Screening and Scoring of Antimicrobial and Biological Activities of Italian Vulnerary Plants against Major Oral Pathogenic Bacteria

The effects of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) in comparison with a prebiotic on productive performance, blood constituents, immunity and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens

A total of 320 one-day-old broiler chickens were used in a 42-day feeding trial to evaluate the effects of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) in comparison with a prebiotic on-growth performance, blood constitutes, immunity and intestinal microflora. The dietary treatments were as follows: basal diet (control); control + prebiotic (Fermacto™); control + 0.1% peppermint; control + 0.1% chicory, respectively. A significant (p < 0.05) body weight gain and feed intake was found at 21 and 42 days of growth period in broilers fed diet supplemented with 0.1% chicory compared with other groups. Feeding of prebiotic or chicory led to higher (p < 0.05) feed intake. Chickens fed control diet had higher (p < 0.05) abdominal fat compared with the other groups. Serum blood constituents indicated that broilers fed prebiotic or supplemented with peppermint or chicory had reduced (p < 0.05) levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein than control group. Immunity-related parameters showed that chicken fed chicory had lower (p < 0.05) heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio compared with the other groups. Intestinal microflora revealed that chickens fed prebiotic or herbals had higher count of Lactobacillus and lower E. coli than control. Thus, it can be concluded that broiler dietary supplementation with prebiotic or chicory can improve performance supporting positively health status.

An Assessment of the In Vitro Models and Clinical Trials Related to the Antimicrobial Activities of Phytochemicals

An increased number antibiotic-resistant bacteria have emerged with the rise in antibiotic use worldwide. As such, there has been a growing interest in investigating novel antibiotics against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Due to the extensive history of using plants for medicinal purposes, scientists and medical professionals have turned to plants as potential alternatives to common antibiotic treatments. Unlike other antibiotics in use, plant-based antibiotics have the innate ability to eliminate a broad spectrum of microorganisms through phytochemical defenses, including compounds such as alkaloids, organosulfur compounds, phenols, coumarins, and terpenes. In recent years, these antimicrobial compounds have been refined through extraction methods and tested against antibiotic-resistant strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The results of the experiments demonstrated that plant extracts successfully inhibited bacteria independently or in combination with other antimicrobial products. In this review, we examine the use of plant-based antibiotics for their utilization against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. In addition, we examine recent clinical trials utilizing phytochemicals for the treatment of several microbial infections.

Biochemical Analyses of Bioactive Extracts from Plants Native to Lampedusa, Sicily Minor Island

Major threats to the human lifespan include cancer, infectious diseases, diabetes, mental degenerative conditions and also reduced agricultural productivity due to climate changes, together with new and more devastating plant diseases. From all of this, the need arises to find new biopesticides and new medicines. Plants and microorganisms are the most important sources for isolating new metabolites. Lampedusa Island host a rich contingent of endemic species and subspecies. Seven plant species spontaneously growing in Lampedusa, i.e., Atriplex halimus L. (Ap), Daucus lopadusanus Tineo (Dl), Echinops spinosus Fiori (Es) Glaucium flavum Crantz (Gf) Hypericum aegypticum L: (Ha), Periploca angustifolia Labill (Pa), and Prasium majus L. (Pm) were collected, assessed for their metabolite content, and evaluated for potential applications in agriculture and medicine. The HPLC-MS analysis of n-hexane (HE) and CH2Cl2 (MC) extracts and the residual aqueous phases (WR) showed the presence of several metabolites in both organic extracts. Crude HE and MC extracts from Dl and He significantly inhibited butyrylcholinesterase, as did WR from the extraction of Dl and Pa. HE and MC extracts showed a significant toxicity towards hepatocarcinoma Huh7, while Dl, Ha and Er HE extracts were the most potently cytotoxic to ileocecal colorectal adenocarcinoma HCT-8 cell lines. Most extracts showed antiviral activity. At the lowest concentration tested (1.56 μg/mL), Dl, Gf and Ap MC extracts inhibited betacoronavirus HCoV-OC43 infection by> 2 fold, while the n-hexane extract of Pm was the most potent. In addition, at 1.56 μg/mL, potent inhibition (>10 fold) of dengue virus was detected for Dl, Er, and Pm HE extracts, while Pa and Ap MC extracts dampened infections to undetectable levels. Regarding to phytotoxicity, MC extracts from Er, Ap and Pm were more effective in inhibiting tomato rootlet elongation; the same first two extracts also inhibited seed cress germination while its radicle elongation, due to high sensitivity, was affected by all the extracts. Es and Gf MC extracts also inhibited seed germination of Phelipanche ramosa. Thus, we have uncovered that many of these Lampedusa plants displayed promising biopesticide, antiviral, and biological properties.

