Allium sativum Extract Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity and Antifungal Effect against Meyerozyma guilliermondii and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa Causing Onychomycosis

Pharmacological Potential of Three Berberine-Containing Plant Extracts Obtained from Berberis vulgaris L., Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt., and Phellodendron amurense Rupr

Three berberine-containing plant extracts were investigated for their pharmacological properties. The stems and leaves of Berberis vulgaris, Mahonia aquifolium, and Phellodendron amurense were characterized through scanning electron microscopy. The plant extracts obtained from fresh stem barks were further analyzed through high-performance liquid chromatography, revealing berberine concentrations, among berbamine and palmatine. The plant extracts were further tested for their anticancer potential against 2D and 3D human skin melanoma (A375) and lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cell lines. The concentrations at which 50% of the cells are affected was determined by the viability assay and it was shown that B. vulgaris, the plant extract with the highest berberine concentration, is the most efficient inhibitor (0.4% extract concentration for the 2D model and 3.8% for the 3D model). The membrane integrity and nitrate/nitrite concentration assays were consistent with the viability results and showed effective anticancer potential. For further investigations, the B. vulgaris extract was used to obtain silver nanoparticles, which were characterized through transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The formed nanoparticles have a uniform size distribution and are suited for future investigations in the field of biomedical applications, together with the B. vulgaris plant extract.

Inhibition of pathogenic microbes in oral infectious diseases by natural products: Sources, mechanisms, and challenges

The maintenance of oral health is of utmost importance for an individual's holistic well-being and standard of living. Within the oral cavity, symbiotic microorganisms actively safeguard themselves against potential foreign diseases by upholding a multifaceted equilibrium. Nevertheless, the occurrence of an imbalance can give rise to a range of oral infectious ailments, such as dental caries, periodontitis, and oral candidiasis. Presently, clinical interventions encompass the physical elimination of pathogens and the administration of antibiotics to regulate bacterial and fungal infections. Given the limitations of various antimicrobial drugs frequently employed in dental practice, the rising incidence of oral inflammation, and the escalating bacterial resistance to antibiotics, it is imperative to explore alternative remedies that are dependable, efficacious, and affordable for the prevention and management of oral infectious ailments. There is an increasing interest in the creation of novel antimicrobial agents derived from natural sources, which possess attributes such as safety, cost-effectiveness, and minimal adverse effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of natural products on the development and progression of oral infectious diseases. Specifically, these products exert their influences by mitigating dental biofilm formation, impeding the proliferation of oral pathogens, and hindering bacterial adhesion to tooth surfaces. The review also encompasses an examination of the various classes of natural products, their antimicrobial mechanisms, and their potential therapeutic applications and limitations in the context of oral infections. The insights garnered from this review can support the promising application of natural products as viable therapeutic options for managing oral infectious diseases.

A Repertoire of the Less Common Clinical Yeasts

Invasive fungal diseases are a public health problem. They affect a constantly increasing number of at-risk patients, and their incidence has risen in recent years. These opportunistic infections are mainly due to Candida sp. but less common or rare yeast infections should not be underestimated. These so-called "less common" yeasts include Ascomycota of the genera Candida (excluding the five major Candida species), Magnusiomyces/Saprochaete, Malassezia, and Saccharomyces, and Basidiomycota of the genera Cryptococcus (excluding the Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii complex members), Rhodotorula, and Trichosporon. The aim of this review is to (i) inventory the less common yeasts isolated in humans, (ii) provide details regarding the specific anatomical locations where they have been detected and the clinical characteristics of the resulting infections, and (iii) provide an update on yeast taxonomy. Of the total of 239,890 fungal taxa and their associated synonyms sourced from the MycoBank and NCBI Taxonomy databases, we successfully identified 192 yeasts, including 127 Ascomycota and 65 Basidiomycota. This repertoire allows us to highlight rare yeasts and their tropism for certain anatomical sites and will provide an additional tool for diagnostic management.

