scholarly journals Plants of the Genus Zingiber as Source of Antimicrobial Agents: from Tradition to Pharmacy

Author(s):  
Mehdi Sharifi-Rad ◽  
Elena Maria Varoni ◽  
Bahare Salehi ◽  
Javad Sharifi-Rad ◽  
Karl R. Matthews ◽  
...  

Plants of the genus Zingiber (Family Zingiberaceae) are widely used throughout the world as food and medicinal plants. They represent very popular herbal remedies in various traditional healing systems; in particular, rhizome of Zingiber spp. plants has a long history of ethnobotanical uses because of a plethora of curative properties. Antimicrobial activity of rhizome essential oil has been extensively confirmed in vitro and attributed to its chemical components, mainly consisting in monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons such as α-zingiberene, ar-curcumene, β-bisabolene and β-sesquiphellandrene. In addition, gingerols have been identified as the major active components in the fresh rhizome, whereas shogaols, dehydrated gingerol derivatives, are the predominant pungent constituents in dried rhizome. Zingiber spp. may thus represent a promising and innovative source of natural alternatives to chemical food preservatives. This approach would meet the increasing concern of consumers aware of the potential health risks associated with the conventional antimicrobial agents in food. This narrative review aims providing a literature overview on Zingiber spp. plants, their cultivation, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents and biological activities.

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Bittner Fialová ◽  
Martin Kello ◽  
Matúš Čoma ◽  
Lívia Slobodníková ◽  
Eva Drobná ◽  
...  

On its own, rosmarinic acid possesses multiple biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardioprotective and antitumor properties, and these are the consequence of its ROS scavenging and inhibitory effect on inflammation. In this study, two quaternary phosphonium salts of rosmarinic acid were prepared for the purpose of increasing its penetration into biological systems with the aim of improving its antimicrobial, antifungal, antiprotozoal and antitumor activity. The synthetized molecules, the triphenylphosphonium and tricyclohexylphosphonium salts of rosmarinic acid, exhibited significantly stronger inhibitory effects on the growth of HCT116 cells with IC50 values of 7.28 or 8.13 μM in comparison to the initial substance, rosmarinic acid (>300 μM). For the synthesized derivatives, we detected a greater than three-fold increase of activity against Acanthamoeba quina, and a greater than eight-fold increase of activity against A. lugdunensis in comparison to rosmarinic acid. Furthermore, we recorded significantly higher antimicrobial activity of the synthetized derivatives when compared to rosmarinic acid itself. Both synthetized quaternary phosphonium salts of rosmarinic acid appear to be promising antitumor and antimicrobial agents, as well as impressive molecules for further research.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 2766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heba E. Hashem ◽  
Abd El-Galil E. Amr ◽  
Eman S. Nossier ◽  
Elsayed A. Elsayed ◽  
Eman M. Azmy

To develop new antimicrobial agents, a series of novel thiourea derivatives incorporated with different moieties 2–13 was designed and synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated. Compounds 7a, 7b and 8 exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against all Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and the fungal Aspergillus flavus with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged from 0.95 ± 0.22 to 3.25 ± 1.00 μg/mL. Furthermore, cytotoxicity studies against MCF-7 cells revealed that compounds 7a and 7b were the most potent with IC50 values of 10.17 ± 0.65 and 11.59 ± 0.59 μM, respectively. On the other hand, the tested compounds were less toxic against normal kidney epithelial cell lines (Vero cells). The in vitro enzyme inhibition assay of 8 displayed excellent inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli DNA B gyrase and moderate one against E. coli Topoisomerase IV (IC50 = 0.33 ± 1.25 and 19.72 ± 1.00 µM, respectively) in comparison with novobiocin (IC50 values 0.28 ± 1.45 and 10.65 ± 1.02 µM, respectively). Finally, the molecular docking was done to position compound 8 into the E. coli DNA B and Topoisomerase IV active pockets to explore the probable binding conformation. In summary, compound 8 may serve as a potential dual E. coli DNA B and Topoisomerase IV inhibitor.