Comparative evaluation of various herbal extracts on biofilms of Streptococcus mutans and Scardovia wiggsiae: An in vitro study

BACKGROUND

Owing to their strong antimicrobial properties, Helichrysum arenarium (HA), Anzer thyme (AT), and Stevia rebaudiana (SR) have been commonly used in medicine.

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate antimicrobial activities of HA, AT, and SR against S. mutans and S. wiggsiae in biofilms formed on primary teeth.

DESIGN

Fifty enamel samples were divided into two groups: mono-species biofilm and two-species biofilm. Each biofilm group was divided into five subgroups (n = 5): group 1, HA; group 2, AT; group 3, SR; group 4, CHX (positive control); and group 5, distilled water (negative control). Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined. The number of viable microorganisms was counted. The presence of microorganisms was examined using a scanning electron microscope, and mineral analysis was performed using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis.

RESULTS

In the mono-species biofilm, CHX was significantly more effective against S. mutans than other groups (p < .001). Furthermore, HA, AT, and SR groups showed significantly lower colony counts of S. mutans than distilled water (p < .05). In the two-species biofilm group, AT, SR, and CHX were significantly more effective against S. wiggsiae than distilled water (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

HA, AT, and SR have been suggested as effective natural alternatives to CHX against cariogenic bacteria.

Zimbro (Juniperus communis L.) as a Promising Source of Bioactive Compounds and Biomedical Activities: A Review on Recent Trends

Plant-derived products and their extracted compounds have been used in folk medicine since early times. Zimbro or common juniper (Juniperus communis) is traditionally used to treat renal suppression, acute and chronic cystitis, bladder catarrh, albuminuria, leucorrhea, and amenorrhea. These uses are mainly attributed to its bioactive composition, which is very rich in phenolics, terpenoids, organic acids, alkaloids, and volatile compounds. In the last few years, several studies have analyzed the huge potential of this evergreen shrub, describing a wide range of activities with relevance in different biomedical discipline areas, namely antimicrobial potential against human pathogens and foodborne microorganisms, notorious antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, antidiabetic, antihypercholesterolemic and antihyperlipidemic effects, and neuroprotective action, as well as antiproliferative ability against cancer cells and the ability to activate inductive hepato-, renal- and gastroprotective mechanisms. Owing to these promising activities, extracts and bioactive compounds of juniper could be useful for the development of new pharmacological applications in the treatment of several acute and chronic human diseases.

Farnesane-Type Sesquiterpenoids with Antibiotic Activity from Chiliadenus lopadusanus

Chiliadenus lopadusanus Brullo is an Asteraceae plant species endemic to Lampedusa island, the largest island of the Pelage archipelago, Italy. The organic extract of its whole aerial parts, showing antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii, wasfractionated employing bioguided purification procedures affording three main farnesane-type sesquiterpenoids. They were identified by spectroscopic methods (NMR and ESIMS data) as the (E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,6,10-triene-3,9-diol, (E)-10-hydroxy-2,6,10-trimethyldodeca-2,6,11- trien-4-one and (E)-10-hydroxy-2,6,10-trimethyl-dodeca-6,11-dien-4-one, commonly named 9-hydroxynerolidol, 9-oxonerolidol, and chiliadenol B, respectively. These three sesquiterpenes, isolated for the first time from C. lopadusanus, were tested on methicillin-resistant S. aureus and A. baumannii showing antibacterial and antibiofilm activities. This plant could be used as a source to isolate secondary metabolites as potential new antibiotics.