A review of the bioactive properties of Mongolian plants, with a focus on their potential as natural food preservatives

Consumers have recently preferred food that is easy to make and of excellent quality, as well as food that is safe, natural, and minimally processed, but has a longer shelf life. Food deteriorates over time as a result of microbiological, chemical, or physical changes. Phytochemicals derived from medicinal and food plants have long been recognized for their biological activity to protect plants. These bioactivities are designed to increase the shelf life of food while inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. The use of natural plant food preservatives containing bioactive compounds as health-promoting agents is particularly intriguing. Furthermore, due to their effectiveness against food spoilage and foodborne pathogens, natural plant-origin antimicrobial compounds have been investigated as alternatives to synthetic antimicrobial compounds for preserving food quality. This review focused on the plant composition and properties that can be utilized as a natural food preservative, as well as the possibilities of using Mongolian medicinal plants.

Comparison of Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Effects of Various Forms of Garlic and Ramsons

Garlic is known to be rich in antioxidants, inhibit the proliferation of various cancer cells, and hamper cancer formation and growth, but various forms of garlic can differ greatly in these respects. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant properties of acetone, ethanol, and aqueous extracts of fresh Polish and Spanish garlic, black and granulated garlic, as well as fresh and dried ramsons. Extracts of black and granulated garlic showed the lowest total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The content of phenolic compounds correlated with TAC measured by ABTS• decolorization and FRAP methods, and with the results of FRAP and DPPH• decolorization assays. Garlic extracts inhibited the proliferation of PEO1 and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells and, usually to a smaller extent, MRC-5 fibroblasts. PBS extracts of fresh Spanish garlic showed the highest potency for inhibition of proliferation of PEO1 cells (IC50 of 0.71 µg extract dry mass/100 µL medium). No significant correlation was found between the potency for inhibition of proliferation and the content of phenolics or flavonoids, confirming that phenolics are the main determinants of TAC but do not contribute significantly to the antiproliferative effects of garlic.

Phytochemical Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Several Allium Extracts

Microbial infections affect both the human population and animals. The appearance of more and more microbial strains resistant to classical treatments led to the need to develop new treatments. Allium plants are known for their antimicrobial properties due to their high content of thiosulfinates, especially allicin, polyphenols or flavonoids. The hydroalcoholic extracts of six Allium species obtained by cold percolation were analyzed regarding their phytochemical compounds and antimicrobial activity. Among the six extracts, Allium sativum L. and Allium ursinum L. have similar contents of thiosulfinates (approx. 300 μg allicin equivalents/g), and the contents of polyphenols and flavonoids were different between the tested species. The HPLC-DAD method was used to detail the phytochemical composition of species rich in thiosulfinates. A. sativum is richer in allicin (280 μg/g) than A. ursinum (130 μg/g). The antimicrobial activity of A. sativum and A. ursinum extracts against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis can be correlated with the presence of large amounts of thiosulfinates. Both extracts have shown results against Candida species (inhibition zones of 20-35 mm) and against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (inhibition zones of 15-25 mm). These results demonstrate the antimicrobial effect of the extracts and suggest their use as an adjuvant treatment for microbial infections.

Novel simultaneous determination of alliin and allicin in Allium sp. using digital subtraction HPTLC

Allicin is a major thiosulfinate found in garlic and other Allium sp. and it is responsible for their pungent aroma. It is formed during the tissue lysis of garlic, by the initial action of alliinase upon alliin, the major cysteine sulfoxide. Simultaneous detection of these two analytes is usually performed using HPLC. Contrary to the most important phytoconstituents in other samples, allicin is scarcely detected using the simple HPTLC technique, due to challenges caused by its unique structure, despite its simplicity and high needs in the analytical monitoring of the Allium sp. In this work, a cost-effective, simple, sensitive and accurate method was developed for the determination of allicin together with alliin, using HPTLC. Allicin is quickly pre-derivatised with cysteine in excess to the stable S-allylmercaptocysteine that is then simultaneously detected with alliin, using ninhydrin reagent. The method was validated in terms of accuracy (recoveries of 90-120 %), precision (RSD% of 4-12 %), selectivity, robustness, peak purity and limit of detection (LOD = 0.05 μg/band for allicin and LOD = 0.10 μg/band for alliin). The method was successfully applied using real Allium sp. samples and the results were in good agreement with HPLC data.

