1
|
Ahmad AAM, Abdelgalil SY, Khamis T, Abdelwahab AMO, Atwa DN, Elmowalid GA. Thymoquinone' potent impairment of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus NorA efflux pump activity. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16483. [PMID: 39013998 PMCID: PMC11252345 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65991-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The drug efflux pump is a crucial mechanism implicated in resistance to multiple antimicrobials. Thymoquinone (TQ) has evidently demonstrated multiple activities, antibacterial being the most effective. Knowledge about TQ activity against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is very scarce. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate TQ resistance modulation in ciprofloxacin (CIP) and doxycycline (DO) multidrug-resistant S. aureus. Forty-seven samples were collected from different sources, and S. aureus was isolated and identified. Then, S. aureus resistance profiles to antimicrobials, N. sativa essential oil, and TQ; the correlation between TQ-MIC readings and disc diffusion; cartwheel and ethidium bromide (EtBr) accumulation assays; and norA gene expression were all described within silico molecular docking for TQ interactions with norA efflux pump protein. TQ-MICs ranged from 5-320 µg/ml. TQ down-regulated norA gene expression, resulting in a drop in efflux pump activity of 77.5-90.6% in the examined strains, comparable to that observed with verapamil. Exposure of S. aureus strains to CIP and DO raises the initial basal efflux pumping expression to 34.2 and 22.9 times, respectively. This induced efflux pumping overexpression was substantially reduced by 97.7% when TQ was combined with CIP or DO. There was a significant reduction of MICs of CIP and DO MICs by 2-15 and 2-4 folds, respectively, after treatment with 0.5XMIC-TQ in resistance modulation assays. These results refer to TQ ligand inhibitory interactions with NorA protein in molecular docking. Interpretations of inhibition zone diameters (IZDs) of disc diffusion and TQ-MICs exhibit independence of MICs from IZDs, as indicated by invalid linear regression analysis. TQ significantly reduced efflux pumping S. aureus induced by CIP and DO, but further investigations are needed to improve TQ-pharmacokinetics to restore CIP and DO activity and suppress fluoroquinolone and doxycycline-resistant S. aureus selection in clinical and animal settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adel Attia M Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
| | - Sara Y Abdelgalil
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Tarek Khamis
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Ashraf M O Abdelwahab
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Dina Nader Atwa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Gamal A Elmowalid
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pakfetrat A, Delavarian Z, Malakooti M, Bagheri H, Esmaily H, Ghorbani M, Saeedi P. Comparing the efficacy of a novel mucoadhesive patch containing Nigella sativa 10% with triamcinolone 0.1% in patients with erosive-atrophic oral lichen planus: A pilot study. Clin Exp Dent Res 2024; 10:e886. [PMID: 38798063 PMCID: PMC11128745 DOI: 10.1002/cre2.886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the efficacy of a novel mucoadhesive patch containing Nigella sativa 10% extract compared to triamcinolone 0.1% in alleviating symptoms and reducing lesion severity in patients with erosive-atrophic oral lichen planus. METHODS AND MATERIALS A pilot study comprising two groups, each with 10 patients, was conducted. The intervention group received mucoadhesive patches containing N. sativa 10% extract, while the control group received triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% patches. Pain and burning intensity, measured through visual analog scale, and lesion severity based on the Thongprasom scale were assessed weekly for 4 weeks. Descriptive records were kept for side effects and patient satisfaction. RESULTS Pain and burning intensity decreased in both groups throughout the sessions, with the N. sativa group showing a greater reduction than the triamcinolone group. The reduction in burning intensity within each group was significant (p < .001), and there was a significant difference between groups only in the second session (p = .045). The overall difference between groups was not significant (p > .05). Lesion severity also decreased significantly in both groups (p < .001), with a significant difference between groups observed in the third session (p = .043) and overall throughout the study (p = .006). CONCLUSION The use of N. sativa extract in mucoadhesive patches was as effective as corticosteroids in reducing pain, burning, and lesion severity in patients with oral lichen planus, with N. sativa showing superior results in some sessions. Notably, no significant complications were observed with N. sativa use, making it a promising treatment option for lichen planus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atessa Pakfetrat
- Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research CenterMashhad University of Medical SciencesMashhadIran
| | - Zahra Delavarian
- Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research CenterMashhad University of Medical SciencesMashhadIran
| | - Mahshid Malakooti
- Department of Oral Medicine, School of DentistryMashhad University of Medical ScienceMashhadIran
| | - Hossein Bagheri
- Dental Materials Research CenterMashhad University of Medical SciencesMashhadIran
| | - Habibollah Esmaily
- Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsMashhad University of Medical SciencesMashhadIran
| | - Mahsa Ghorbani
- School of DentistryMashhad University of Medical SciencesMashhadIran
| | - Pooya Saeedi
- School of DentistryMashhad University of Medical SciencesMashhadIran
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Al-Tawalbeh D, Alkhawaldeh Y, Abu Sawan H, Al-Mamoori F, Al-Samydai A, Mayyas A. Assessment of carvacrol-antibiotic combinations' antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1349550. [PMID: 38260886 PMCID: PMC10800982 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1349550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial activity of carvacrol in combination with approved antibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Carvacrol, a phenolic monoterpenoid component of essential oils, has demonstrated antimicrobial properties against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The study evaluated the antimicrobial effects of carvacrol combined with sulfamethoxazole, linezolid, minocycline, and trimethoprim. Methods The MRSA strain (ATCC-33591) was used, and various assays, including MIC determination, checkerboard assay, and microdilution assay were conducted. Results The results showed that the combination of carvacrol with antibiotics yielded better outcomes compared to monotherapy, leading to reduced bacterial colonization. Carvacrol, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim exhibited weak anti-staphylococcal effects, while linezolid and minocycline demonstrated stronger effects. This suggests that conventional antibiotic therapy may not be sufficient to effectively treat MRSA infections, potentially causing delays in healing or an exacerbation of the condition. Carvacrol combinations with two antibiotics displayed superior results compared to other pairs, indicating synergistic or additive effects of carvacrol with linezolid, minocycline, and sulfamethoxazole. Conclusion These findings propose a new approach for developing drug molecules for MRSA treatment which combine volatile oils with available regimens. Further studies are recommended to evaluate the efficacy and biosafety of these combinations using in vivo or ex vivo models, aiming to minimize side effects and facilitate human trials. This study provides valuable insights into the potential use of carvacrol-antibiotic combinations as a novel therapeutic approach against MRSA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Al-Tawalbeh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | | | - Hana Abu Sawan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zarqa University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Farah Al-Mamoori
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zarqa University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Ali Al-Samydai
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Amal Mayyas
- Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Madaba, Madaba, Jordan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Teixeira RG, Mészáros JP, Matos B, Côrte-Real L, Xavier CPR, Fontrodona X, Garcia MH, Romero I, Spengler G, Vasconcelos MH, Tomaz AI, Enyedy ÉA, Valente A. Novel family of [RuCp(N,N)(P)] + compounds with simultaneous anticancer and antibacterial activity: Biological evaluation and solution chemistry studies. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 262:115922. [PMID: 37944388 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
A family of ten novel ruthenium(II)-cyclopentadienyl organometallics of general formula [Ru(η5-C5H5)(N,N)(PPh2(C6H4COOR)][CF3SO3] (1-10) in which (N,N) = 4,4'-R'-2,2'-bipyridyl (R = -H or -CH2CH2OH; R' = -H, -CH3, -OCH3, -CH2OH, and -CH2-biotin) was prepared from [Ru(η5-C5H5)(PPh2(C6H4COOH))2Cl]. All compounds were fully characterized by means of several spectroscopic and analytical techniques, and the molecular structures of [Ru(η5-C5H5)(PPh2(C6H4COOH))2Cl], 1, 3 and 4 have been additionally studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The anticancer activity of all compounds was evaluated in sensitive and multidrug-resistant counterpart cell lines from human colorectal cancer (Colo 205 and Colo 320) and non-small cell lung cancer NSCLC (A549, NCI-H460 versus NCI-H460/R) as well. Notably, compounds 6 and 7 (R CH2CH2OH and (N,N) = bipy or Me2bipy, respectively) showed antiproliferative effect against both cell lines with high intrinsic selectivity towards cancer cells. The antibacterial activity of all compounds was also evaluated against both Gram negative and Gram positive strains, and some compounds in the series showed potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus strains, including the methicillin-resistant MRSA strains. Solution speciation studies revealed that the complexes bearing the PPh2(C6H4COO-) ligand are neutral at physiological pH (7.4) in contrast with their ethylene glycol derivatives that have a permanent positive charge. While all compounds are lipophilic, the difference in the distribution coefficient for neutral and charged complexes is around one order of magnitude. Complexes 6 and 7 exhibited excellent biological activity and were selected for further studies. Spectrofluorometric methods were used to investigate their interaction with biomolecules such as human serum albumin (HSA) and calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA). For these complexes, binding site II of HSA is a possible binding pocket through non-covalent interactions. The release of ethidium from the DNA adduct by the charged complexes proves their interaction with DNA in contrast to the neutral ones. In conclusion, Ru(II)-cyclopentadienyl complexes with 2,2'-bipyridyl-derivatives and an ethylene glycol moiety tethered to the phenylphosphane co-ligand are very promising from a therapeutic perspective, in particular complexes 6 and 7 that display remarkable antibacterial activity with a high anti-proliferative effect against colon and non-small cell lung cancers, both clinically challenging neoplasias in need of effective solutions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo G Teixeira