Cyanobacteria and Microalgae as Sources of Functional Foods to Improve Human General and Oral Health

In the scenario of promising sources of functional foods and preventive drugs, microalgae and cyanobacteria are attracting global attention. In this review, the current and future role of microalgae as natural sources of functional foods for human health and, in particular, for oral health has been reported and discussed in order to provide an overview on the state of art on microalgal effects on human oral health. It is well known that due to their richness in high-valuable products, microalgae offer good anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumoral, anti-glycemic, cholesterol-lowering, and antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the findings of the present research show that microalgae could also have a significant impact on oral health: several studies agree on the potential application of microalgae for oral cancer prevention as well as for the treatment of chronic periodontitis and different oral diseases with microbial origin. Thus, beneficial effects of microalgae could be implemented in different medical fields. Microalgae and cyanobacteria could represent a potential natural alternative to antibiotic, antiviral, or antimycotic therapies, as well as a good supplement for the prevention and co-adjuvant treatment of different oral diseases. Nevertheless, more studies are required to identify strains of interest, increase overall functioning, and make safe, effective products available for the whole population.

In vitro Synergy of Polyphenolic Extracts From Honey, Myrtle and Pomegranate Against Oral Pathogens, S. mutans and R. dentocariosa

The increasing incidence rate of oral diseases, the wide spread of antimicrobial resistance, and the adverse effects of conventional antibiotics mean alternative prevention and treatment options are needed to counteract oral pathogens. In this regard, our study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of polyphenolic extracts prepared from acacia honey, myrtle leaves, and pomegranate peel against cariogenic bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans and Rothia dentocariosa. The chemical-physical parameters of acacia honey and the RP-HPLC polyphenolic profile of pomegranate peel extract have been previously described in our studies, while the characterization of myrtle extract, performed by HPLC analysis, is reported here. All the extracts were used singly and in binary combinations to highlight any synergistic effects. Moreover, the extracts were tested in association with amoxicillin to evaluate their ability to reduce the effective dose of this drug in vitro. The values of minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentrations have been used to quantitatively measure the antibacterial activity of the single extracts, while the fractional inhibitory concentration index has been considered as predictor of in vitro anticariogenic synergistic effects. Finally, a time-kill curve method allowed for the evaluation of the bactericidal efficacy of the combined extracts. The microbiological tests suggest that acacia honey, myrtle, and pomegranate extracts are able to inhibit the cariogenic bacteria, also with synergistic effects. This study provides useful and encouraging results for the use of natural extract combinations alone or in association with antibiotics (adjuvant therapy) as a valid alternative for the prevention and treatment of oral infectious diseases.

Antibacterial and fungicidal activities of ethanol extracts from Cotinus coggygria, Rhus typhina, R. trilobata, Toxicodendron orientale, Hedera helix, Aralia elata, Leptopus chinensis and Mahonia aquifolium