Medicinal and therapeutic properties of garlic, garlic essential oil, and garlic-based snack food: An updated review

Garlic (Allium sativum) is an edible tuber belonging to the family Liliaceae. It has been used since ancient times as a spice to enhance the sensory characteristics of food and as a household remedy for the treatment of a variety of ailments. Garlic has been studied for its medicinal and therapeutic effects in the treatment of various human diseases for a long time. Health benefits associated with the consumption of garlic are attributed to the various sulfur compounds present in it such as allicin, ajoene, vinyl-dithiin, and other volatile organosulfur compounds which are all metabolized from alliin. Several researches in the literature have shown evidence that garlic exhibits antioxidant, antiviral, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, antihypertensive, anti-anemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anticarcinogenic, antiaggregant, and immunomodulatory properties. The present review identifies and discusses the various health benefits associated with the consumption of garlic, its essential oil, and bioactive constituents, along with exploring the various snack-food products developed by incorporating garlic.

Current Understanding of the Molecular Basis of Spices for the Development of Potential Antimicrobial Medicine

Antimicrobial resistance increases day by day around the world. To overcome this situation new antimicrobial agents are needed. Spices such as clove, ginger, coriander, garlic, and turmeric have the potential to fight resistant microbes. Due to their therapeutic properties, medicinal herbs and spices have been utilized as herbal medicines since antiquity. They are important sources of organic antibacterial substances that are employed in treating infectious disorders caused by pathogens such as bacteria. The main focus of the study is the bioactivity of the active ingredients present in different kinds of naturally available spices. We conducted a thorough search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Research Gate for this review. We have read many kinds of available literature, and in this paper, we conclude that many different kinds of naturally available spices perform some form of bioactivity. After reading several papers, we found that some spices have good antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which may help in controlling the emerging antimicrobial resistance and improving human health. Spices have many phytochemicals, which show good antimicrobial and antifungal effects. This review of the literature concludes that the natural bioactivate compounds present in spices can be used as a drug to overcome antimicrobial resistance in human beings.

Allicin shows antifungal efficacy against Cryptococcus neoformans by blocking the fungal cell membrane

Allicin, which is generated by the catalytic reaction between alliin and alliinase extracted from garlic, has been shown to have a wide range of antimicrobial activities, but its anti-Cryptococcus efficacy and mechanism are not quite clear. Here, we have determined that the Conversion rate of allicin in the reaction product reached 97.5%. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of allicin against Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) H99 was 2 μg/ml, which is comparable to fluconazole (FLU, 1 μg/ml). Furthermore, allicin exhibited effective antifungal activity against 46 clinical isolates of C. neoformans, and the MICs ranged from 1 to 8 μg/ml, even for AmB-insensitive strains. Interestingly, allicin also exerted additive or synergistic effects when combined with amphotericin B (AmB) and FLU. Time-killing curves and long-term live cell imaging of H99 showed that 4 MIC of allicin had fungicide activity. Additionally, allicin (4 and 8 mg/kg) exerted a dose-dependent therapeutic effect on H99-infected mice by significantly reducing the wet pulmonary coefficient and Cryptococcus load and reducing lung damage. Even the efficacy of 8 mg/kg was comparable to FLU (20 mg/kg). Transcriptomics revealed that allicin may act on the cell membrane of H99. Subsequently, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations showed that allicin clearly breached the cell membrane and organelles of H99. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) results further confirmed that allicin disrupted the permeability of the cell membranes of H99 in a dose-dependent manner. Allicin exhibits strong anti-C. neoformans activity in vitro and in vivo, mainly by destroying the permeability and related functions of Cryptococcus cell membranes.