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - János P Mészáros
- Department of Molecular and Analytical Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 7, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary; MTA-SZTE Lendület Functional Metal Complexes Research Group, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 7, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Beatriz Matos
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal; Cancer Drug Resistance Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology (IPATIMUP), University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Leonor Côrte-Real
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Cristina P R Xavier
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal; Cancer Drug Resistance Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology (IPATIMUP), University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Xavier Fontrodona
- Departament de Química and Serveis Tècnics de Recerca, Universitat de Girona, C/ M. Aurèlia Campmany, 69, E-17003, Girona, Spain
| | - M Helena Garcia
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isabel Romero
- Departament de Química and Serveis Tècnics de Recerca, Universitat de Girona, C/ M. Aurèlia Campmany, 69, E-17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Gabriella Spengler
- MTA-SZTE Lendület Functional Metal Complexes Research Group, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 7, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Center and Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, 6725, Szeged, Hungary
| | - M Helena Vasconcelos
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal; Cancer Drug Resistance Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology (IPATIMUP), University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto (FFUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Tomaz
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Éva A Enyedy
- Department of Molecular and Analytical Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 7, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary; MTA-SZTE Lendület Functional Metal Complexes Research Group, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 7, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Andreia Valente
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Alnezary FS, Almutairi MS, Alhifany AA, Almangour TA. Assessing Galleria mellonella as a preliminary model for systemic Staphylococcus aureus infection: Evaluating the efficacy and impact of vancomycin and Nigella sativa oil on gut microbiota. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:101824. [PMID: 37965487 PMCID: PMC10641552 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium that can cause various infections. The Galleria mellonella has been used as a preliminary test for infection model. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of G. mellonella as a microbiome model and compare the efficacy of vancomycin and antimicrobial activity of Nigella sativa (NS) on the gut flora. Methods G. mellonella larvae were subjected to metagenomic analysis. The larvae's guts were collected, homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and the gut contents isolated for bacterial DNA extraction. Larvae were assigned into the following groups: negative control (PBS only); positive control (MRSA only); vancomycin treated group; NS oil treated group and combination (vancomycin and NS oil) treated group. Larvae were cultured, inoculated with S. aureus, and treated with vancomycin and NS oil. Larval activity, cocoon formation, growth, melanization, and survival were monitored. The toxicity of vancomycin and NS oil was tested, and S. aureus burden and natural microbiota were determined. Hemocyte density was measured. Statistical analysis was conducted using R. Results Enterococcus related species dominated approximately 90 % of the gastrointestinal tract of the larvae. The survival rate following treatment was 85 % with vancomycin, 64 % with NS oil, and 73 % with a combination of both. The count of Enterococcus Colony Forming Units (CFUs) was significantly lower in the vancomycin treatment group (8.14E+04) compared to those treated with NS oil (1.97E+06) and the combination treatment (8.95E+05). Furthermore, the S. aureus burden was found to be lower in the NS oil (1.04E+06) and combination treatment groups (9.02E+05) compared to the vancomycin treatment group (3.38E+06). Hemocyte densities were significantly higher in the NS oil (8.29E+06) and combination treatment groups (8.18E+06) compared to the vancomycin treatment group (4.89E+06). Conclusions The study supported the use of G. mellonella model as a preliminary test to assess the effect of different antimicrobials against S. aureus and gut microbiota. NS oil showed more selectivity against S. aureus and protectiveness for the natural Enterococcus gut flora.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Faris S. Alnezary
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Madinah 41477, Saudi Arabia
| | - Masaad Saeed Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah A. Alhifany
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thamer A. Almangour
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kmail A, Said O, Saad B. How Thymoquinone from Nigella sativa Accelerates Wound Healing through Multiple Mechanisms and Targets. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:9039-9059. [PMID: 37998744 PMCID: PMC10670084 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45110567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Wound healing is a multifaceted process necessitating the collaboration of numerous elements to mend damaged tissue. Plant and animal-derived natural compounds have been utilized for wound treatment over the centuries, with many scientific investigations examining these compounds. Those with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties are particularly noteworthy, as they target various wound-healing stages to expedite recovery. Thymoquinone, derived from Nigella sativa (N. sativa)-a medicinal herb with a long history of use in traditional medicine systems such as Unani, Ayurveda, Chinese, and Greco-Arabic and Islamic medicine-has demonstrated a range of therapeutic properties. Thymoquinone exhibits antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic activities, positioning it as a potential remedy for skin pathologies. This review examines recent research on how thymoquinone accelerates wound healing and the mechanisms behind its effectiveness. We carried out a comprehensive review of literature and electronic databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and MedlinePlus. Our aim was to gather relevant papers published between 2015 and August 2023. The main criteria for inclusion were that the articles had to be peer reviewed, original, written in English, and discuss the wound-healing parameters of thymoquinone in wound repair. Our review focused on the effects of thymoquinone on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in wound healing. We also examined the role of cytokines, signal transduction cascades, and clinical trials. We found sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of thymoquinone in promoting wound healing. However, there is no consensus on the most effective concentrations of these substances. It is therefore essential to determine the optimal treatment doses and the best route of administration. Further research is also needed to investigate potential side effects and the performance of thymoquinone in clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdalsalam Kmail
- Faculty of Sciences, Arab American University, Jenin P.O. Box 240, Palestine
| | - Omar Said
- Beleaf Pharma, Kfar Kana 16930, Israel;
| | - Bashar Saad
- Qasemi Research Center, Al-Qasemi Academic College, Baqa Algharbiya 30100, Israel
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Arab American University, Jenin P.O. Box 240, Palestine
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang S, Wang J, Ahn J. Advances in the Discovery of Efflux Pump Inhibitors as Novel Potentiators to Control Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1417. [PMID: 37760714 PMCID: PMC10525980 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12091417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The excessive use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens in clinical settings and food-producing animals, posing significant challenges to clinical management and food control. Over the past few decades, the discovery of antimicrobials has slowed down, leading to a lack of treatment options for clinical infectious diseases and foodborne illnesses. Given the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the limited availability of effective antibiotics, the discovery of novel antibiotic potentiators may prove useful for the treatment of bacterial infections. The application of antibiotics combined with antibiotic potentiators has demonstrated successful outcomes in bench-scale experiments and clinical settings. For instance, the use of efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) in combination with antibiotics showed effective inhibition of MDR pathogens. Thus, this review aims to enable the possibility of using novel EPIs as potential adjuvants to effectively control MDR pathogens. Specifically, it provides a comprehensive summary of the advances in novel EPI discovery and the underlying mechanisms that restore antimicrobial activity. In addition, we also characterize plant-derived EPIs as novel potentiators. This review provides insights into current challenges and potential strategies for future advancements in fighting antibiotic resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Song Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Juhee Ahn
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea;
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wei J, Zhang C, Ma W, Ma J, Liu Z, Ren F, Li N. Antibacterial Activity of Thesium chinense Turcz Extract Against Bacteria Associated with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:5091-5105. [PMID: 37576521 PMCID: PMC10422991 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s425398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Haemophilus influenzae has become more and more serious, and it is urgent to seek new antibacterial drugs. In this study, Thesium chinense Turcz. extracts were tested for its potential antibacterial activities. Methods T. chinense powder was extracted with 5 solvents of different polarity (ethyl alcohol, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butyl alcohol and double distilled water), and their antibacterial activities were tested. The Broth dilution method was used to evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of highly active plant extracts with a concentration of 1g/mL. The inhibitory activity of this extract on biofilm formation was investigated. Afterwards, we investigated its effect on the transcriptome of S. aureus. Results The ethanol extract coded as BRY, only inhibited S. aureus, whereas the ethyl acetate extract coded as BY2 showed inhibitory effect on all the tested bacteria. The MIC of BRY on S. aureus was 128 mg/mL, and the MBC was 512 mg/mL. The MIC of BY2 against S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes and H. influenzae were 8 mg/mL, 4 mg/mL, 4 mg/mL, and 4 mg/mL, respectively. The MBC of BY2 for these four bacteria ranged from 4 to 256 mg/mL. Mechanism studies have shown that BRY and BY2 have an impact on anti-formation of biofilms at MIC concentrations. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that 531 genes were up-regulated and 340 genes showed down-regulated expression in S. aureus after BY2 treatment. Conclusion BY2 has a broader antibacterial spectrum than BRY. Meanwhile, the inhibitory effect of BY2 on S. aureus is better than BRY. The mechanism of BY2 against S. aureus may relate to its inhibition of ribosome synthesis, restriction of key enzymes of citric acid cycle, decrease of pathogenicity and influence on biofilm formation. The results confirmed that BY2 was the main antibacterial part of T. chinense, which can be used as a source of antibacterial agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juanru Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cong Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Juncheng Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhenzhen Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fucai Ren
