Anti-Helicobacter pylori Activity of Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. mexicana and Two of Its Bioactive Components, Estafiatin and Eupatilin

Phytotherapeutic potential of Artemisia ludoviciana and Cordia boissieri extracts against the dermatophyte Microsporum canis

Introduction

Microsporum canis is a dermatophyte that mainly affects dogs and cats. However, it can be transmitted to humans by direct contact. This makes it one of the most frequent causative agents of dermatophytosis in humans, reflecting the frequent human close relationships with pets. Conventional treatment relies on antifungal pharmacological agents. However, errors in application have led to the occurrence of fungal resistance and toxic effects. Consequently, new therapeutic alternatives are needed for M. canis infections. Plant extracts have been explored as phytotherapeutics for the treatment of dermatophyte infections, which prompted an attempt to apply extracts of the ethnopharmacologically important plants Artemisia ludoviciana and Cordia boissieri.

Material and Methods

Methanolic extracts of these two plants were obtained using a Soxhlet method and were characterised by phytochemical screening. Extracts were evaluated against a M. canis commercial strain (ATCC-11621) using the microdilution method described in the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocol M38-A, determining its minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC). Subsequently, these concentrations were tested in a human keratinocyte human cell line.

Results

Artemisia ludoviciana and C. boissieri extracts showed MIC values of 2,500 and 1,250 µg/mL, and MFC values of 5,000 and 2,500 µg/mL against M. canis, respectively. These extracts did not inhibit HaCaT cell proliferation in vitro.

Conclusion

The evaluated extracts showed potential for the treatment of M. canis fungal infections. However, further studies on their phytochemical characterisation, purification, clinical safety and formulation are required.

Microparticles and nanoparticles-based approaches to improve oral treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative, spiral-shaped, flagellated bacterium that colonizes the stomach of half the world's population. Helicobacter pylori infection causes pathologies of varying severity. Standard oral therapy fails in 15-20% since the barriers of the oral route decrease the bioavailability of antibiotics and the intrinsic factors of bacteria increase the rates of resistance. Nanoparticles and microparticles are promising strategies for drug delivery into the gastric mucosa and targeting H. pylori. The variety of building blocks creates systems with distinct colloidal, surface, and biological properties. These features improve drug-pathogen interactions, eliminate drug depletion and overuse, and enable the association of multiple actives combating H. pylori on several fronts. Nanoparticles and microparticles are successfully used to overcome the barriers of the oral route, physicochemical inconveniences, and lack of selectivity of current therapy. They have proven efficient in employing promising anti-H. pylori compounds whose limitation is oral route instability, such as some antibiotics and natural products. However, the current challenge is the applicability of these strategies in clinical practice. For this reason, strategies employing a rational design are necessary, including in the development of nano- and microsystems for the oral route.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori Effects of Thymus caramanicus Jalas Essential Oils: A New Antimicrobial Approach

Background

Helicobacter pylori are the principal causative factor in the etiological factors of chronic, active, or type B gastritis; peptic and duodenal ulcers; stomach carcinoma; and epithelial tissue lymphoid malignancies. It infects more than half of the population worldwide. To reduce H. pylori production, pharmacological therapy of H. pylori diseases typically involves using threefold treatment methods. However, as a result of such therapy, antimicrobial resistance is commonly developed. Alternative therapeutics for H. pylori diseases are thus of particular interest.

Methods

Thyme essential oils (EOs) obtained from T. caramanicus Jalas plants in Iran were tested for antibacterial activity against H. pylori obtained from 320 poultry specimens in this investigation. Antibacterial activity was measured using inhibition zones, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). The impact of T. caramanicus Jalas essential oils on H. pylori isolate cagA, vacA, and babA2 gene expression was evaluated using a quantitative real-time PCR method (p < 0.05).

Results

The chemical content of these EOs varied significantly according to chromatographic examination. Thymol, carvacrol, and terpinene-4-ol are the most abundant components in these EOs. H. pylori was recognized as a Helicobacter species with a 175-bp PCR product of 16S rRNA in 20/20 (100%). According to PCR results, all 20 (100%) isolates belonged to H. pylori. The EOs inhibited H. pylori in a dose-dependent manner, with T. caramanicus Jalas being the most effective, followed by pterygium EOs in decreasing order. At 8 mg/mL of T. caramanicus Jalas EOs, IZs against H. pylori were 27.4 ± 0.42 mm, and at 8 mg/mL of pterygium, IZs against H. pylori were 1 ± 0.02. T. caramanicus Jalas essential oils were used to treat all bacteria, and the findings showed that T. caramanicus Jalas had a substantial inhibitory impact on the expression of cagA, vacA, and babA2 virulence-related genes (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

In a dose-dependent manner, the EOs of T. caramanicus Jalas EO demonstrated a high degree of antimicrobial property against H. pylori bacteria. The most efficient EOs were those from T. caramanicus Jalas with relative concentrations of thymol and carvacrol, followed by the coumarin-dominated pterygium EO with reduced antibacterial activity.