Garlic and Its Bioactive Compounds: Implications for Methane Emissions and Ruminant Nutrition

Methane (CH4) emission from enteric fermentation of ruminant livestock is a source of greenhouse gases (GHG) and has become a significant concern for global warming. Enteric methane emission is also associated with poor feed efficiency. Therefore, research has focused on identifying dietary mitigation strategies to decrease CH4 emissions from ruminants. In recent years, plant-derived bioactive compounds have been investigated for their potential to reduce CH4 emissions from ruminant livestock. The organosulphur compounds of garlic have been observed to decrease CH4 emission and increase propionate concentration in anaerobic fermentations (in vitro) and in the rumen (in vivo). However, the mode of action of CH4 reduction is not completely clear, and the response in vivo is inconsistent. It might be affected by variations in the concentration and effect of individual substances in garlic. The composition of the diet that is being fed to the animal may also contribute to these differences. This review provides a summary of the effect of garlic and its bioactive compounds on CH4 emissions by ruminants. Additionally, this review aims to provide insight into garlic and its bioactive compounds in terms of enteric CH4 mitigation efficacy, consistency in afficacy, possible mode of action, and safety deriving data from both in vivo and in vitro studies.

Changes in urban soil yeast communities after a reduction in household waste during the COVID-19 pandemic

The soils of streets, urban parks and suburban areas were examined for yeasts in the summer of 2020 on the territory of the southern cities of Russia and the Republic of Crimea: Krasnodar, Maykop, Sochi and Simferopol. The results of this study are compared with the results of a previous study carried out in these cities in 2019. This study was conducted three months after the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a sustained decline in household waste deposition in these areas. The number of tourists visiting these southern cities decreased significantly, and the number of walkers and visitors to urban parks fell sharply. In 2020, after the decline of household waste loads, the yeast abundance was slightly but reliably higher than in 2019. A total of 30 yeast species were observed - 11 ascomycetes and 19 basidiomycetes. This was more than in 2019 and was caused by twice as many autochthonous basidiomycetous yeast species (natural core community), which were found in urban soils only after the reduction in household waste in the environment - Apiotrichum dulcitum, A. laibachii, Saitozyma podzolica Solicoccozyma terricola. And at the same time, the proportion of clinically significant (opportunistic) yeasts, Candida sake and Meyerozyma guilliermondii, was much lower in 2020 than in 2019. Thus, the observed changes in yeast communities in urban soils could be a short-time response of the microbial community to a reduction in household waste.

The Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Tulbaghia, Allium, Crinum and Cyrtanthus: ‘Talented’ Taxa from the Amaryllidaceae

Amaryllidaceae is a significant source of bioactive phytochemicals with a strong propensity to develop new drugs. The genera Allium, Tulbaghia, Cyrtanthus and Crinum biosynthesize novel alkaloids and other phytochemicals with traditional and pharmacological uses. Amaryllidaceae biomolecules exhibit multiple pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects. Traditionally, natural products from Amaryllidaceae are utilized to treat non-communicable and infectious human diseases. Galanthamine, a drug from this family, is clinically relevant in treating the neurocognitive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, which underscores the importance of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Although Amaryllidaceae provide a plethora of biologically active compounds, there is tardiness in their development into clinically pliable medicines. Other genera, including Cyrtanthus and Tulbaghia, have received little attention as potential sources of promising drug candidates. Given the reciprocal relationship of the increasing burden of human diseases and limited availability of medicinal therapies, more rapid drug discovery and development are desirable. To expedite clinically relevant drug development, we present here evidence on bioactive compounds from the genera Allium, Tulgbaghia, Cyrtanthus and Crinum and describe their traditional and pharmacological applications.

Methods of Isolation of Active Substances from Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and Its Impact on the Composition and Biological Properties of Garlic Extracts

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is widely used in the human diet and in scientific research due to its biological properties. Various factors, e.g., temperature, pressure, extraction method, type of solvent, size, and territorial origin of garlic, affect the amount and type of bioactive compounds obtained from garlic extracts. In turn, the content of bioactive compounds correlates with the biological activity of the extracts. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize the current state of knowledge of the methods and effectiveness of isolation of active substances from garlic and their impact on the garlic extract composition and, consequently, biological properties. According to the literature, extracts obtained using water as a solvent are mainly responsible for antimicrobial properties, which is related to, inter alia, the high content of allicin. The use of alcohols, such as methanol or ethanol, is associated with the outstanding antioxidant power of extracts resulting from the presence of phenolic compounds. In turn, due to the presence of diallyl disulfide and disulfide trisulfide, garlic oil has anticancer potential. Acetone is the most effective organic solvent; however, it is not suitable for immediate consumption.