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ning Li
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Santos M, Santos R, Soeiro P, Silvestre S, Ferreira S. Resveratrol as an Inhibitor of the NorA Efflux Pump and Resistance Modulator in Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1168. [PMID: 37508264 PMCID: PMC10376492 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12071168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus can exhibit resistance to various antibiotics. Among its resistance mechanisms, the active efflux of antibiotics can be seen as relevant. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of resveratrol to modulate norfloxacin resistance in S. aureus. The antimicrobial activity of resveratrol was assessed using the broth microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Then, the modulatory effect of resveratrol was evaluated using the MIC determination for the antibiotic or ethidium bromide in the presence and absence of resveratrol at a sub-MIC level. The MIC of norfloxacin against S. aureus SA1199B (NorA-overexpressing strain) decreased 16-fold when in the presence of resveratrol, with a similar behavior being observed for ethidium bromide. An evaluation of the ethidium bromide accumulation was also performed, showing that in the presence of resveratrol, the SA1199B strain had augmented fluorescence due to the accumulation of ethidium bromide. Altogether, the results suggested that resveratrol may act by inhibiting NorA. These in vitro data were supported by docking results, with interactions between resveratrol and the NorA efflux pump predicted to be favorable. Our findings demonstrated that resveratrol may modulate norfloxacin resistance through the inhibition of NorA, increasing the effectiveness of this antibiotic against S. aureus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madalena Santos
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Raquel Santos
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Pedro Soeiro
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Samuel Silvestre
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Susana Ferreira
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Romanescu M, Oprean C, Lombrea A, Badescu B, Teodor A, Constantin GD, Andor M, Folescu R, Muntean D, Danciu C, Dalleur O, Batrina SL, Cretu O, Buda VO. Current State of Knowledge Regarding WHO High Priority Pathogens-Resistance Mechanisms and Proposed Solutions through Candidates Such as Essential Oils: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119727. [PMID: 37298678 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the 10 global health issues identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021. While AMR is a naturally occurring process, the inappropriate use of antibiotics in different settings and legislative gaps has led to its rapid progression. As a result, AMR has grown into a serious global menace that impacts not only humans but also animals and, ultimately, the entire environment. Thus, effective prophylactic measures, as well as more potent and non-toxic antimicrobial agents, are pressingly needed. The antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs) is supported by consistent research in the field. Although EOs have been used for centuries, they are newcomers when it comes to managing infections in clinical settings; it is mainly because methodological settings are largely non-overlapping and there are insufficient data regarding EOs' in vivo activity and toxicity. This review considers the concept of AMR and its main determinants, the modality by which the issue has been globally addressed and the potential of EOs as alternative or auxiliary therapy. The focus is shifted towards the pathogenesis, mechanism of resistance and activity of several EOs against the six high priority pathogens listed by WHO in 2017, for which new therapeutic solutions are pressingly required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirabela Romanescu
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Camelia Oprean
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital 'Pius Branzeu', Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Adelina Lombrea
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Bianca Badescu
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ana Teodor
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - George D Constantin
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Minodora Andor
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roxana Folescu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Delia Muntean
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Corina Danciu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Olivia Dalleur
- Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier 73, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefan Laurentiu Batrina
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences "King Mihai I" from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Octavian Cretu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Valentina Oana Buda
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Ineu City Hospital, 2 Republicii Street, 315300 Ineu, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
de Oliveira GD, da Rocha WRV, Rodrigues JFB, Alves HDS. Synergistic and Antibiofilm Effects of the Essential Oil from Croton conduplicatus (Euphorbiaceae) against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 16:ph16010055. [PMID: 36678551 PMCID: PMC9867205 DOI: 10.3390/ph16010055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial resistance refers to the ability of bacteria to resist the action of some antibiotics due to the development of adaptation and resistance mechanisms. It is a serious public health problem, especially for diseases caused by opportunistic bacteria. In this context, the search for new drugs, used alone or in combination, appears as an alternative for the treatment of microbial infections, and natural products, such as essential oils, are important in this process due to their structural diversity, which increases the probability for antimicrobial action. The objective of this study was to extract and identify the chemical components of the essential oil from Croton conduplicatus (EOCC), to evaluate the antimicrobial activity, to investigate the effect of the interaction between the EOCC and different antibiotics and to evaluate its antibiofilm potential. The EOCC was obtained by hydrodistillation. Based on chemical characterisation, 70 compounds were identified, with 1.8 cineole (13.15%), p-cymene (10.68%), caryophyllene (9.73%) and spathulenol (6.36%) being the major constituents. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of EOCC were 256 and 512 µg mL-1 for methicillin-sensitive and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MSSA and MRSA), respectively. The combinations of EOCC with the antibiotics oxacillin and ampicillin were synergistic (OXA/EOCC and AMP/EOCC combined decreased the OXA MIC and AMP MIC to 0.5 and 0.25 for MSSA, respectively, and OXA/EOCC and AMP/EOCC combined decreased the OXA MIC and the AMP MIC to 1 and 0.5 for MRSA, respectively) and could modify the resistance profile of MSSA and MRSA strains. The results indicated that EOCC was also able to partially inhibit biofilm formation. Our study presents important information about the chemical composition of EOCC and its antimicrobial potential and provides a reference to determine the mechanisms of action of EOCC and its use in pharmaceutical formulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Genil Dantas de Oliveira
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceuticals Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Paraiba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Wilma Raianny Vieira da Rocha
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceuticals Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Paraiba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
| | - José Filipe Bacalhau Rodrigues
- Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil
| | - Harley da Silva Alves
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceuticals Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Paraiba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-83-98790-9234
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Magnetite-Based Nanostructured Coatings Functionalized with Nigella sativa and Dicloxacillin for Improved Wound Dressings. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 12:antibiotics12010059. [PMID: 36671260 PMCID: PMC9854499 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12010059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we report the performance improvement of wound dressings by covering them with magnetite-based nanostructured coatings. The magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) were functionalized with Nigella sativa (N. sativa) powder/essential oil and dicloxacillin and were synthesized as coatings by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE). The expected effects of this combination of materials are: (i) to reduce microbial contamination, and (ii) to promote rapid wound healing. The crystalline nature of core/shell Fe3O4 NPs and coatings was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) have been coupled to investigate the stability and thermal degradation of core/shell nanoparticle components. The coatings' morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The distribution of chemical elements and functional groups in the resulting coatings was evidenced by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. In order to simulate the interaction between wound dressings and epithelial tissues and to evaluate the drug release in time, the samples were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) and investigated after different durations of time. The antimicrobial effect was evaluated in planktonic (free-floating) and attached (biofilms) bacteria models. The biocompatibility and regenerative properties of the nanostructured coatings were evaluated in vitro, at cellular, biochemical, and the molecular level. The obtained results show that magnetite-based nanostructured coatings functionalized with N. sativa and dicloxacillin are biocompatible and show an enhanced antimicrobial effect against Gram positive and Gram negative opportunistic bacteria.