Lupeol: A Triterpenoid Isolated from the Stem Bark of Hymenocardia Acida (tul.) Exhibits a van der Waal Antagonism on the Alpha Subunit of Gastric H+K+Atpase - A Promising Antiulcer Principle

BACKGROUND

Hymenocardia acida (HA) is one of the numerous medicinal plants in Nigeria with ethnomedicinal history of usage in the treatment of ulcer. The study aimed at isolating antiulcer principle(s) from the stem bark of HA as well as the mechanism of action determination.

METHODS

Antiulcer screenings of the crude extract, aqueous fraction, and bulked VLC fractions were performed using in vivo and in vitro models. Docking was carried out by using PyRx.

RESULTS

Crude extract (HA; 1 mg/mL) and the aqueous fraction of H. acida (HAA; 1 mg/mL) showed an acid neutralizing capacity (MEq) of 0.3948 and 0.4035, respectively which is significantly different from 0.431 MEq showed by negative control (distilled water) at p<0.05. BVLC 3 (1 mg/mL) showed a significant value of 0.4049 MEq. However, HA showed a dose-dependent decrease in activity across doses examined, with 100 mg/kg showing an ulcer index of 10.00±2.89 (61.50%) and cimetidine (positive control; 100 mg/kg), also showed the highest ulcer index of 3.67±0.88 (85.9%), which is significantly different from ulcer index of 26.00±6.35 (0.00%) p<0.05 observed in the negative control (5% dimethylsulphoxide). The highest ulcer index of 8.00±1.32 (65.10%) was noted in BVLC 3. Bioactive BVLC 3, resulted in an isolated compound (BF3B2A). The compound was suggested to be lupeol, with a docking score of -7.7. It showed a van der Waal interaction with some key amino acid residues in the vonoprazan binding site.

CONCLUSION

The experimental studies justify the ethnomedicinal claim of usage among locals.

The San-Qi-Xue-Shang-Ning formula protects against ulcerative colitis by restoring the homeostasis of gut immunity and microbiota

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality due to repetitive remissions and relapses, and many severe complications, including colitis-associated cancer (CAC). The San-Qi-Xue-Shang-Ning (SQ) formula has been utilized in clinical practice to treat gut diseases, but its pharmacological evidence is limited and awaits elucidation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Here, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms of the SQ formula.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Its therapeutic value in combating UC and CAC was predicted from network pharmacology and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Experimental colitis models were established by feeding dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to C57BL/6N mice for 7 days, and they were subjected to the SQ formula for 14 days. High-throughput technologies and biochemical investigations were executed to corroborate the anti-colitis effect.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology and WGCNA demonstrated that the targets of the SQ formula were associated with interleukin-17 (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), IL-1b and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathways, and correlated with the survival in patients with colorectal cancer. In mice with colitis, the SQ treatment hindered colitis progression in a dose-dependent manner, as evidenced by the rescued colon length and weight loss, improved colonic epithelial integrity, and abolished crypt loss. In addition to the suppressed serum IL-17, TNFα, and IL-1b levels, the SQ-treated colitis mice exhibited decreased colonic protein abundance of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1 α), PPARα, and Caspase3 (Casp3) with an increased PPARγ expression. Concurrently, the high dose of SQ promoted the alternative activation of peritoneal macrophages by increasing Arg1 and inhibiting iNOS2, thereby facilitating the migration of NCM460 cells and controlling TNF-induced reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis in intestinal organoids. In colitis-accompanied dysbiosis, the SQ formula reversed the decreased microbiota diversity indexes and restored the microbiome profile in the murine colitis models.

CONCLUSION

The SQ formula is a potent anti-colitis drug that facilitates inflammation resolution and restores gut microbiota homeostasis.

