Populus davidiana and Populus maximowiczii showed the most potent inhibition (above 70%) at the concentration of 40 micro g/ml. Inhibitory activity of NO production was concentrated to nonpolar solvent fractions (ethyl ether and/or ethyl acetate soluble fractions) of Artemisia iwayomogi, Machilus thunbergii and Morus bombycis. These plants are promising candidates for the study of the activity-guided purification of active compounds and would be useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and endotoxemia accompanying overproduction of NO.

Animals↗

[The antistaphylococcal properties of plant extracts in relation to their prospective use as therapeutic and prophylactic formulations for the skin].

Antistaphylococcal activities of plant extracts (12 water alcohol glycerol, WAG, 6 water alcohol, WA, 8 alcohol glycerol, AG, extracts) towards reference strains and those isolated from patients with pyoinflammatory diseases of the skin were examined by diluting the preparations in solid media. The strains under study were 69 S. aureus, 44 S. epidermidis, and 2 S. saprophyticus ones. Fifteen plant extracts have shown antistaphylococcal activities. The most active were oak bark, sage and St. John's wort grass WAG extracts, horse radish root and leaf AG extracts, celandine grass WA extract; bur marigold and yarrow grass WA extracts were active towards S. aureus. S. aureus strains isolated from patients were found less sensitive to oak bark, German camomile flower WAG and celandine, bur marigold, and brewing waste WA extracts that the reference strains. S. epidermidis strains isolated from patients with acne rash were less sensitive to sweet flag rhizome WAG, celandine and brewing waste WA extracts that the reference strains. These data may be useful when developing compositions including plant extracts for patients with skin diseases.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