The search for promising plants with bactericidal and fungicidal activity is of great interest for practical and veterinary medicine, This article reveals the high antibacterial effect of the use of ethanol extracts from 8 species of plants of the families Anacardiaceae (Cotinus coggygria Scop., Rhus typhina L., Rhus trilobata Nutt. and Toxicodendron orientale Greene), Araliaceae (Hedera helix Linnaeus and Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem.), Phyllanthaceae (Leptopus chinensis (Bunge) Pojark.), Berberidaceae (Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt.) against 23 strains of bacteria and one strain of fungi. The in vitro experiment revealed the zone of inhibition of growth of colonies exceeding 8 mm during the application of ethanol extracts of C. coggygria against twelve species of microorganisms (Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Listeria ivanovi, Corynebacterium xerosis, Rhodococcus equi, Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Serratia marcescens and Candida albicans), Rhus typhina – against twelve species (E. faecalis, E. coli, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, L. ivanovi, C. xerosis, Rh. equi, P. vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium, S. adobraco, S. marcescens and C. albicans), Rhus trilobata – against fourteen (E. faecalis, E. сoli, S. аureus, S. epidermidis, B. subtilis, B. cereus, L. ivanovi, C. xerosis, Rh. equi, P. vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Рseudomonas аeruginosa, Yersinia enterocolitica and C. albicans), Toxicodendron orientale – against eleven (E. faecalis, S. аureus, L. іnnocua, C. xerosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Rh. equi, P. vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Р. аeruginosa and C. albicans), Hedera helix – against seven (S. аureus, S. epidermidis, L. monocytogenes, C. jejuni, Rh. equi, P. vulgaris and C. albicans), Aralia elata – against nine (E. coli, S. aureus, B. cereus, C. xerosis, P. vulgaris, P. mirabilis, S. typhimurium, S. marcescens and C. albicans), Leptopus chinensis – only against four (E. coli, S. epidermidis, B. cereus and P. mirabilis) and Mahonia aquifolium – against only three species (S. epidermidis, C. jejuni and P. vulgaris). As a result of the research, the most promising for studying in future regarding in vivo antibacterial activity were determined to be C. coggygria, Rhus typhina, R. trilobata, Toxicodendron orientale and Aralia elata.

Ethnoveterinary knowledge of farmers in bilingual regions of Switzerland - is there potential to extend veterinary options to reduce antimicrobial use?

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In the pre-antibiotic era, a broad spectrum of medicinal plants was used to treat livestock. This knowledge was neglected in European veterinary medicine for decades but kept alive by farmers. Emergence of multidrug resistant bacterial strains requires a severely restricted use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine. We conducted a survey on the ethnoveterinary knowledge of farmers in the bilingual (French and German speaking) Western region of Switzerland, namely the cantons of Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Jura, and in the French speaking part of the canton of Bern.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To find out whether differences exist in plants used by farmers in French speaking and bilingual regions of Switzerland as compared to our earlier studies conducted in Switzerland. Additional focus was on plants that are used in diseases which commonly are treated with antimicrobials, on plants used in skin afflictions, and on plants used in animal species such as horses, for which the range of veterinary medicinal products is limited.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted in 2015 semistructured interviews with 62 dialog partners, mainly cattle keeping farmers but also 18 horse keeping farmers. Of these, 41 were native French (FNS) and 21 native German speakers (GNS). Detailed information about homemade herbal remedies (plant species, plant part, manufacturing process) and the corresponding use reports (target animal species, category of use, route of administration, dosage, source of knowledge, frequency of use, last time of use and farmers satisfaction) were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 345 homemade remedies were reported, of which 240 contained only one plant species (Homemade Single Species Herbal Remedy Reports; HSHR). A total of 289 use reports (UR) were mentioned for the 240 HSHR, and they comprised 77 plant species belonging to 41 botanical families. Of these, 35 plant species were solely reported from FNS, 20 from GNS, and 22 from both. Taking into account earlier ethnoveterinary studies conducted in Switzerland only 10 (FNS) and 6 (GNS) plant species connected with 7% of FNS and GNS UR respectively were "unique" to the respective language group. The majority of the UR (219) was for treatment of cattle, while 38 UR were intended to treat horses. The most UR were for treatment of gastrointestinal and skin diseases. The most frequently mentioned plants were Linum usitatissimum L., Coffea L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, and Quercus robur L. for gastrointestinal diseases, and Calendula officinalis L., Hypericum perforatum L. and Sanicula europaea L. for skin afflictions.