Collapse
|
13
|
Dias KJSDO, Miranda GM, Bessa JR, Araújo ACJD, Freitas PR, Almeida RSD, Paulo CLR, Neto JBDA, Coutinho HDM, Ribeiro-Filho J. Terpenes as bacterial efflux pump inhibitors: A systematic review. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:953982. [PMID: 36313340 PMCID: PMC9606600 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.953982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Managing antibiotic resistance is a significant challenge in modern pharmacotherapy. While molecular analyses have identified efflux pump expression as an essential mechanism underlying multidrug resistance, the targeted drug development has occurred slower. Thus, considering the verification that terpenes can enhance the activity of antibiotics against resistant bacteria, the present study gathered evidence pointing to these natural compounds as bacterial efflux pump inhibitors. A systematic search for manuscripts published between January 2007 and January 2022 was carried out using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol and the following search terms: “Terpene”; AND “Efflux pump”; and “Bacteria.” From a total of 101 articles found in the initial search, 41 were included in this review. Seventy-five different terpenes, 63 bacterial strains, and 22 different efflux pumps were reported, with carvacrol, Staphylococcus aureus SA-1199B, and NorA appearing most frequently mentioned terpene, bacterial strain, and efflux pump (EP), respectively. The Chi-Squared analysis indicated that terpenes are significantly effective EP inhibitors in Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, with the inhibitory frequency significantly higher in Gram-positive strains. The results of the present review suggest that terpenes are significant efflux pump inhibitors and, as such, can be used in drug development targeting the combat of antibacterial resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gustavo Marinho Miranda
- Laboratory of Genetics and Translational Hematology, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Jonatas Reis Bessa
- Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Justino De Araújo
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Ramos Freitas
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Ray Silva De Almeida
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Cícera Laura Roque Paulo
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil
| | - José Bezerra De Araújo Neto
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Henrique D. M. Coutinho
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Jaime Ribeiro-Filho
- Laboratory of Genetics and Translational Hematology, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Fiocruz Ceará, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Eusébio, Ceará, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Jaime Ribeiro-Filho,
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Monteiro KLC, Silva ON, Dos Santos Nascimento IJ, Mendonça Júnior FJB, Aquino PGV, da Silva-Júnior EF, de Aquino TM. Medicinal Chemistry of Inhibitors Targeting Resistant Bacteria. Curr Top Med Chem 2022; 22:1983-2028. [PMID: 35319372 DOI: 10.2174/1568026622666220321124452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of antibiotics was a revolutionary feat that provided countless health benefits. The identification of penicillin by Alexander Fleming initiated the era of antibiotics, represented by constant discoveries that enabled effective treatments for the different classes of diseases caused by bacteria. However, the indiscriminate use of these drugs allowed the emergence of resistance mechanisms of these microorganisms against the available drugs. In addition, the constant discoveries in the 20th century generated a shortage of new molecules, worrying health agencies and professionals about the appearance of multidrug-resistant strains against available drugs. In this context, the advances of recent years in molecular biology and microbiology have allowed new perspectives in drug design and development, using the findings related to the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to generate new drugs that are not affected by such mechanisms and supply new molecules to be used to treat resistant bacterial infections. Besides, a promising strategy against bacterial resistance is the combination of drugs through adjuvants, providing new expectations in designing new antibiotics and new antimicrobial therapies. Thus, this manuscript will address the main mechanisms of bacterial resistance under the understanding of medicinal chemistry, showing the main active compounds against efflux mechanisms, and also the application of the use of drug delivery systems, and finally, the main potential natural products as adjuvants or with promising activity against resistant strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kadja Luana Chagas Monteiro
- Research Group on Therapeutic Strategies - GPET, Laboratory of Synthesis and Research in Medicinal Chemistry - LSPMED, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Alagoas, 57072-970, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Osmar Nascimento Silva
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University Center of Anápolis, Unievangélica, 75083-515, Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Igor José Dos Santos Nascimento
- Research Group on Therapeutic Strategies - GPET, Laboratory of Synthesis and Research in Medicinal Chemistry - LSPMED, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Alagoas, 57072-970, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | | | | | - Edeildo Ferreira da Silva-Júnior
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, 57072-970, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Thiago Mendonça de Aquino
- Research Group on Therapeutic Strategies - GPET, Laboratory of Synthesis and Research in Medicinal Chemistry - LSPMED, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Alagoas, 57072-970, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
New diarylpentanoids and chalcones as potential antimicrobial adjuvants. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 67:128743. [PMID: 35447343 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance arises due to several adaptation mechanisms, being the overexpression of efflux pumps (EPs) one of the most worrisome. In bacteria, EPs can also play important roles in virulence, quorum-sensing (QS) and biofilm formation. To identify new potential antimicrobial adjuvants, a library of diarylpentanoids and chalcones was synthesized and tested. These compounds presented encouraging results in potentiating the activity of antimicrobials, being diarylpentanoid 13 the most promising. Compounds 9, 13, 16, 19, 22, and 23 displayed EP inhibitory effect, mainly in Staphylococcus aureus 272123. Compounds 13, 19, 22, and 23 exhibited inhibitory effect on biofilm formation in S. aureus 272,123 while 13 and 22 inhibited QS in the pair Sphingomonas paucimobilis Ezf 10-17 and Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. The overall results, demonstrated that diarylpentanoid 13 and chalcone 22 were active against all the resistance mechanisms tested, suggesting their potential as antimicrobial adjuvants.
Collapse
|
16
|
Ciesielska-Figlon K, Daca A, Kokotkiewicz A, Łuczkiewicz M, Zabiegała B, Witkowski JM, Lisowska KA. The influence of Nigella sativa essential oil on proliferation, activation, and apoptosis of human T lymphocytes in vitro. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113349. [PMID: 35779419 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In previous work, we tested the immunomodulatory effect of Nigella sativa (NS) fatty oil. Our results demonstrated that unrefined, obtained by cold pressing black cumin seed oil inhibited lymphocytes' proliferation and induced their apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory properties of essential oil (EO) obtained from the NS seeds by hydrodistillation and its two main constituents: thymoquinone (TQ) and p-cymene. We analyzed the proliferation, activation phenotype, and apoptosis rates of human T lymphocytes stimulated with an immobilized monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody in the presence of serial ethanol dilutions of tested oil or serial distilled water dilutions of tested compounds with flow cytometry. Our results showed that NSEO significantly inhibited the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, and reduced the expression of CD28 and CD25 antigens essential for lymphocyte activation. TQ inhibited the proliferation of T lymphocytes and induced cell death, particularly in high concentrations. Meanwhile, p-cymene did not influence lymphocyte proliferation. However, its high concentration induced cell necrosis. These results show that the essential oil from Nigella sativa has powerful immunomodulatory properties, which, at least partially, are related to the TQ component.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Agnieszka Daca
- Division of Pathology and Experimental Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Adam Kokotkiewicz
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Maria Łuczkiewicz
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Bożena Zabiegała
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jacek M Witkowski
- Department of Physiopathology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna A Lisowska
- Department of Physiopathology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Jesus A, Durães F, Szemerédi N, Freitas-Silva J, da Costa PM, Pinto E, Pinto M, Spengler G, Sousa E, Cidade H. BDDE-Inspired Chalcone Derivatives to Fight Bacterial and Fungal Infections. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20050315. [PMID: 35621966 PMCID: PMC9147945 DOI: 10.3390/md20050315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing number of infectious diseases around the world threatens the effective response of antibiotics, contributing to the increase in antibiotic resistance seen as a global health problem. Currently, one of the main challenges in antimicrobial drug discovery is the search for new compounds that not only exhibit antimicrobial activity, but can also potentiate the antimicrobial activity and revert antibiotics’ resistance, through the interference with several mechanisms, including the inhibition of efflux pumps (EPs) and biofilm formation. Inspired by macroalgae brominated bromophenol BDDE with antimicrobial activity, a series of 18 chalcone derivatives, including seven chalcones (9–15), six dihydrochalcones (16–18, and 22–24) and five diarylpropanes (19–21, and 25 and 26), was prepared and evaluated for its antimicrobial activity and potential to fight antibiotic resistance. Among them, chalcones 13 and 14 showed promising antifungal activity against the dermatophyte clinical strain of Trichophyton rubrum, and all compounds reversed the resistance to vancomycin in Enterococcus faecalis B3/101, with 9, 14, and 24 able to cause a four-fold decrease in the MIC of vancomycin against this strain. Compounds 17–24 displayed inhibition of EPs and the formation of biofilm by S. aureus 272123, suggesting that these compounds are inhibiting the EPs responsible for the extrusion of molecules involved in biofilm-related mechanisms. Interestingly, compounds 17–24 did not show cytotoxicity in mouse embryonic fibroblast cell lines (NIH/3T3). Overall, the results obtained suggest the potential of dihydrochalcones 16–18 and 22–24, and diarylpropanes 19–21, 25 and 26, as hits for bacterial EPs inhibition, as they are effective in the inhibition of EPs, but present other features that are important in this matter, such as the lack of antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Jesus
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.J.); (F.D.); (M.P.)
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.); (E.P.)
| | - Fernando Durães
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.J.); (F.D.); (M.P.)
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.); (E.P.)
| | - Nikoletta Szemerédi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Center and Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, 6725 Szeged, Hungary; (N.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Joana Freitas-Silva
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.); (E.P.)
- ICBAS—Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Martins da Costa
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.); (E.P.)
- ICBAS—Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eugénia Pinto
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.); (E.P.)
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Madalena Pinto
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.J.); (F.D.); (M.P.)
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.); (E.P.)
| | - Gabriella Spengler
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Center and Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, 6725 Szeged, Hungary; (N.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Emília Sousa
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.J.); (F.D.); (M.P.)
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.); (E.P.)
- Correspondence: (E.S.); (H.C.)
| | - Honorina Cidade
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.J.); (F.D.); (M.P.)
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.); (E.P.)
- Correspondence: (E.S.); (H.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Yang Y, Ma S, Guo K, Guo D, Li J, Wang M, Wang Y, Zhang C, Xia X, Shi C. Efficacy of 405-nm LED illumination and citral used alone and in combination for the inactivation of Cronobacter sakazakii in reconstituted powdered infant formula. Food Res Int 2022; 154:111027. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
|
19
|
Loaded n-Hydroxyapatite/SSG 3D Scaffolds as a Drug Delivery System of Nigella sativa Fractions for the Management of Local Antibacterial Infections. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12050856. [PMID: 35269342 PMCID: PMC8912363 DOI: 10.3390/nano12050856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
As a result of their close similarities to the inorganic mineral components of human bone, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (n-HAp) are widely used in biomedical applications and for the elaboration of biocompatible scaffold drug delivery systems for bone tissue engineering. In this context, a new efficient and economic procedure was used for the consolidation of n-HAp in the presence of various Nigella sativa (NS) fractions at a near-room temperature. The research conducted in the present study focuses on the physicochemical properties of loaded n-HAp 3D scaffolds by NS fractions and the in vitro antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 27853), and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 700603) bacteria. In order to better understand the effect of the inserted fractions on the HAp molecular structure, the elaborated samples were subject to Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopic analyses. In addition, the morphological investigation by scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the loaded n-HAp 3D scaffolds demonstrated the presence of a porous structure, which is generally required in stimulating bone regeneration. Furthermore, the fabricated 3D composites exhibited significant antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria. Indeed, MIC values ranging from 5 mg/mL to 20 mg/mL were found for the HAp-Ethanol fraction (HAp-Et) and HAp-Hexane fraction (HAp-Hex), while the HAp-Aqueous fraction (HAp-Aq) and HAp-Methanol fraction (HAp-Me) showed values between 20 mg/mL and 30 mg/mL on the different strains. These results suggest that the HAp-NS scaffolds were effective as a drug delivery system and have very promising applications in bone tissue engineering.