Garlic: A systematic review of the effects on cardiovascular diseases

Allium sativum (garlic) certainly is one of the oldest horticultural crops in the world and presents bioactive compounds that are related to the garlic's effects on human health. Several authors have shown beneficial effects on diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which are among the most relevant causes of mortality in the world. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of garlic in the risk factors of CVD and evaluate its economic importance. MEDLINE-PubMed, COCHRANE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched. The included studies showed that the use of garlic can reduce blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, LDL-c, non-HDL-c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammatory markers. It also can increase the levels of HDL-c and can improve cardiovascular parameters such as coronary artery calcium, microcirculation, epicardial and periaortic adipose tissue, post occlusive reactive hyperemia, low attenuation plaque, carotid intima-media thickness; and carotid intima-media thickness. Due to these reasons, garlic can be considered in the prevention and treatment of CVD risk factors.

Traditional Medicinal Plants—A Possible Source of Antibacterial Activity on Respiratory Diseases Induced by Chlamydia pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis

Background. Nowadays, phytotherapy offers viable solutions in managing respiratory infections, disorders known for considerable incidence in both children and adults. In a context in which more and more people are turning to phytotherapy, finding new remedies is a topical goal of researchers in health and related fields. This paper aims to identify those traditional medicinal plants that show potentially antibacterial effects against four Gram-negative germs (Chlamydia pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis), which are considered to have high involvement in respiratory infections. Furthermore, a comparison with Romanian folk medicines was performed. Methods. An extensive review of books and databases was undertaken to identify vegetal species of interest in the context of the topic. Results. Some traditional Romanian species (such as Mentha × piperita, Thymus vulgaris, Pinus sylvestris, Allium sativum, Allium cepa, Ocimum basilicum, and Lavandulaangustifolia) were identified and compared with the plants and preparations confirmed as having antibacterial effects against specific germs. Conclusions. The antibacterial effects of some traditionally used Romanian medicinal plants are poorly investigated, and deserve further attention.

Curcumin Nanoparticles Enhance Antioxidant Efficacy of Diclofenac Sodium in Experimental Acute Inflammation

We investigated the in vivo effect of curcumin nanoparticles (nC) in addition to diclofenac sodium on local edema and oxidative stress parameters in carrageenan-induced paw edema on rats. Seven groups were investigated: control group (C), the acute inflammation (AI) group, an AI group treated with Diclofenac (AID, 5 mg/kg b.w. Diclofenac sodium), two AI groups treated with cC (conventional Curcumin)—AIC200 and AIcC200D (D = Diclofenac, 200 represent the concentration of active substance expressed in mg/kg b.w.), and two AI groups with nC (Curcumin nanoparticles)—AIC200 and AIcC200D. Serum and tissue oxidative stress was assessed by measuring five parameters. Curcumin nanoparticles alone and in combination with D better reduced the paw edema than D alone (p < 0.027). The rats treated with D and nC (AIcC200D) had the highest inhibition percentage on edema, reaching the maximum level of inhibition (81%) after 24 h. Conventional curcumin and nC presented antioxidant effects in acute inflammation, with significantly better results obtained for nC. The pro-oxidant markers were reduced up to 0.3 by the cC and up to 0.4 times by the nC and both solutions increased the antioxidant markers up to 0.3 times. The nC enhanced the antioxidative efficacy of D, as this combination reduced the pro-oxidant markers up to 1.3 times. Curcumin nanoparticles could represent a therapeutic option in association with classical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication in acute inflammation, as they might offer a reduction of drug dose and possible limitation of their associated side effects.