The Potential of Alternative Therapies and Vaccine Candidates against Helicobacter pylori

Alternative therapies and vaccination are essential to combat the emergence of multidrug-resistant Helicobacter pylori and to prevent the development of gastroduodenal diseases. This review aimed to systematically review recent studies on alternative therapies, i.e., probiotics, nanoparticles, and natural products from plants, as well as recent progress in H. pylori vaccines at the preclinical stage. Articles published from January 2018 to August 2022 were systematically searched using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline. After the screening process, 45 articles were eligible for inclusion in this review. Probiotics (n = 9 studies) and natural products from plants (n = 28 studies) were observed to inhibit the growth of H. pylori, improve immune response, reduce inflammation, and reduce the pathogenic effects of H. pylori virulence factors. Natural products from plants also showed anti-biofilm activity against H. pylori. However, clinical trials of natural products from plants and probiotics are still lacking. A paucity of data assessing the nanoparticle activity of N-acylhomoserine lactonase-stabilized silver against H. pylori was observed. Nonetheless, one nanoparticle study showed anti-biofilm activity against H. pylori. Promising results of H. pylori vaccine candidates (n = 7) were observed at preclinical stage, including elicitation of a humoral and mucosal immune response. Furthermore, the application of new vaccine technology including multi-epitope and vector-based vaccines using bacteria was investigated at the preclinical stage. Taken together, probiotics, natural products from plants, and nanoparticles exhibited antibacterial activity against H. pylori. New vaccine technology shows promising results against H. pylori.

Content of macro- and microelements in the plants of Artemisia annua L., A. ludoviciana Nutt. and A. austriaca L

The purpose of this study was to investigate mineral composition of the plants species Artemisia annua L., A. ludoviciana Nutt. and A. austriaca L. Methods. Determination of the elemental composition of plant material was carried out by the X-ray fluorescence method. Results. The content of mineral elements in plants depends on their individual ability to absorb elements from the soil and accumulate them in the roots, leaves and flowers. Plant samples of three species of wormwood were grown and studied during the flowering phase under conditions of introduction in M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NBG) during 2019–2022. The qualitative and quantitative content of different macro- and microelements in the soil and plants were investigated. It was shown that aerial parts of the investigated plants accumulate the most important elements for the plants life, such as – K, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn. Mesoelements Ca and S are present in sufficient quantities also. Elements Nb, Y, Ti, V, Cr were detected in soil, but were not determined in plants. Only A. annua plants contains Ni and Se, while A. ludoviciana and A. annua plants contain Pb. The amount of toxic elements in plants did not exceed the maximum permissible concentrations for vegetable raw materials and food products. Conclusion. Content of the main macro- and microelements was determined in the plants A. annua, A. ludoviciana and A. austriaca growing in NBG. The tendency of plants A. ludoviciana to accumulate high concentrations of iron in the roots and aerial part was observed. The obtained data will be useful for forecasting and evaluating the results of introduction of new promising species of the genus Artemisia, in breeding of new varieties of wormwood, to determine their pharmacological properties and to make a decision about the feasibility of using them in herbal tea and food products.

Medicinal plants used by rural communities in the arid zone of Viesca and Parras Coahuila in northeast Mexico

This study is the first record of medicinal plants in the southwest of the Coahuila state, an arid zone where extreme dry conditions prevail. One hundred twenty-two residents (in sixteen communities) were interviewed. The residents were questioned with a questionnaire-guided ethnomedical survey protocol about the various plants used. Seventy-seven species of medicinal plants belonging to 36 botanical families were cited. The highest use-value (UV) was calculated for Lippia graveolens Kunth (0.30); Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (0.20); Eucalyptus abdita Brooker & Hopper, Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. (0.16); Mentha spicata L. (0.15) and Salvia officinalis L. (0.10). Informant consensus factor (ICF) about usages of medicinal plants ranges from 0.41 to 0.80; the highest level of agreement was determined between the informants and Respiratory System Diseases (0.80). The highest fidelity level (FL) values (100%) were identified in Flourensia cernua DC., Artisia ludoviciana Nutt., and Parthenium incanum Kunth to Gastro-intestinal System Diseases; Eucalyptus abdita Brooker & Hopper, Bougainvillea berberidifolia Heimerl, and Lippia graveolens Kunth to Respiratory System Diseases (RSD) and Cyclolepis genistoides D.Don and Ephedra antisyphilitica Berland. ex C.A.Mey. to Obstetrics, Gynecology and Urinary tract Diseases. These last two medicinal plant species ("palo azul" and "pitoreal") used by the rural communities in Viesca in the treatment of urinary tract infections and kidney stones have not been reported previously. These findings can provide new research directions for further phytochemical studies. The present study revealed that the residents are rich in ethno-medicinal knowledge and actively use medicinal plants to treat various diseases. New phytochemical and pharmacological research are needed to confirm the therapeutic potential and safety of the identified plants.