Collapse
|
20
|
Tiji S, Lakrat M, Rokni Y, Mejdoubi EM, Hano C, Addi M, Asehraou A, Mimouni M. Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Nigella sativa Extracts Encapsulated in Hydroxyapatite Sodium Silicate Glass Composite. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020170. [PMID: 35203773 PMCID: PMC8868394 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
N. sativa is an interesting source of bioactive compounds commonly used for various therapeutic purposes. Associate its seeds extracts with biomaterials to improve their antimicrobial properties are highly demanded. This study aims to investigate the encapsulation of NS extracts in hydroxyapatite nanoparticle sodium silicate glass (nHap/SSG) scaffold. NS essential oil (HS) was extracted by hydrodistillation, while hexane (FH) and acetone extracts (FA) were obtained using Soxhlet extraction. (FH) was the most abundant (34%) followed by (FA) (2.02%) and (HS) (1.2%). GC-MS chromatography showed that the (HS) contained beta cymene, alpha thujene, β-pinene and thymoquinone, while (FH) had mostly fatty acids and (FA) decane, 2.9-dimethyl, benzene 1,3,3-trimethylnonyl and beta cymene. Loaded nHap/SGG scaffolds with various amount of (FH), (HS) and (FA) at 1.5, 3, and 6 wt%; were elaborated then characterized by ATR-FTIR, X-ray and SEM techniques and their antimicrobial activity was studied. Samples loaded with 1.5 wt% HE was highly active against C. albicans (19 mm), and at 3 wt% on M. luteus (20 mm) and S. aureus (20 mm). Additionally, loaded scaffolds with 1.5 wt% AE had an important activity against M. luteus (18.9 mm) and S. aureus (19 mm), while the EO had low activities on all bacterial strains. The outcome of this finding indicated that loaded scaffolds demonstrated an important antimicrobial effect that make them promising materials for a wide range of medical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salima Tiji
- Applied Chemistry and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60000, Morocco;
- Correspondence: (S.T.); (C.H.)
| | - Mohammed Lakrat
- Solid Mineral Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60000, Morocco; (M.L.); (E.M.M.)
- High Institute of Biological and Paramedical Sciences, ISSB-P, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Benguerir 43150, Morocco
| | - Yahya Rokni
- Bio-Resources, Biotechnology, Ethno-Pharmacology and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60000, Morocco; (Y.R.); (A.A.)
- Research Unit Bioprocess and Biointerfaces, Laboratory of Industrial Engineering and Surface Engineering, National School of Applied Sciences, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, 17 Mghila, Beni Mellal 23000, Morocco
| | - El Miloud Mejdoubi
- Solid Mineral Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60000, Morocco; (M.L.); (E.M.M.)
| | - Christophe Hano
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures, INRA USC1328, Orleans University, CEDEX 2, 45067 Orléans, France
- Correspondence: (S.T.); (C.H.)
| | - Mohamed Addi
- Laboratoire d’Amélioration des Productions Agricoles, Biotechnologie et Environnement (LAPABE), Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed Premier, Oujda 60000, Morocco;
| | - Abdeslam Asehraou
- Bio-Resources, Biotechnology, Ethno-Pharmacology and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60000, Morocco; (Y.R.); (A.A.)
| | - Mostafa Mimouni
- Applied Chemistry and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60000, Morocco;
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Identified Seaweed Compound Diphenylmethane Serves as an Efflux Pump Inhibitor in Drug-Resistant Escherichia coli. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10111378. [PMID: 34827316 PMCID: PMC8614644 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10111378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug efflux pumps are one of the major elements used by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) are potential therapeutic agents for adjunctive therapy, which can restore the activity of antibiotics that are no longer effective against pathogens. This study evaluated the seaweed compound diphenylmethane (DPM) for its EPI activity. The IC50 and modulation results showed that DPM has no antibacterial activity but can potentiate the activity of antibiotics against drug-resistant E. coli. Time-kill studies reported that a combination of DPM and erythromycin exhibited greater inhibitory activity against drug-resistant Escherichia coli. Dye accumulation and dye efflux studies using Hoechst 33342 and ethidium bromide showed that the addition of DPM significantly increased dye accumulation and reduced dye efflux in drug-resistant E. coli, suggesting its interference with dye translocation by an efflux pump. Using MALDI-TOF, it was observed that the addition of DPM could continuously reduce antibiotic efflux in drug-resistant E. coli. Additionally, DPM did not seem to damage the E. coli membranes, and the cell toxicity test showed that it features mild human-cell toxicity. In conclusion, these findings showed that DPM could serve as a potential EPI for drug-resistant E. coli.
Collapse
|
22
|
Chemical Composition Related to Antimicrobial Activity of Moroccan Nigella sativa L. Extracts and Isolated Fractions. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:8308050. [PMID: 34725555 PMCID: PMC8557078 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8308050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Nigella sativa L. (NS) is an aromatic and medicinal plant commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine. Its grains contain a large amount of fixed oil and have many therapeutic virtues and medicinal properties (antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anticancer). Aim The aim of this work is to study the antimicrobial activity of Nigella sativa L. extracts and separated fractions on various pathogenic strains and to correlate that with its chemical composition. Methods Extracts from Moroccan Nigella sativa seeds were extracted using successive organic solvents, and their hexane and acetone extracts were separated by column chromatography. The chemical composition of extracts, fractions, and essential oil was determined by GC-MS and HPLC-DAD. Extracts and fractions were evaluated for antimicrobial activity through disk diffusion against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Listeria innocua), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and yeast (Candida pelliculosa) for 1 mg/mL concentration. Bacterial strains were followed to study their behaviors over time in different concentrations. The minimum inhibitory concentration of Nigella sativa essential oil was determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Results and Conclusion. Although hexane extract was active against both types of bacteria (Gram+ and Gram−), some of its fractions were specifically active against only one type. Fraction (SH4) had the highest activity (15 mm inhibitory diameter). Acetone extract was nonactive but surprisingly resulted in specific active fractions, and the most interesting one was (SA7) that had an inhibitory diameter of 13 mm. This antibacterial effect was related to fatty acids (linoleic and palmitic acids) in (SH4) and 17 pentatriacontene in (SA7). Moreover, the antifungal activity of hexane fractions (10–13 mm) was higher than hexane extract (8 mm), but for acetone, it was the opposite. Acetone extract had a higher activity (18 mm) than its fractions (8–12 mm), except for (SA7) (19 mm). Those inhibitions were attributed to gallic acid, cysteine, and apigenin in acetone extract and cysteine with ascorbic acid in fraction (SA7). Antifungal activity of the essential oil was more pronounced than the antibacterial one. Indeed, determined MICs in the first case were on the microgram scale (MIC = 8 μg/mL, Candida albicans), while in the second case, they were on the milligram scale (MIC = 0.96 mg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, 0.5 mg/mL for Bacillus cereus, and 0.68 mg/mL for Escherichia coli). This antifungal activity was attributed to three major compounds beta-cymene, alpha-thujene, origanene, and thymoquinone. Results of strains behavior over time at different concentrations of the fractions showed all the curves went through a maximum around 20 hours and had a delay of expression of 5 hours at the start. Taking all results into count, Nigella sativa L. extracts and/or derived principles could form promising antimicrobial agents for therapeutical and industrial uses.
Collapse
|
23
|
Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Effect of Thymoquinone against Different Dental Pathogens: An In Vitro Study. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26216451. [PMID: 34770860 PMCID: PMC8588385 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of Thymoquinone (TQ) on four different oral microorganisms. Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC), Broth microdilution, and Well diffusion tests were used to determine the optimum antimicrobial concentrations of TQ against Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mutans, and Staphylococcus aureus over 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h. Chlorhexidine 0.12% was selected as a positive control. The inhibitory effect of TQ on bacterial growth was most noticeable with S. salivarius, while the least affected was S. aureus. TQ’s MBC and MIC for S. oralis and S. aureus were comparable 2 mg/mL and 3 mg/mL, respectively. S. salivarius was most resistant to TQ and displayed a value of 5 mg/mL and 4 mg/mL for MIC and MBC, respectively. The viable count of different strains after exposure to TQ’s MBC values was most noticeable with S. aureus followed by S. oralis and S. mutans, while S. salivarius was least affected. This study emphasized the promising antimicrobial effect of TQ against the four main oral microorganisms. It has a potential preventive effect against dental caries as well as other oral diseases.