CONCLUSION

No clear differences were found between the medicinal plants used by French native speakers and German native speakers. Several of the reported plants seem to be justified to widen the spectrum of veterinary therapeutic options in gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders in cattle and horses, and to reduce, at least to a certain degree, the need for antibiotic treatments. Our findings may help to strengthen the role of medicinal plants in veterinary research and practice, and to consider them as a further measure in official strategies for lowering the use of antibiotics.

Inhibitory activity of a green and black tea blend on Streptococcus mutans

Through the years, tea consumption has been associated with good health, and some publications are related to oral health. The bioactive components of green tea are thought to be able to influence the process of caries formation through inhibition of proliferation of the streptococcal agent, interference with the process of bacterial adhesion to tooth enamel, and inhibition of glucosyl transferase and amylase; however, little is known about black tea and oral health. The aim of the present in-vitro study was to determine the inhibitory activity of a novel, patent-pending and proprietary blend of green and black tea aqueous extracts on Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium widely associated with plaque development and tooth decay. A minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5 mg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 12.5 mg/mL was established against S. mutans, meaning that at concentrations of 12.5 mg/mL and higher, the proprietary tea blend is effective against the growth of S. mutans. This MIC concentration is lower than the ones reported in the literature for alcoholic black tea and green tea extracts tested separately. As a promising natural ingredient for oral health, this finding is a good indicator for the use of this proprietary blend of black and green tea water extracts.

Antimicrobial activity of the chloroform fraction of Drynaria fortunei against oral pathogens

Drynaria fortunei (D. fortunei), widely used in traditional Korean medicine, is reportedly effective in treating inflammation, hyperlipidemia, bone fractures, oxidative damage, arteriosclerosis, rheumatism, and gynecological diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effects of the chloroform fraction of D. fortunei (DFCF) and assess the synergistic effects of DFCF with antibiotics against bacterial pathogens. This was carried out by calculating the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) and performing checkerboard dilution test and time-kill assays. The MICs/MBCs for DFCF, ampicillin, and gentamicin against all oral strains were >39-2,500/5,000 μg/mL, 0.25-64/0.25-64 µg/mL, and 0.5-256/1-512 µg/mL, respectively. DFCF exhibited the highest activity against the periodontic pathogens Prevotella intermedia and Porphylomonas gingivalis. DFCF in combination with ampicillin showed a strong synergistic effect against oral bacteria (fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index ≤0.5), whereas on combining with gentamicin, it reduced the on half-eighth times than used alone (FICI ≤ 0.5). DFCF combined with ampicillin or gentamicin killed 100% of most tested bacteria within 3-4 h. The results of this study demonstrate the antimicrobial and synergistic activity of DFCF and antibiotics against oral pathogens.

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Pomegranate Juice and Peel Extracts on Cariogenic Bacteria

AIM

To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel and juice, against the microorganisms considered the main etiologic agents of dental caries.

METHODS

The values of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined against Streptococcus mutans Clarke ATCC® 25175™ strain and Rothia dentocariosa clinical isolate.

RESULTS

Peel extracts inhibit effectively the growth and survival of S. mutans ATCC 25175 strain and R. dentocariosa clinical isolate with MIC and MBC values of 10 μg/μl and 15 μg/μl, respectively. Furthermore, the pomegranate juice extract showed high inhibitory activity against S. mutans ATCC 25175 strain with a MIC value of 25 μg/μl and a MBC value of 40 μg/μl, whereas, against R. dentocariosa, it has displayed a moderate inhibitory activity, with MIC and MBC values of 20 μg/μl and 140 μg/μl, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In vitro microbiological tests demonstrate that the hydroalcoholic extracts of pomegranate juice and peel are able to contrast the main cariogenic bacteria involved in tooth decay. Although being preliminary data, our results suggest that pomegranate polyphenolic compounds could represent a good adjuvant for the prevention and treatment of dental caries.