Author(s):  
KOSARAJU LAHARI ◽  
RAJA SUNDARARAJAN

Objective: Isatins have emerged as antimicrobial agents due to their broad spectrum of in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activities. In addition, thiazolidinone also reported to possess various biological activities particularly antimicrobial activity. Due to the importance, we planned to synthesize compounds with isatin functionality coupled with thiazolidinone as possible antitubercular and antimicrobial agents which could furnish better therapeutic results. Methods: In vitro Mycobacterium tuberculosis method and agar streak dilution test are used to estimate antitubercular and antimicrobial potency of title analogs, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration of entire title compounds was determined against all tested microorganism such as M. tuberculosis, four Gram-positive, three Gram-negative bacteria, and two fungi. Results: A series of new thiazolidinone substituted Schiff and Mannich bases of 5-nitroisatins were designed and synthesized by a multistep synthesis from isatin. Structures of synthesized compounds are characterized using Fourier-transform infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectroscopy, and bases of elemental analysis. Mild to good antitubercular and antimicrobial activity was showed by synthesized 5-nitroisatin analogs. The relationship between the biological activity and the functional group variation of the tested compounds was discussed. Conclusion: 3-(4-(3-(4-Aminophenyl)-4-oxothiazolidin-2-yl)phenylimino)-1-((dimethyl amino)methyl)-5-nitroindolin-2-one 6 and 3-(4-(3- (2-aminophenyl)-4-oxothiazolidin-2-yl)phenylimino)-1-((dimethylamino)methyl)-5-nitroindolin-2-one 13 were found to be the most potent compounds of this series which might be extended as a novel class of antimicrobial agents.


Foods ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Li-Ying Bo ◽  
Jia-Nan Pang ◽  
Chun-Li Song ◽  
Tie-Jing Li

Casein hydrolysates (CH) were prepared using papain and modified by the plastein reaction (CH-P) in the presence of extrinsic phenylalanine (CH-P-Phe) or tryptophan (CH-P-Trp). The in vitro protective activity of CH and its modified products against ethanol-induced damage in HHL-5 cells was investigated. The results showed that the modification by the plastein reaction reduced the amino group content of CH. However, the modification by the plastein reaction in the presence of extrinsic amino acids could enhance the antioxidant, proliferative, cell cycle arresting, and anti-apoptosis activity of CH. Biological activities of CH and its modified products in the HHL-5 cells varied depending on the hydrolysate concentration (1, 2, and 3 mg/mL) and treatment time (24, 48, and 72 h). Generally, higher biological activities were found after cell treatment with CH or its modified products at concentration of 2 mg/mL for 48 h compared to other treatments. In addition, CH modified in the presence of tryptophan (CH-P-Trp) showed higher biological activity than that modified in the presence of phenylalanine (CH-P-Phe). Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that casein hydrolysates with enhanced biological activity and potential health benefits can be produced by papain and the plastein reaction with the incorporation of extrinsic amino acids.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 2063-2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sotirios Katsamakas ◽  
Anastasios G Papadopoulos ◽  
Maria G Kouskoura ◽  
Catherine K Markopoulou ◽  
Dimitra Hadjipavlou-Litina

Aim: Barbiturates have a long history of being used as drugs presenting wide varieties of biological activities (antimicrobial, anti-urease and antioxidant). Reactive oxygen species are associated with inflammation implicated in cancer, atherosclerosis and autoimmune diseases. Multitarget agents represent a powerful approach to the therapy of complicated inflammatory diseases. Results: A novel series of barbiturates has been synthesized and evaluated in several in vitro assays. Compound 16b (lipoxygenases inhibitor, 55.0 μM) was found to be a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor (27.5 μM). Compound 8b was profiled as a drug-like candidate. Conclusion: The barbiturate core represents a new scaffold for lipoxygenases inhibition, and the undertaken derivatives show promise as multiple-target agents to combat inflammatory diseases.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (23) ◽  
pp. 5709
Author(s):  
Alice Senizza ◽  
Gabriele Rocchetti ◽  
Juana I. Mosele ◽  
Vania Patrone ◽  
Maria Luisa Callegari ◽  
...  

Plant polyphenols are a broad group of bioactive compounds characterized by different chemical and structural properties, low bioavailability, and several in vitro biological activities. Among these compounds, lignans (a non-flavonoid polyphenolic class found in plant foods for human nutrition) have been recently studied as potential modulators of the gut–brain axis. In particular, gut bacterial metabolism is able to convert dietary lignans into therapeutically relevant polyphenols (i.e., enterolignans), such as enterolactone and enterodiol. Enterolignans are characterized by various biologic activities, including tissue-specific estrogen receptor activation, together with anti-inflammatory and apoptotic effects. However, variation in enterolignans production by the gut microbiota is strictly related to both bioaccessibility and bioavailability of lignans through the entire gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, in this review, we summarized the most important dietary source of lignans, exploring the interesting interplay between gut metabolites, gut microbiota, and the so-called gut–brain axis.


Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 730
Author(s):  
Nicolás Gómez-Sequeda ◽  
Marlon Cáceres ◽  
Elena E. Stashenko ◽  
William Hidalgo ◽  
Claudia Ortiz

The emergence of multidrug resistant microorganisms represents a global challenge due to the lack of new effective antimicrobial agents. In this sense, essential oils (EOs) are an alternative to be considered because of their anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antibiofilm biological activities. Therefore, multiple efforts have been made to consider the potential use of EOs in the treatment of infections which are caused by resistant microorganisms. In this study, 15 EOs of both Colombian and introduced aromatic plants were evaluated against pathogenic strains of E. coli O157:H7 and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in planktonic and sessile states in order to identify relevant and promising alternatives for the treatment of microbial infections. Forty different compounds were identified in the 15 EO with nine of them constituted mainly by oxygenated monoterpenes (OM). EOs from Lippia origanoides, chemotypes thymol, and carvacrol, displayed the highest antibacterial activity against E. coli O157:H7 (MIC50 = 0.9 and 0.3 mg/mL, respectively) and MRSA (MIC50 = 1.2 and 0.6 mg/mL, respectively). These compounds from EOs had also the highest antibiofilm activity (inhibition percentage > 70.3%). Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), changes in the size and morphology of both bacteria were observed when they were exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of L. origanoides EO carvacrol chemotype. EOs from L. origanoides, thymol, and carvacrol chemotypes represented a viable alternative for the treatment of microbial infections; however, the Selectivity Index (SI ≤ 3) indicated that it was necessary to study alternatives to reduce its in vitro cytotoxicity.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 727-728
Author(s):  
S. C. Aronoff ◽  
W. Thomford ◽  
J. S. Bertino ◽  
W. T. Speck

Cefamandole nafate is a relatively new cephalosporin approved for use in pediatric patients. This compound offers certain advantages over previously approved cephalosporins including its in vitro antimicrobial activity against β-lactamase-producing Haemophilus influenzae. The purpose of this report is to describe a potential hazard associated with the use of this and closely related antimicrobial agents in life-threatening bacterial infections. CASE REPORT This was the first Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital admission for this 7-month-old boy with a ten-day history of fever and irritability. Seven days prior to admission he was seen by a local physician for fever. No source of infection was noted and the infant was treated with 300,000 units of intramuscular procaine penicillin.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-46
Author(s):  
Dewi Nurul Mustaqimah ◽  
Josh Erry HW

The increasing prevalence of dental caries is still as a major world health problem. Caries is the direct result of acid production by cariogenic oral pathogens, especially Streptococcus mutans. New and better antimicrobial agents active against cariogenic bacteria with minimal side effects on the oral tissues are much needed, especially natural agents derived directly from plants. Phytochemical studies have shown that the extracts from various parts of mangosteen or Garciniamangostana Linn tree contain varieties of secondary metabolites such as prenylated and oxygenated xanthones, many of which have been found in vitro to have antimicrobial properties against oral pathogens. Several studies which examined the eficacy of herbal for human health have shown that xanthones from mangosteen have remarkable biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer etc, and had no cytotoxic effects on human gingival fibroblasts. Their results showed that among these xanthone derivatives obtain from pericarp extract of mangosteen, α-mangostin has the most potent antimicrobial activity against cariogenic Streptococcus mutans. It can be concluded that the strong antimicrobial activity of the pericarp extract of mangosteen is a good drug of choice that might be helpful in preventing the dental caries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nihaya Salameh ◽  
Naser Shraim ◽  
Nidal Jaradat

Introduction. Volatile oils (VOs) have been commonly used in cosmetics and food as fragrances, flavoring, and preservative agents or in alternative medicine for their therapeutic effects. This necessitates investigating those plants and their VOs. This study was conducted to investigate the chemical compositions of the VOs of Micromeria fruticosa serpyllifolia growing widely in three regions in Palestine (i.e., Hebron, Ramallah, and Nablus districts representing south, middle, and north of West Bank). Afterwards, VOs were subjected to in vitro screening and their enzymatic properties were compared. Methods. The analysis of chemical components of VOs was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antilipase activity was evaluated using porcine pancreatic lipase and p-nitrophenyl butyrate. The antiamylase activity was assessed using porcine pancreatic α-amylase, starch, and 3,5-dinitrosalicylic. Results. Plant extracts yield range was 0.67 to 0.99 w/w%. GC-MS analysis showed the high percentages of oxygenated components in the range of 86.1-89.88% and nonoxygenated components in the range of 4.38-4.71%. Seven components were observed, pulegone was the most abundant component in the three samples in the range of 74.43-86.04%, and isomenthone was the second most abundant component with the range of 3.16-14.41%. The sample collected from Nablus showed the most potent antilipase and antiamylase activity with IC50 values of 39.81 μg/mL and 3.31 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusions. The study showed that Micromeria fruticosa serpyllifolia volatile oils samples from different regions in Palestine contained different proportions of phytochemicals which provided different potential biological activities such as antiobesity and antidiabetes activities that were in line with traditional uses of the plant extracts. The plant extracts showed higher antilipase and antiamylase potency than that of the relative references and there were significant differences in these activities compared to each other.


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