Collapse
|
24
|
Floris B, Galloni P, Conte V, Sabuzi F. Tailored Functionalization of Natural Phenols to Improve Biological Activity. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1325. [PMID: 34572538 PMCID: PMC8467377 DOI: 10.3390/biom11091325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenols are widespread in nature, being the major components of several plants and essential oils. Natural phenols' anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, pharmacological and nutritional properties are, nowadays, well established. Hence, given their peculiar biological role, numerous studies are currently ongoing to overcome their limitations, as well as to enhance their activity. In this review, the functionalization of selected natural phenols is critically examined, mainly highlighting their improved bioactivity after the proper chemical transformations. In particular, functionalization of the most abundant naturally occurring monophenols, diphenols, lipidic phenols, phenolic acids, polyphenols and curcumin derivatives is explored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Floris
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, snc, 00133 Roma, Italy
| | - Pierluca Galloni
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, snc, 00133 Roma, Italy
| | - Valeria Conte
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, snc, 00133 Roma, Italy
| | - Federica Sabuzi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, snc, 00133 Roma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Algahtani MS, Ahmad MZ, Shaikh IA, Abdel-Wahab BA, Nourein IH, Ahmad J. Thymoquinone Loaded Topical Nanoemulgel for Wound Healing: Formulation Design and In-Vivo Evaluation. Molecules 2021; 26:3863. [PMID: 34202733 PMCID: PMC8270244 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26133863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymoquinone is a natural bioactive with significant therapeutic activity against multiple ailments including wound healing. The poor aqueous solubility and low skin permeability limit its therapeutic efficacy. The present investigation aimed to improve the biopharmaceutical attributes of thymoquinone to enhance its topical efficacy in wound healing. A nanoemulsion-based hydrogel system was designed and characterized as a nanotechnology-mediated drug delivery approach to improve the therapeutic efficacy of thymoquinone, utilizing a high-energy emulsification technique. The black seed oil, as a natural home of thymoquinone, was utilized to improve the drug loading capacity of the developed nanoemulsion system and reduced the oil droplet size to <100 nm through ultrasonication. The influence of formulation composition, and the ultrasonication process conditions, were investigated on the mean globule size and polydispersity index of the generated nanoemulsion. Irrespective of surfactant/co-surfactant ratio and % concentration of surfactant/co-surfactant mixture, the ultrasonication time had a significant (p < 0.05) influence on the mean droplet size and polydispersity index of the generated nanoemulsion. The developed nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone demonstrated the pseudoplastic behavior with thixotropic properties, and this behavior is desirable for topical application. The nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone exhibited significant enhancement (p < 0.05) in skin penetrability and deposition characteristics after topical administration compared to the conventional hydrogel system. The developed nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone exhibited quicker and early healing in wounded Wistar rats compared to the conventional hydrogel of thymoquinone, while showing comparable healing efficacy with respect to marketed silver sulfadiazine (1%) cream. Furthermore, histopathology analysis of animals treated with a developed formulation system demonstrated the formation of the thick epidermal layer, papillary dermis along with the presence of extensive and organized collagen fibers in newly healed tissues. The outcome of this investigation signifies that topical delivery of thymoquinone through nanoemulgel system is a promising candidate which accelerates the process of wound healing in preclinical study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed S. Algahtani
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (M.Z.A.)
| | - Mohammad Zaki Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (M.Z.A.)
| | - Ibrahim Ahmed Shaikh
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia; (I.A.S.); (B.A.A.-W.)
| | - Basel A. Abdel-Wahab
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia; (I.A.S.); (B.A.A.-W.)
| | - Ihab Hamed Nourein
- Department of Clinical Laboratory (Histopathology and Cytology), College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Javed Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (M.Z.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Durães F, Palmeira A, Cruz B, Freitas-Silva J, Szemerédi N, Gales L, da Costa PM, Remião F, Silva R, Pinto M, Spengler G, Sousa E. Antimicrobial Activity of a Library of Thioxanthones and Their Potential as Efflux Pump Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14060572. [PMID: 34203998 PMCID: PMC8232621 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The overexpression of efflux pumps is one of the causes of multidrug resistance, which leads to the inefficacy of drugs. This plays a pivotal role in antimicrobial resistance, and the most notable pumps are the AcrAB-TolC system (AcrB belongs to the resistance-nodulation-division family) and the NorA, from the major facilitator superfamily. In bacteria, these structures can also favor virulence and adaptation mechanisms, such as quorum-sensing and the formation of biofilm. In this study, the design and synthesis of a library of thioxanthones as potential efflux pump inhibitors are described. The thioxanthone derivatives were investigated for their antibacterial activity and inhibition of efflux pumps, biofilm formation, and quorum-sensing. The compounds were also studied for their potential to interact with P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1), an efflux pump present in mammalian cells, and for their cytotoxicity in both mouse fibroblasts and human Caco-2 cells. The results concerning the real-time ethidium bromide accumulation may suggest a potential bacterial efflux pump inhibition, which has not yet been reported for thioxanthones. Moreover, in vitro studies in human cells demonstrated a lack of cytotoxicity for concentrations up to 20 µM in Caco-2 cells, with some derivatives also showing potential for P-gp modulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Durães
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (F.D.); (A.P.); (M.P.)
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.)
| | - Andreia Palmeira
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (F.D.); (A.P.); (M.P.)
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.)
| | - Bárbara Cruz
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (B.C.); (F.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Joana Freitas-Silva
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.)
- ICBAS–Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nikoletta Szemerédi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, 6725 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Luís Gales
- Department of Molecular Biology, ICBAS–Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Bioengineering & Synthetic Microbiology, I3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Martins da Costa
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.)
- ICBAS–Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Remião
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (B.C.); (F.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Renata Silva
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (B.C.); (F.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Madalena Pinto
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (F.D.); (A.P.); (M.P.)
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.)
| | - Gabriella Spengler
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, 6725 Szeged, Hungary;
- Correspondence: (G.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Emília Sousa
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (F.D.); (A.P.); (M.P.)
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.F.-S.); (P.M.d.C.)
- Correspondence: (G.S.); (E.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Hannan MA, Rahman MA, Sohag AAM, Uddin MJ, Dash R, Sikder MH, Rahman MS, Timalsina B, Munni YA, Sarker PP, Alam M, Mohibbullah M, Haque MN, Jahan I, Hossain MT, Afrin T, Rahman MM, Tahjib-Ul-Arif M, Mitra S, Oktaviani DF, Khan MK, Choi HJ, Moon IS, Kim B. Black Cumin ( Nigella sativa L.): A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Health Benefits, Molecular Pharmacology, and Safety. Nutrients 2021; 13:1784. [PMID: 34073784 PMCID: PMC8225153 DOI: 10.3390/nu13061784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence support the potential benefits of functional foods or nutraceuticals for human health and diseases. Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), a highly valued nutraceutical herb with a wide array of health benefits, has attracted growing interest from health-conscious individuals, the scientific community, and pharmaceutical industries. The pleiotropic pharmacological effects of black cumin, and its main bioactive component thymoquinone (TQ), have been manifested by their ability to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation, and to promote immunity, cell survival, and energy metabolism, which underlie diverse health benefits, including protection against metabolic, cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, renal, respiratory, reproductive, and neurological disorders, cancer, and so on. Furthermore, black cumin acts as an antidote, mitigating various toxicities and drug-induced side effects. Despite significant advances in pharmacological benefits, this miracle herb and its active components are still far from their clinical application. This review begins with highlighting the research trends in black cumin and revisiting phytochemical profiles. Subsequently, pharmacological attributes and health benefits of black cumin and TQ are critically reviewed. We overview molecular pharmacology to gain insight into the underlying mechanism of health benefits. Issues related to pharmacokinetic herb-drug interactions, drug delivery, and safety are also addressed. Identifying knowledge gaps, our current effort will direct future research to advance potential applications of black cumin and TQ in health and diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md. Abdul Hannan
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (M.A.H.); (R.D.); (B.T.); (Y.A.M.); (M.A.); (S.M.); (D.F.O.); (H.J.C.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh; (A.A.M.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.T.-U.-A.)
| | - Md. Ataur Rahman
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
- Korean Medicine-Based Drug Repositioning Cancer Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Abdullah Al Mamun Sohag
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh; (A.A.M.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.T.-U.-A.)
| | - Md. Jamal Uddin
- ABEx Bio-Research Center, East Azampur, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh; (M.J.U.); (P.P.S.)
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Raju Dash
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (M.A.H.); (R.D.); (B.T.); (Y.A.M.); (M.A.); (S.M.); (D.F.O.); (H.J.C.)
| | - Mahmudul Hasan Sikder
- Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh;
| | - Md. Saidur Rahman
- Department of Animal Science & Technology and BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Gyeonggi-do, Anseong 17546, Korea;
| | - Binod Timalsina
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (M.A.H.); (R.D.); (B.T.); (Y.A.M.); (M.A.); (S.M.); (D.F.O.); (H.J.C.)
| | - Yeasmin Akter Munni
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (M.A.H.); (R.D.); (B.T.); (Y.A.M.); (M.A.); (S.M.); (D.F.O.); (H.J.C.)
| | - Partha Protim Sarker
- ABEx Bio-Research Center, East Azampur, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh; (M.J.U.); (P.P.S.)