Rhodotorula sp. and Trichosporon sp. are more Virulent After a Mixed Biofilm

Rhodotorula spp. and Trichosporon spp. are opportunistic pathogens, and although an association between these two species in the same infection appears to be uncommon, it has been reported. This is the first study that aimed to evaluate the pathogenesis of a co-infection by R. mucilaginosa and T. asahii, using a new in vivo model, the Zophobas morio larvae. Suspensions from planktonic and biofilm-recovered cells were injected in the larvae as in monospecies as mixed (a ratio of 1:1 for both agents of a of 10⁵ inoculum). Individual and mixed biofilms of R. mucilaginosa and T. asahii were produced for 24 and 48 h, and they were partially characterized by crystal violet and reduction of tetrazolium salt. When evaluating the impact of the planktonic suspension in vivo we verified that the fungi in monoculture were more able to kill the larvae than those from planktonic mixed suspension. On the other hand, regarding biofilm-recovered cells, there was an increase in the death of larvae infected for mixed suspensions. Moreover, the death rate was more pronounced when the larvae were infected with 48 h biofilm-recovered cells than the 24 h ones. T. asahii was the best producer of total biomass, mainly in 48 h. The metabolic activity for both yeasts organized in biofilm maintained the same pattern between 24 and 48 h. The present study proves a synergistic interaction between R. mucilaginosa and T. asahii after an experience in a mixed biofilm. Our results suggest that both species were benefited from this interaction, acquiring a greater potential for virulence after passing through the biofilm and this ability was acquired by the cells released from the biofilm.

Phytocompounds from Himalayan Medicinal Plants as Potential Drugs to Treat Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella typhimurium: An In Silico Approach

Medicinal plants can be used as natural therapeutics to treat diseases in humans. Enteric bacteria possess efflux pumps to remove bile salts from cells to avoid potential membrane damage. Resistance to bile and antibiotics is associated with the survival of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. typhimurium) within a host. The present study aimed to investigate the binding affinity of major phytocompounds derived from 35 medicinal plants of the North Western Himalayas with the RamR protein (PDB ID 6IE9) of S. typhimurium. Proteins and ligands were prepared using AutoDock software 1.5.6. Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina and MD simulation was performed at 100 ns. Drug likeness and toxicity predictions of hit phytocompounds were evaluated using molinspiration and ProTox II online servers. Moreover, docking, drug likeness, and toxicity results revealed that among all the selected phytocompounds, beta-sitosterol exhibited the most efficacious binding affinity with RamR protein (PDB ID 6IE9) and was nontoxic in nature. MD simulation data revealed that beta-sitosterol in complex with 6IE9 can be used as an antimicrobial. Furthermore, beta-sitosterol is stable in the binding pocket of the target protein; hence, it can be further explored as a drug to inhibit resistance-nodulation-division efflux pumps.

Protective Effects Induced by a Hydroalcoholic Allium sativum Extract in Isolated Mouse Heart

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible protective effects of a garlic hydroalcoholic extract on the burden of oxidative stress and inflammation occurring on mouse heart specimens exposed to E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a well-established inflammatory stimulus. Headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) technique was applied to determine the volatile fraction of the garlic powder, and the HS-SPME conditions were optimized for each of the most representative classes of compounds. CIEL*a*b* colorimetric analyses were performed on the powder sample at the time of delivery, after four and after eight months of storage at room temperature in the dark, to evaluate the color changing. Freshly prepared hydroalcoholic extract was also evaluated in its color character. Furthermore, the hydroalcoholic extract was analyzed through GC-MS. The extract was found to be able to significantly inhibit LPS-induced prostaglandin (PG) E₂ and 8-iso-PGF_2α levels, as well as mRNA levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, interleukin (IL)-6, and nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), in heart specimens. Concluding, our findings showed that the garlic hydroalcoholic extract exhibited cardioprotective effects on multiple inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.

A Review on Antifungal Efficiency of Plant Extracts Entrenched Polysaccharide-Based Nanohydrogels

Human skin acts as a physical barrier; however, sometimes the skin gets infected by fungi, which becomes more severe if the infection occurs on the third layer of the skin. Azole derivative-based antifungal creams, liquids, or sprays are available to treat fungal infections; however, these formulations show various side effects on the application site. Over the past few years, herbal extracts and various essential oils have shown effective antifungal activity. Additionally, autoxidation and epimerization are significant problems with the direct use of herbal extracts. Hence, to overcome these obstacles, polysaccharide-based nanohydrogels embedded with natural plant extracts and oils have become the primary choice of pharmaceutical scientists. These gels protect plant-based bioactive compounds and are effective delivery agents because they release multiple bioactive compounds in the targeted area. Nanohydrogels can be applied to infected areas, and due to their contagious nature and penetration power, they get directly absorbed through the skin, quickly reaching the skin's third layer and effectively reducing the fungal infection. In this review, we explain various skin fungal infections, possible treatments, and the effective utilization of plant extract and oil-embedded polysaccharide-based nanohydrogels.