Antiproliferative Properties Against Human Breast, Cervical and Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines, and Antioxidant Capacity of Leaf Aqueous Ethanolic Extract from Cotinus coggygria Scop

Cotinus coggygria Scop. leaf aqueous ethanolic extract was examined for its in vitro antiproliferative and antioxidant activity. Antiproliferative effect was assessed on four human gynecological cancer cell lines: breast (MCF7, T47D), cervical (HeLa) and ovarian (A2780) and compared to the cell growth inhibitory effect on non-cancerous breast epithelial cell line MCF10A using MTT cell proliferation assay. Radical scavenging assay with DPPH was applied to evaluate antioxidant potential of the extract. The obtained results showed that the herb inhibited cell growth of all of the tested cancer cell lines and the highest was the cytostatic effect on A2780 cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 30.8 μg/ml. For the other cell lines the IC50 values were in the range of 55-122.7 μg/ml. Additionally, the extract exerted considerably weaker reduction in cell proliferation of the non-cancerous cell line MCF10A compared to cancer cells, which indicates for antiproliferative selectivity. C. coggygria extract showed high free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 11.2 μg/ml. The obtained data provide evidence for pharmacological potential of the tested extract and future more detailed studies concerning the molecular mechanisms of the anticancer effect of the herb are needed.

Inhibitory Kinetics and Mechanism of Flavonoids Extracted from Cotinus coggygria Scop. Against Glioblastoma Cancer

This proposal seeks to study the potential therapeutic modality of chemoprevention and anticancer effects and mechanisms of the flavonoids from Cotinus coggygria Scop. on glioblastoma cancer. In the current study, the total flavonoids (TFs) isolated from Cotinus coggygria Scop. var. cinerea Engl. (Cotinus coggygria Scop.) and the major flavonoids of Cotinus coggygria Scop. (CCFs) were identified, and the inhibitory kinetics of TF and CCF on glioblastoma cell lines were calculated. We also investigated whether TF or CCF regulated the apoptotic mechanism in cellular models of glio-blastoma cells. Finally, we evaluated whether treatment with TF or CCF suppressed tumor growth and inhibited migration in orthotopic mouse models of glioblastoma in vivo. In this study, the CCFs were identified as rutin, myricetin, and fisetin. TF and CCF remarkably inhibited cell proliferation and downregulated the PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling pathway in glioblastoma cell lines. Furthermore, the mitochondrial caspase-dependent cascade was regulated by TF and myricetin. In addition, TF and myricetin exhibited significant antitumor effects on glioblastoma in vivo. Taken together, these results suggest that phytochemical and biological data provide evidence for the active components in Cotinus coggygria, and that the TFs are responsible for the anticancer effects on glioblastoma cell growth via induction of apoptosis. In addition, the representative compound myricetin could provide a clinically relevant therapeutic opportunity. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that myricetin-deprived CCF can serve as a potent chemopreventive herbal medicine.

In Vivo Release Kinetics and Antibacterial Activity of Novel Polyphenols-Enriched Chewing Gums

Chewing gums may be particularly effective means for delivering and maintaining bioactive molecules, included in the gum formulation, able to have an anti-cariogenic effect. The purposes of this study were: to develop novel chewing gums containing quercetin (Qt); to evaluate their release using in vivo trial; finally, to test their in vivo antibacterial effect against oral Streptococcus mutans strains. A preliminary study was performed to produce new gums, enriched with the polyphenol quercetin. Then, a first in vivo experimental study was assessed to test the percentages of Qt released in the saliva of young volunteers. Moreover, a second clinical trial was performed to analyze the antibacterial capability of these enriched chewing gums against S. mutans strains after 14 days of daily consumption. The release analysis showed that a more effective release of Qt occurs in the first minutes of chewing, and it does not change saliva pH values. Moreover, Qt included in gums demonstrates an effective antibacterial activity, showing a reduction of the concentration of S. mutans strains in saliva samples, especially after 7 days. Qt included in experimental chewing gums could be efficiently released into the oral cavity and could promote an effective anti-caries concentration in volunteer's saliva, without changing salivary pH values.