- Department of Biotechnology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Mahboob Alam
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (M.A.H.); (R.D.); (B.T.); (Y.A.M.); (M.A.); (S.M.); (D.F.O.); (H.J.C.)
- Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Gyeongju 780-714, Korea
| | - Md. Mohibbullah
- Department of Fishing and Post Harvest Technology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh;
| | - Md. Nazmul Haque
- Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh;
| | - Israt Jahan
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences, Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh;
| | - Md. Tahmeed Hossain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh; (A.A.M.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.T.-U.-A.)
| | - Tania Afrin
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Food Security, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh;
| | - Md. Mahbubur Rahman
- Research and Development Center, KNOTUS Co., Ltd., Yeounsu-gu, Incheon 22014, Korea;
| | - Md. Tahjib-Ul-Arif
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh; (A.A.M.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.T.-U.-A.)
| | - Sarmistha Mitra
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (M.A.H.); (R.D.); (B.T.); (Y.A.M.); (M.A.); (S.M.); (D.F.O.); (H.J.C.)
| | - Diyah Fatimah Oktaviani
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (M.A.H.); (R.D.); (B.T.); (Y.A.M.); (M.A.); (S.M.); (D.F.O.); (H.J.C.)
| | - Md Kawsar Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet 3114, Bangladesh;
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Ho Jin Choi
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (M.A.H.); (R.D.); (B.T.); (Y.A.M.); (M.A.); (S.M.); (D.F.O.); (H.J.C.)
| | - Il Soo Moon
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (M.A.H.); (R.D.); (B.T.); (Y.A.M.); (M.A.); (S.M.); (D.F.O.); (H.J.C.)
| | - Bonglee Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
- Korean Medicine-Based Drug Repositioning Cancer Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Durães F, Resende DISP, Palmeira A, Szemerédi N, Pinto MMM, Spengler G, Sousa E. Xanthones Active against Multidrug Resistance and Virulence Mechanisms of Bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:600. [PMID: 34069329 PMCID: PMC8158687 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10050600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug and extensively drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria able to resist to the action of a wide range of antibiotics is becoming a growing problem for public health. The search for new compounds with the potential to help in the reversion of bacterial resistance plays an important role in current medicinal chemistry research. Under this scope, bacterial efflux pumps are responsible for the efflux of antimicrobials, and their inhibition could reverse resistance. In this study, the multidrug resistance reversing activity of a series of xanthones was investigated. Firstly, docking studies were performed in the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump and in a homology model of the NorA pump. Then, the effects of twenty xanthone derivatives on bacterial growth were evaluated in Staphylococcus aureus 272123 and in the acrA gene-inactivated mutant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL1344 (SE03). Their efflux pump inhibitory properties were assessed using real-time fluorimetry. Assays concerning the activity of these compounds towards the inhibition of biofilm formation and quorum sensing have also been performed. Results showed that a halogenated phenylmethanamine xanthone derivative displayed an interesting profile, as far as efflux pump inhibition and biofilm formation were concerned. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of xanthones as potential efflux pump inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Durães
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (LQOF), Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (F.D.); (D.I.S.P.R.); (A.P.); (M.M.M.P.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Diana I. S. P. Resende
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (LQOF), Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (F.D.); (D.I.S.P.R.); (A.P.); (M.M.M.P.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Andreia Palmeira
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (LQOF), Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (F.D.); (D.I.S.P.R.); (A.P.); (M.M.M.P.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Nikoletta Szemerédi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, 6725 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Madalena M. M. Pinto
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (LQOF), Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (F.D.); (D.I.S.P.R.); (A.P.); (M.M.M.P.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Gabriella Spengler
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, 6725 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Emília Sousa
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (LQOF), Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (F.D.); (D.I.S.P.R.); (A.P.); (M.M.M.P.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Comparative study of the chemical composition, antibacterial activity and synergic effects of the essential oils of Croton tetradenius baill. And C. pulegiodorus baill. Against Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Microb Pathog 2021; 156:104934. [PMID: 33962005 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Croton tetradenius Baill. (CTEO) and C. pulegiodorus Baill. (CPEO) essential oils against Staphylococcus aureus, and their synergism with antibiotics. The essential oils (EOs) were extracted by hydrodistillation and chemically characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CG-MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (CG-FID). The antimicrobial action of the EOs was tested against two standard strains and four clinical isolates of S. aureus using the disk-diffusion agar method and the microdilution assay. The bacterial kinetic growth was also determined. The synergistic effect between EOs and antimicrobials was analyzed by the checkerboard test. CTEO and CPEO yielded 0.47 and 0.37% w/w and the most common components were p-cymene (28.24%), camphor (17.76%) and α-phellandrene (8.98%), and trans-chrysanthenyl acetate (27.05%), α-terpinene (19.21%) and p-cymene (12.27%), respectively. The disk-diffusion test showed that the bacteria are sensitive to the agents tested. The MIC in the presence of the CTEO it was 4000 μg/mL, while for the CPEO it was 8000 μg/mL, except for clinical isolate 4B. The MBC for strains treated with CTEO were 8000 μg/mL, with the exception of isolates 8B and 0 A 4000 μg/mL. For the CPEO, all strains showed a concentration above 8000 μg/mL. The growth curve showed that CTEO and CPEO altered growth kinetics, delaying the lag phase and reducing the log phase. In combination with antibiotics, both essential oils showed synergisms effect with oxacillin and ampicillin, and additive effect with benzylpenicillin. CTEO and CPEO showed antibacterial action against S. aureus strains, showing as a promise natural alternative in clinical therapy.
Collapse
|
30
|
Ghamari MA, Amiri S, Rezazadeh-Bari M, Rezazad-Bari L. Physical, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of active edible film based on milk proteins incorporated with Nigella sativa essential oil. Polym Bull (Berl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00289-021-03550-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
31
|
Salem MA, El-Shiekh RA, Hashem RA, Hassan M. In vivo Antibacterial Activity of Star Anise ( Illicium verum Hook.) Extract Using Murine MRSA Skin Infection Model in Relation to Its Metabolite Profile. Infect Drug Resist 2021; 14:33-48. [PMID: 33442274 PMCID: PMC7797340 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s285940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Star anise fruits (Illicium verum Hook.) have been used as an important treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. The previous studies reported the activity of the non-polar fractions as potential sources of antibacterial metabolites, and little was done concerning the polar fractions of star anise. Methods The antibacterial activity of the star anise aqueous methanolic (50%) extract against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii AB5057 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA USA300) was investigated in vitro (disc diffusion assay, minimum bactericidal concentration determination, anti-biofilm activity and biofilm detachment activity). The antibacterial activity was further tested in vivo using a murine model of MRSA skin infection. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC/HRMS) approach was applied for the identification of the metabolites responsible for the antibacterial activity. The antioxidant potential was evaluated using five in vitro assays: TAC (total antioxidant capacity), DPPH, ABTS, FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and iron-reducing power. Results In vitro, star anise aqueous methanolic extract showed significant inhibition and detachment activity against biofilm formation by the multidrug-resistant and highly virulent Acinetobacter baumannii AB5057 and MRSA USA300. The topical application of the extract in vivo significantly reduced the bacterial load in MRSA-infected skin lesions. The extract showed strong antioxidant activity using five different complementary methods. More than seventy metabolites from different classes were identified: phenolic acids, phenylpropanoids, sesquiterpenes, tannins, lignans and flavonoids. Conclusion This study proposes the potential use of star anise polar fraction in anti-virulence strategies against persistent infections and for the treatment of staphylococcal skin infections as a topical antimicrobial agent. To our knowledge, our research is the first to provide the complete polar metabolome list of star anise in an approach to understand the relationship between the chemistry of these metabolites and the proposed antibacterial activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A Salem
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Riham A El-Shiekh
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rasha A Hashem
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mariam Hassan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Alagawany M, Elnesr SS, Farag MR, Abd El-Hack ME, Khafaga AF, Sharun K, Marappan G, Dhama K. Health-Promoting Activities of Nigella sativa Essential Oil. BLACK CUMIN (NIGELLA SATIVA) SEEDS: CHEMISTRY, TECHNOLOGY, FUNCTIONALITY, AND APPLICATIONS 2021:457-478. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-48798-0_29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
|
33
|
Kongkham B, Prabakaran D, Puttaswamy H. Opportunities and challenges in managing antibiotic resistance in bacteria using plant secondary metabolites. Fitoterapia 2020; 147:104762. [PMID: 33069839 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2020.104762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Development of antibiotic resistance (ABR) in bacteria and its multidimensional spread is an emerging global threat that needs immediate attention. Extensive antibiotics (AB) usage results in development of ABR in bacteria by target modification, production of AB degrading enzymes, porin modifications, efflux pumps overexpression, etc. To counter this, apart from strict regulation of AB use and behavioural changes, research and development (R&D) of newer antimicrobials are in place. One such emerging approach to combat ABR is the use of structurally and functionally diverse plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) in combination with the conventional AB. Either the PSMs are themselves antimicrobial or they potentiate the activity of the AB through a range of mechanisms. However, their use is lagging due to poor knowledge of mode of action, structure-activity relationships, pharmacokinetics, etc. This review paper discussed the opportunities and challenges in managing ABR using PSMs. Mechanisms of ABR development in bacteria and current strategies to counter them were studied and the areas where PSMs can play an important role were highlighted. The use of PSMs, both as an anti-resistance and anti-virulence agent in combination therapy to counter multi-drug resistance along with their mechanisms of action, has been discussed in detail. The difficulties in the commercialisation of PSMs and strategies to overcome them along with future priority areas of research have also been given. Following the given R&D path will definitely help in better understanding and utilising the full potential of PSMs in solving the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bhani Kongkham
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi 110016, India
| | - Duraivadivel Prabakaran
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi 110016, India
| | - Hariprasad Puttaswamy
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi 110016, India.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Boren K, Crown A, Carlson R. Multidrug and Pan-Antibiotic Resistance—The Role of Antimicrobial and Synergistic Essential Oils: A Review. Nat Prod Commun 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x20962595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics continues to be a grave threat to human health. Because antibiotics are no longer a lucrative market for pharmaceutical companies, the development of new antibiotics has slowed to a crawl. The World Health Organization reported that the 8 new bacterial agents approved since July 2017 had limited clinical benefits. While a cohort of biopharmaceutical companies recently announced plans to develop 2-4 new antibiotics by 2030, we needn’t wait a decade to find innovative antibiotic candidates. Essential oils (EOs) have long been known as antibacterial agents with wide-ranging arsenals. Many are able to penetrate the bacterial membrane and may also be effective against bacterial defenses such as biofilms, efflux pumps, and quorum sensing. EOs have been documented to fight drug-resistant bacteria alone and/or combined with antibiotics. This review will summarize research showing the significant role of EOs as nonconventional regimens against the worldwide spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The authors conducted a 4-year search of the US National Library of Medicine (PubMed) for relevant EO studies against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli, EO combinations/synergy with antibiotics, against MDR fungal infections, showing the ability to permeate bacterial membranes, and against the bacterial defenses listed above. EOs are readily available and are a needed addition to the arsenal against resistant pathogens.