Protective Effects of Taraxacum officinale L. (Dandelion) Root Extract in Experimental Acute on Chronic Liver Failure

BACKGROUND

Taraxacum officinale (TO) or dandelion has been frequently used to prevent or treat different liver diseases because of its rich composition in phytochemicals with demonstrated effect against hepatic injuries. This study aimed to investigate the possible preventing effect of ethanolic TO root extract (TOERE) on a rat experimental acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) model.

METHODS

Chronic liver failure (CLF) was induced by human serum albumin, and ACLF was induced in CLF by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide (D-Gal-LPS). Five groups (n = 5) of male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were used: ACLF, ACLF-silymarin (200 mg/kg b.w./day), three ACLF-TO administered in three doses (200 mg, 100 mg, 50 mg/kg b.w./day).

RESULTS

The in vivo results showed that treatment with TOERE administered in three chosen doses before ACLF induction reduced serum liver injury markers (AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, total bilirubin), renal tests (creatinine, urea), and oxidative stress tests (TOS, OSI, MDA, NO, 3NT). Histopathologically, TOERE diminished the level of liver tissue injury and 3NT immunoexpression.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper indicated oxidative stress reduction as possible mechanisms for the hepatoprotective effect of TOERE in ACLF and provided evidence for the preventive treatment.

Ethnobotany and the Role of Plant Natural Products in Antibiotic Drug Discovery

The crisis of antibiotic resistance necessitates creative and innovative approaches, from chemical identification and analysis to the assessment of bioactivity. Plant natural products (NPs) represent a promising source of antibacterial lead compounds that could help fill the drug discovery pipeline in response to the growing antibiotic resistance crisis. The major strength of plant NPs lies in their rich and unique chemodiversity, their worldwide distribution and ease of access, their various antibacterial modes of action, and the proven clinical effectiveness of plant extracts from which they are isolated. While many studies have tried to summarize NPs with antibacterial activities, a comprehensive review with rigorous selection criteria has never been performed. In this work, the literature from 2012 to 2019 was systematically reviewed to highlight plant-derived compounds with antibacterial activity by focusing on their growth inhibitory activity. A total of 459 compounds are included in this Review, of which 50.8% are phenolic derivatives, 26.6% are terpenoids, 5.7% are alkaloids, and 17% are classified as other metabolites. A selection of 183 compounds is further discussed regarding their antibacterial activity, biosynthesis, structure-activity relationship, mechanism of action, and potential as antibiotics. Emerging trends in the field of antibacterial drug discovery from plants are also discussed. This Review brings to the forefront key findings on the antibacterial potential of plant NPs for consideration in future antibiotic discovery and development efforts.

Phytochemical Analysis and In Vitro Effects of Allium fistulosum L. and Allium sativum L. Extracts on Human Normal and Tumor Cell Lines: A Comparative Study