Polyphenolic Profile and Targeted Bioactivity of Methanolic Extracts from Mediterranean Ethnomedicinal Plants on Human Cancer Cell Lines

The methanol extracts of the aerial part of four ethnomedicinal plants of Mediterranean region, two non-seed vascular plants, Equisetum hyemale L. and Phyllitis scolopendrium (L.) Newman, and two Spermatophyta, Juniperus communis L. (J. communis) and Cotinus coggygria Scop. (C. coggygria), were screened against four human cells lines (A549, MCF7, TK6 and U937). Only the extracts of J. communis and C. coggygria showed marked cytotoxic effects, affecting both cell morphology and growth. A dose-dependent effect of these two extracts was also observed on the cell cycle distribution. Incubation of all the cell lines in a medium containing J. communis extract determined a remarkable accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase, whereas the C. coggygria extract induced a significant increase in the percentage of G1 cells. The novelty of our findings stands on the observation that the two extracts, consistently, elicited coherent effects on the cell cycle in four cell lines, independently from their phenotype, as two of them have epithelial origin and grow adherent and two are lymphoblastoid and grow in suspension. Even the expression profiles of several proteins regulating cell cycle progression and cell death were affected by both extracts. LC-MS investigation of methanol extract of C. coggygria led to the identification of twelve flavonoids (compounds 1–11, 19) and eight polyphenols derivatives (12–18, 20), while in J. communis extract, eight flavonoids (21–28), a α-ionone glycoside (29) and a lignin (30) were found. Although many of these compounds have interesting individual biological activities, their natural blends seem to exert specific effects on the proliferation of cell lines either growing adherent or in suspension, suggesting potential use in fighting cancer.

Is Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni a Non Cariogenic Sweetener? A Review

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a small perennial shrub of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family that is native to South America, particularly Brazil and Paraguay, where it is known as "stevia" or "honey leaf" for its powerful sweetness. Several studies have suggested that in addition to their sweetness, steviosides and their related compounds, including rebaudioside A and isosteviol, may offer additional therapeutic benefits. These benefits include anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory actions. Additionally, critical analysis of the literature supports the anti-bacterial role of steviosides on oral bacteria flora. The aim of this review is to show the emerging results regarding the anti-cariogenic properties of S. rebaudiana Bertoni. Data shown in the present paper provide evidence that stevioside extracts from S. rebaudiana are not cariogenic. Future research should be focused on in vivo studies to evaluate the effects on dental caries of regular consumption of S. rebaudiana extract-based products.

Effect and Mechanism of Total Flavonoids Extracted from Cotinus coggygria against Glioblastoma Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo

Flavonoids, a major constituent of Cotinus coggygria (CC), have been reported to possess diverse biological activities, including antigenotoxic and hepatoprotective effects; however, few studies have investigated the biological activity of the total flavonoids of Cotinus coggygria, especially in terms of its cytotoxicity in cancer cells. In the present study, the Cotinus coggygria flavonoids (CCF) were extracted from Cotinus coggygria and characterized by HPLC. These results indicated that CCF extracts could inhibit cell proliferation, with IC50 values of 128.49 µg/mL (U87), 107.62 µg/mL (U251), and 93.57 µg/mL (DBTRG-05MG). The current investigation also revealed that CCF induced apoptosis in highly malignant glioblastoma cells, a process that apparently involved the inhibition of Akt coupled with ERK protein expression. This finding suggests that the PI3K/Akt-ERK signaling pathway is regulated by CCF and leads to the inhibition of the glioblastoma cancer cells. Furthermore, a significant antitumor effect of CCF was observed in xenograft animal models of glioblastoma multiforme in vivo. Taken together, these data suggest that CCF is the active component in the Cotinus coggygria plant that offers potential therapeutic modality in the abrogation of cancer cell proliferation, including the induction of apoptosis.