Collapse
|
35
|
Benzoxazole-Based Metal Complexes to Reverse Multidrug Resistance in Bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9100649. [PMID: 32998217 PMCID: PMC7600679 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9100649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria often show resistance against antibiotics due to various mechanisms such as the expression of efflux pumps, biofilm formation, or bacterial quorum sensing (QS) controls. For successful therapy, the discovery of alternative agents is crucial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efflux pump, anti-biofilm, and QS inhibiting, as well as antibacterial effects of 2-trifluoroacetonylbenzoxazole ligands (1–3) and their metal complexes (4–12) in bacteria. The ligand 2 and its Zn(II) complex 5, and furthermore the Cu(II) complex 7 of ligand 1, exerted remarkable antibacterial activity on the Staphylococcus aureus 272123 (MRSA) strain. In the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) reduction assay the ligand 3, the Zn(II) complex 5 of ligand 2, and the Cu(II), Ni(II), Mg(II), Fe(III) complexes (7, 8, 9, 12) of ligand 1 enhanced the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin in MRSA. An increased ethidium bromide accumulation was detected for ligand 3 in MRSA while the Fe(III) complex 12 of ligand 1 decreased the biofilm formation of the reference S. aureus ATCC 25923 strain. The Zn(II) and Ag(II) complexes (3 and 4) of ligand 1 and ligand 3 inhibited the QS. Based on our results, the ligands and their metal complexes could be potential alternative drugs in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Collapse
|
36
|
A comprehensive review of ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and future prospects of Nigella glandulifera. Med Chem Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-020-02558-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
|
37
|
Thymoquinone inhibits biofilm formation and virulence properties of periodontal bacteria. Arch Oral Biol 2020; 115:104744. [PMID: 32416351 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2020.104744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on biofilm formation, hemolysis, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production and expression of virulence factors of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Reference strains of F. nucleatum ATCC 25586 and P. gingivalis A7436 were tested in our study. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of TQ was determined by broth microdilution method. The impacts of TQ on virulence properties of the periodontal bacteria including biofilm formation, hemolysis and H2S activities were studied. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to evaluate the expression levels of key virulence factors including outer membrane proteins (aim-1, fadA) in F. nucleatum as well as cysteine proteinases or gingipains (rgpA, rgpB, kgp) and fimbriae (fimA, mfa1) in P. gingivalis. RESULTS The MIC of TQ were 12.5 and 1.56 μg/mL in F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis, respectively. The sub-MIC concentrations of TQ could prevent biofilm formation and hemolysis activities of both bacteria. TQ also inhibited H2S production which is highly associated with oral malodour. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that TQ could disrupt bacterial membrane and led to cell lysis. Furthermore, TQ reduced the expression of major virulence factors tested in F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. CONCLUSIONS The TQ had potent antibacterial effect and could attenuate virulence properties of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. Therefore, TQ has the potential to be developed and used in periodontal treatments, especially to prevent the progression of periodontitis.
Collapse
|
38
|
Enhancement in site-specific delivery of carvacrol for potential treatment of infected wounds using infection responsive nanoparticles loaded into dissolving microneedles: A proof of concept study. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2020; 147:57-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2019.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
|
39
|
Mir M, Ahmed N, Permana AD, Rodgers AM, Donnelly RF, Rehman A. Enhancement in Site-Specific Delivery of Carvacrol against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Induced Skin Infections Using Enzyme Responsive Nanoparticles: A Proof of Concept Study. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:E606. [PMID: 31766227 PMCID: PMC6921059 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11110606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) induced skin infections have become a challenging problem due to the escalating antibiotic resistance. Carvacrol (CAR) has been reported to be effective against MRSA. However, due to its characteristics, CAR exhibits low skin retention. In this study, CAR was formulated into site-specific nanoparticle (NPs) delivery system using poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), following incorporation into a hydrogel matrix to facilitate dermal delivery. The release study exhibited significantly higher release of CAR from PCL NPs in the presence of bacterial lipase, highlighting its potential for differential delivery. Moreover, encapsulation of CAR in PCL NPs resulted in a two-fold increase in its anti-MRSA activity. Dermatokinetic studies revealed that the NPs loaded hydrogel was able to enhance skin retention of CAR after 24 h (83.29 ± 3.15%), compared to free CAR-loaded hydrogel (0.85 ± 0.14%). Importantly, this novel approach exhibited effective antimicrobial activity in an ex-vivo skin infection model. Hence, these findings have proven the concept that the loading of CAR into a responsive NPs system can lead to sustained antimicrobial effect at the desired site, and may provide a novel effective approach for treatment of MRSA induced skin infections. However, further studies must be conducted to investigate in-vivo efficacy of the developed system in an appropriate infection model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Mir
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; (M.M.); (N.A.)
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (A.D.P.); (A.M.R.)
| | - Naveed Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; (M.M.); (N.A.)
| | - Andi Dian Permana
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (A.D.P.); (A.M.R.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 90234, Indonesia
| | - Aoife Maria Rodgers
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (A.D.P.); (A.M.R.)
| | - Ryan F. Donnelly
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (A.D.P.); (A.M.R.)
| | - Asim.ur. Rehman
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; (M.M.); (N.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Mosolygó T, Mouwakeh A, Hussein Ali M, Kincses A, Mohácsi-Farkas C, Kiskó G, Spengler G. Bioactive Compounds of Nigella Sativa Essential Oil as Antibacterial Agents against Chlamydia Trachomatis D. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7090370. [PMID: 31546941 PMCID: PMC6780748 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7090370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Urogenital tract infection caused by obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis D (CtrD) is a leading cause of sexually transmitted diseases. Essential oil (EO) of Nigella sativa has a broad antimicrobial spectrum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the bioactive compounds (p-cymene, thymoquinone, carvacrol, and thymol) of N. sativa EO against CtrD. The cytotoxic effects of the compounds were determined by MTT assay. In order to quantify the anti-chlamydial activity of the compounds, HeLa cells were infected with CtrD or CtrD treated previously with the compounds. The titer of the infectious CtrD was determined by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the compounds were evaluated by direct quantitative PCR. None of the compounds showed a cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells in the concentrations tested. According to the immunofluorescence assay, all of the compounds significantly inhibited the growth of CtrD. The quantitative PCR revealed that the minimum concentration that exerted anti-chlamydial activity was 3.12 µM in the case of thymoquinone and p-cymene, while that of carvacrol and thymol was 6.25 µM. Therefore, it can be concluded that bioactive compounds of N. sativa EO could be used as effective antimicrobial agents against CtrD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tímea Mosolygó
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Ahmad Mouwakeh
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Food Science, Szent István University, 1118 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Munira Hussein Ali
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Annamária Kincses
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Csilla Mohácsi-Farkas
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Food Science, Szent István University, 1118 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gabriella Kiskó
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Food Science, Szent István University, 1118 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gabriella Spengler
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|