Exploring the Artemisia Genus: An Insight into the Phytochemical and Multi-Biological Potential of A. campestris subsp. lednicensis (Spreng.) Greuter & Raab-Straube

The Artemisia L. genus includes over five hundred species with great economic and medicinal properties. Our study aimed to provide a comprehensive metabolite and bioactivity profile of Artemisia campestris subsp. lednicensis (Spreng.) Greuter & Raab-Straube collected from north-eastern Romania. Liquid chromatography with tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) analysis of different polarity extracts obtained from the aerial parts led to the identification of twelve flavonoids, three phenolic acids, two sesquiterpene lactones, two fatty acids, one coumarin, and one lignan. The antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties were shown in the DPPH (0.71−213.68 mg TE/g) and ABTS (20.57−356.35 mg TE/g) radical scavenging, CUPRAC (38.56−311.21 mg TE/g), FRAP (121.68−202.34 mg TE/g), chelating (12.88−22.25 mg EDTAE/g), phosphomolybdenum (0.92−2.11 mmol TE/g), anti-acetylcholinesterase (0.15−3.64 mg GALAE/g), anti-butyrylcholinesterase (0−3.18 mg GALAE/g), anti-amylase (0.05−0.38 mmol ACAE/g), anti-glucosidase (0.43−2.21 mmol ACAE/g), and anti-tyrosinase (18.62−48.60 mg KAE/g) assays. At 100 μg/mL, Artemisia extracts downregulated the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human neutrophil model (29.05−53.08% of LPS+ control). Finally, the Artemisia samples showed moderate to weak activity (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) > 625 mg/L) against the seventeen tested microbial strains (bacteria, yeasts, and dermatophytes). Overall, our study shows that A. campestris subsp. lednicensis is a promising source of bioactives with putative use as food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic ingredients.

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Different Explants of Artemisia ludoviciana under Photoperiod and Darkness Conditions and Their Influence on Achillin Production

Species of the genus Artemisia mainly biosynthesize sesquiterpene lactones. Achillin is a guaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Artemisia ludoviciana; it has shown antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, achillin exhibits a significant chemosensitizing effect on hepatocellular carcinoma cells resistant to paclitaxel (PTX). The objective of this study was to establish a callus culture from different explants under conditions of light and total darkness to produce achillin. To obtain in vitro cultures, explants of leaves, nodes, internodes, and roots were used, and they were cultured in MS medium with 0.1 mg/L of kinetin (KIN) or benzyl amino purine (BAP) and/or naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridine carboxylic acid (PIC) at 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L. Of all treatments, internodes with BAP (0.1 mg/L) and PIC (1.0 mg/L) grown under photoperiod showed the best friable callus induction, however, GC-MS analysis showed higher achillin content (1703.05 µg/mL) in leaf calluses with PIC (1.0) and KIN (0.1) under photoperiod, and in node plantlets (1880.01 µg/mL) with PIC (0.1) and BAP (0.1). From 12.34 g of dry leaves of Artemisia ludoviciana, 257 mg of achillin were isolated and purified, which was used as a reference in the quantification of achillin in the in vitro culture.

In Vitro Activity of the Arylaminoartemisinin GC012 against Helicobacter pylori and Its Effects on Biofilm

This study evaluated the in vitro activity of the arylaminoartemisinin GC012, readily obtained from dihydroartemisinin (DHA), against clinical strains of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with different antibiotic susceptibilities in the planktonic and sessile state. The activity was assessed in terms of bacteriostatic and bactericidal potential. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by the broth microdilution method. After treatment with GC012, all bacterial strains showed significantly lower MIC and MBC values compared to those of DHA. The effect of combination of GC012 with antibiotics was examined using the checkerboard method. GC012 displayed synergistic interactions with metronidazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin in all the strains. The antibiofilm activity was evaluated via crystal violet staining, AlamarBlue^® assay, colony-forming unit count, and fluorescence microscopy. At ½ MIC and ¼ MIC concentration, both GC012 and DHA inhibited biofilm formation, but only GC012 showed a minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) on mature biofilm. Furthermore, both compounds induced structural changes in the bacterial membrane, as observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is thereby demonstrated that GC012 has the potential to be efficacious against H. pylori infection.