Cotinus coggygria Scop.: An overview of its chemical constituents, pharmacological and toxicological potential

The Anacardiaceae Lindl. family comprises of many species which are used in nutrition and in traditional folk medicine for the treatment of several human diseases. Cotinus coggygria Scop. commonly known as "smoke tree", is a commercial ornamental plant with high medicinal usages, belongs to the family Anacardiaceae. The present review provides a comprehensive report of empirical investigations on important pharmacological activities and phytochemical screening of essential oils and extracts. Relevant information was collected from scientific journals, books, and reports via library and electronic search using Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus. The plant has been extensively investigated in a broad range of studies to provide scientific evidence for folklore claims or to find new therapeutic uses. Numerous activities namely antioxidative, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, antigenotoxic, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory have been demonstrated for all parts of these plants by in vivo and in vitro studies. Essential oils and extracts showed various pharmacological and biological properties which make them an effective remedy for various kinds of illnesses. Considering data from the literature, it could be demonstrated that C. coggygria possesses diverse bioactive properties and immense utilization in medicine, health care, cosmetics and as health supplements.

Bactericidal effect of extracts and metabolites of Robinia pseudoacacia L. on Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis causing dental plaque and periodontal inflammatory diseases

The mouth cavity hosts many types of anaerobic bacteria, including Streptococcusmutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, which cause periodontal inflammatory diseases and dental caries. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial potential of extracts of Robinia pseudoacacia and its different fractions, as well as some of its natural compounds against oral pathogens and a nonpathogenic reference bacteria, Escherichia coli. The antibacterial activity of the crude extract and the solvent fractions (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol) of R. pseudoacacia were evaluated against S.mutans, P. gingivalis and E. coliDH5α by standard micro-assay procedure using conventional sterile polystyrene microplates. The results showed that the crude extract was more active against P. gingivalis (100% growth inhibition) than against S. mutans (73% growth inhibition) at 1.8 mg/mL. The chloroform and hexane fractions were active against P. gingivalis, with 91 and 97% growth inhibition, respectively, at 0.2 mg/mL. None of seven natural compounds found in R. pseudoacacia exerted an antibacterial effect on P. gingivalis; however, fisetin and myricetin at 8 µg/mL inhibited the growth of S. mutans by 81% and 86%, respectively. The crude extract of R. pseudoacacia possesses bioactive compounds that could completely control the growth of P. gingivalis. The antibiotic activities of the hexane and chloroform fractions suggest that the active compounds are hydrophobic in nature. The results indicate the effectiveness of the plant in clinical applications for the treatment of dental plaque and periodontal inflammatory diseases and its potential use as disinfectant for various surgical and orthodontic appliances.

Determination of the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity on salivary Streptococci and Lactobacilli and chemical characterisation of the phenolic content of a Plantago lanceolata infusion

Introduction. Plant extracts may be suitable alternative treatments for caries. Aims. To investigate the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial effects of Plantago lanceolata herbal tea (from flowers and leaves) on cariogenic bacteria and to identify the major constituents of P. lanceolata plant. Materials and Methods. The MIC and MBC against cariogenic bacteria were determined for P. lanceolata tea. Subsequently, a controlled random clinical study was conducted. Group A was instructed to rinse with a P. lanceolata mouth rinse, and Group B received a placebo mouth rinse for seven days. The salivary colonisation by streptococci and lactobacilli was investigated prior to treatment and on the fourth and seventh days. Finally, the P. lanceolata tea was analysed for its polyphenolic content, and major phenolics were identified. Results and Discussion. P. lanceolata teas demonstrate good in vitro antimicrobial activity. The in vivo test showed that Group A subjects presented a significant decrease in streptococci compared to Group B. The phytochemical analysis revealed that flavonoids, coumarins, lipids, cinnamic acids, lignans, and phenolic compounds are present in P. lanceolata infusions. Conclusions. P. lanceolata extract could represent a natural anticariogenic agent via an antimicrobial effect and might be useful as an ancillary measure to control the proliferation of cariogenic flora.