Allium sativum L. (garlic bulbs) and Allium fistulosum L. (Welsh onion leaves) showed quantitative differences of identified compounds: allicin and alliin (380 µg/mL and 1410 µg/mL in garlic; 20 µg/mL and 145 µg/mL in Welsh onion), and the phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, gentisic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, kaempferol, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, quercetin, and rutin). The chemical composition determined the inhibitory activity of Allium extracts in a dose-dependent manner, on human normal cells (BJ-IC50 0.8841% garlic/0.2433% Welsh onion and HaCaT-IC50 1.086% garlic/0.6197% Welsh onion) and tumor cells (DLD-1-IC50 5.482%/2.124%; MDA-MB-231-IC50 6.375%/2.464%; MCF-7-IC50 6.131%/3.353%; and SK-MES-1-IC50 4.651%/5.819%). At high concentrations, the cytotoxic activity of each extract, on normal cells, was confirmed by: the 50% of the growth inhibition concentration (IC50) value, the cell death induced by necrosis, and biochemical determination of LDH, catalase, and Caspase-3. The four tumor cell lines treated with high concentrations (10%, 5%, 2.5%, and 1.25%) of garlic extract showed different sensibility, appreciated on the base of IC50 value for the most sensitive cell line (SK-MES-1), and the less sensitive (MDA-MB-231) cell line. The high concentrations of Welsh onion extract (5%, 2.5%, and 1.25%) induced pH changes in the culture medium and SK-MES-1 being the less sensitive cell line.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Nigella sativa L. and Allium ursinum Extracts in a Cellular Model of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Natural products black cumin—Nigella sativa (N. sativa) and wild garlic—Allium ursinum (AU) are known for their potential role in reducing cardiovascular risk factors, including antracycline chemotherapy. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of N. sativa and AU water and methanolic extracts in a cellular model of doxorubicin (doxo)-induced cardiotoxicity. The extracts were characterized using Ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Antioxidant activity was evaluated on H9c2 cells. Cytosolic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) release was evaluated using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin-diacetate (DHCF-DA) and mitochondria-targeted superoxide indicator (MitoSOX red), respectively. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization was evaluated by flow cytometry. LC-MS analysis identified 12 and 10 phenolic compounds in NSS and AU extracts, respectively, with flavonols as predominant compounds. FT-IR analysis identified the presence of carbohydrates, amino acids and lipids in both plants. GC-MS identified the sulfur compounds in the AU water extract. N. sativa seeds (NSS) methanolic extract had the highest antioxidant activity reducing both intracellular and mitochondrial ROS release. All extracts (excepting AU methanolic extract) preserved H9c2 cells viability. None of the investigated plants affected the mitochondrial membrane depolarization. N. sativa and AU are important sources of bioactive compounds with increased antioxidant activities, requiring different extraction solvents to obtain the pharmacological effects.

The Synergistic Antitumor Effect of 5-Fluorouracil Combined with Allicin against Lung and Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an anticancer drug used to inhibit the proliferation of many different tumor cells. Since severe events are associated with this compound, its combination with different anticancer drugs or adjuvants would allow the use of a significantly lower dose of 5-FU. In this study, we highlighted that the combination of allicin with 5-FU inhibited the cell migration and proliferation of colorectal and lung cancer cells. 5-FU inhibited cell growth with a similar inhibitory concentration for both normal and tumor cells (~200µM), while allicin showed different inhibitory concentrations. With an IC50 of 8.625 µM, lung cancer cells were the most sensitive to allicin. Compared to 5-FU and allicin single-agent treatments, the co-treatment showed a reduced viability rate, with p < 0.05. The morphological changes were visible on all three cell lines, indicating that the treatment inhibited the proliferation of both normal and tumor cells. We highlighted different cell death mechanisms—apoptosis for lung cancer and a non-apoptotic cell death for colorectal cancer. The synergistic antitumor effect of 5-FU combined with allicin was visible against lung and colorectal carcinoma cells. Better results were obtained when a lower concentration of 5-FU was combined with allicin than the single-agent treatment at IC50.

Wasef L, Elewa YHA, A. Al-Sagan A, Abd El-Hack ME, Taha AE, M. Abd-Elhakim Y, Prasad Devkota H. Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Garlic (Allium sativum L.): A Review

Medicinal plants have been used from ancient times for human healthcare as in the form of traditional medicines, spices, and other food components. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an aromatic herbaceous plant that is consumed worldwide as food and traditional remedy for various diseases. It has been reported to possess several biological properties including anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, renoprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antihypertensive activities in traditional medicines. A. sativum is rich in several sulfur-containing phytoconstituents such as alliin, allicin, ajoenes, vinyldithiins, and flavonoids such as quercetin. Extracts and isolated compounds of A. sativum have been evaluated for various biological activities including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities among others. This review examines the phytochemical composition, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacological activities of A. sativum extracts as well as its main active constituent, allicin.