Sanitary Registries and Popular Medicinal Plants Used in Medicines and Herbal Remedies in Mexico (2001–2020): A Review and Potential Perspectives

Mexico, a megadiverse country, hosts approximately 10–12% of the world’s biodiversity and at least 21,989–23,424 vascular plants, 3350 of which are traditional medicinal flora. The Mexican Regulation categorizes herbal medicinal products into two groups: herbal medicines products and herbal remedies products. To date, there is no available information that describes and includes analyzed data about these two types of herbal medicinal products registered in Mexico. The purpose of the study was to analyze national sanitary registries of herbal products from 2001 to 2020 and identify native Mexican plants that are most used in herbal products. Further, the study aims to highlight the impact and relevance of this large number of medicinal plants, which represent a great source of information, genetic resources, bioactive compounds, and potential use in subsequent therapies based on scientific evidence. The future of medicines and herbal remedies is underestimated; thus, the significance of evaluating the great potential in studying plants for medicinal use must be taken into account.

Antibacterial Effects of Bacteriocin PLNC8 against Helicobacter pylori and Its Potential Mechanism of Action

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that can cause a variety of gastric diseases. Most bacteriocins have gained popularity due to their non-toxic effects on cells and antibacterial effects against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, the chemical synthesis of the bipeptide bacteriocin PLNC8 was used to investigate its possible action mechanism against H. pylori ZJC03 in vitro. Results showed that PLNC8 had significant anti-H. pylori ZJC03 potential, which resulted in a significant reduction in urease activity and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 80 μM. PLNC8 inhibited the growth of H. pylori ZJC03, disrupting its structure as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, PLNC8 decreased the ATP level and hydrogen peroxide sensitivity of H. pylori ZJC03. In conclusion, PLNC8 disrupts the ability of H. pylori ZJC03 to alter the host environment, providing a new avenue for the prevention and control of H. pylori infection, providing a theoretical foundation for further elucidation of its regulatory mechanism.

Bioactivity of Natural Polyphenols as Antiparasitic Agents and their Biochemical Targets

BACKGROUND

Leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis are diseases that affect public health worldwide due to their high incidence, morbidity, and mortality. Available treatments are costly, prolonged, and toxic, not to mention the problem of parasite resistance. The development of alternative treatments is justified and polyphenols show promising activity.

OBJECTIVE

The main aim of this mini-review was to analyze the most promising phenolic compounds with reported antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity as well as their mechanisms of action.

RESULTS

We found that the mode of action of these natural compounds mainly lignans, neolignans, and flavonoids depends on the organism they act on and includes, macrophage activation, induction of morphological changes such as chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, accumulation of acidocalcisomes, and glycosomes, Golgi damage and mitochondrial dysfunction as well as negative regulation of mitochondrial enzymes and other essential enzymes for parasite survival such as arginase. This gives a wide scope for future research towards the rational development of anti-kinetoplastid drugs.

CONCLUSION

Although the specific molecular targets, bioavailability, route of administration, and dosages of some of these natural compounds need to be determined, polyphenols and their combinations represent a very promising and safe strategy to be considered for use against Leishmania spp and Trypanosoma spp. In addition, these compounds may provide a scaffold for developing new, more potent, and more selective antiprotozoal agents.

Gastroprotective Effects of the Aqueous Extract from Taraxacum officinale in Rats Using Ultrasound, Histology, and Biochemical Analysis

Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. belonging to the family Asteraceae is an edible medicinal plant distributed worldwide. This study aimed to determine the gastroprotective effects of aqueous extract of T. officinale (AETo) in rats using ultrasound, histological, and biochemical analyses. In this study, gastric ulceration was induced by ethanol or piroxicam. Rats were then treated with AETo (3, 30, or 300 mg/kg). The area and histological appearance of gastric ulcers were quantified, and histochemical analysis was performed. The activity of AETo on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers was assessed in the ulcerated tissue. In addition, we investigated the thickness of the gastric wall using the ultrasound technique. Moreover, chemical analyses of AETo were performed. In rats with ethanol- or piroxicam-induced ulcers, AETo reduced the ulceration area, elevated mucin level, and the gastroprotective effect was confirmed by histological analysis. The gastroprotective effect was accompanied by increased activities of SOD, CAT, and GST, as well as an increase in GSH level and reduction in MPO activity. Furthermore, AETo reduced the thickness of the gastric wall in rats. Phytochemical analysis of AETo indicated phenolic acids and flavonoids as the main active compounds. In conclusion, the gastroprotective effect of AETo involves reduction in oxidative stress and inflammatory injury and increase in mucin content. This study advances in the elucidation of mechanisms of gastric protection of T. officinale, contributes to the prospection of new molecules gastroprotective, and proposes the ultrasonographic analyses as a new gastroprotective assessment tool in preclinical studies.