scholarly journals Exploring Indian Spices As Promising Antimicrobial Agents

Author(s):  
Kirti Garg ◽  
Astha Giri

Abstract Background: Infectious diseases caused by pathogens, and food contamination caused by microorganisms, are compromising human health. The efficacies of antimicrobials have weakened by microbial resistance, while antibiotic toxicity is another challenge, arising the need of natural antimicrobial agents. Objective: Spices have been long used to enhance flavor and aroma of food, and for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. In this study, antimicrobial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of five Indian spices i.e. Black pepper, Carom, Cinnamon, Clove and Cumin, was explored against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, by agar dilution method and disk diffusion method. Methods: For agar dilution, aqueous and ethanolic extracts, with concentrations ranging from 0.5mg/ml – 8mg/ml, were used. For disc diffusion method, varying concentrations of the ethanolic extracts (50%, 75% and 100%) were used. Results: The results showed inhibitory effect on the growth of the microbes at higher concentrations of extracts. Clove’s bud showed the best antimicrobial effect, having minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) less than 0.5mg/ml for aqueous extract and 6mg/ml for ethanolic extract against both bacteria, and had the biggest zone of inhibition i.e. 21mm, against E. coli, while Black pepper had a zone of inhibition of 20mm against S. aureus. Conclusion: It was noted that the spice extracts, in general, were more effective against S. aureus than E. coli. Therefore, spices and particularly Clove and Black pepper extracts have great potential to be further tested and developed as novel safe antimicrobial agents.

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolinie Batista Nobre da Cruz ◽  
Fabio Alessandro Pieri ◽  
Gislene Almeida Carvalho-Zilse ◽  
Patrícia Puccinelli Orlandi ◽  
Carlos Gustavo Nunes-Silva ◽  
...  

Honeys are described possessing different properties including antimicrobial. Many studies have presented this activity of honeys produced by Apis mellifera bees, however studies including activities of stingless bees honeys are scarce. The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial activity of honeys collected in the Amazonas State from Melipona compressipes, Melipona seminigra and Apis mellifera against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Chromobacterium violaceum, and Candida albicans. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined using the agar dilution method with Müller-Hinton agar (for bacteria) or Saboraud agar (for yeast). Staphylococcus aureus and E. faecalis were inhibited by all honeys at concentrations below 12%, while E. coli and C. violaceum were inhibited by stingless bee honeys at concentrations between 10 and 20%. A. mellifera honey inhibited E. coli at a concentration of 7% and Candida violaceum at 0.7%. C. albicans were inhibited only with honey concentrations between 30 and 40%. All examined honey had antimicrobial activity against the tested pathogens, thus serving as potential antimicrobial agents for several therapeutic approaches.


2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 169-174
Author(s):  
M. Holasova ◽  
R. Karpiskova ◽  
S. Karpiskova ◽  
V. Babak ◽  
J. Schlegelova

With a microdilution method, using the commercial diagnostic test Sensititre Susceptibility Plates for Campylobacter MIC (Trek Diagnostic Systems, Cleveland, OH, USA), disk diffusion and agar dilution method, resistance to six antimicrobial agents were examined in a reference strain <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> ATCC 33560 and 73 thermo-tolerant isolates of <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. For the microdilution method and all tested antimicrobial agents, our determined values of microbiological breakpoints of resistant strains were suggested as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC<sub>R</sub>) for ciprofloxacin &ge; 0.5, erythromycin &ge; 4, gentamicin &ge; 4, nalidixic acid &ge; 32 and tetracycline &ge; 4 &mu;g/ml. On the basis of our study results, strains resistant to clindamycin were MIC<sub>R</sub> &ge; 2 &mu;g/ml for the dilution methods and a zone diameter R ≤ 16 mm for the disk diffusion method. Comparison of the results of the resistance examination, a microdilution method and disk diffusion method with the reference agar dilution method, showed that all compared methods yielded identical results with the exception of the resistance determination in erythromycin and nalidixic acid. The errors were mostly the result of the interpretation criteria for MIC<sub>R</sub> of agar dilution method and different conditions of cultivation used. However, the compared methods, provide results comparable with the reference method having greater convenience of measurement.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2060
Author(s):  
Sayara Bista ◽  
Upendra Thapa Shrestha ◽  
Binod Dhungel ◽  
Pragya Koirala ◽  
Tulsi Ram Gompo ◽  
...  

Background: Plasmid-mediated resistance to the colistin in poultry is considered as an emerging problem worldwide. While poultry constitutes the major industry in Nepal, there is a paucity of evidence on colistin resistance in Escherichia coli isolates causing natural infections in poultry. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene, mcr-1 in E. coli isolated from liver samples of dead poultry suspected of E. coli infections. Methods: A total of two hundred and seventy liver samples (227 broilers and 43 layers) from dead poultry suspected of colibacillosis were collected from post-mortem in the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Kathmandu, between 1 February and 31 July 2019. The specimens were processed to isolate and identify E. coli; an antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) using disk diffusion method was performed with 12 different antibiotics: Amikacin (30 µg), ampicillin (10 µg), ciprofloxacin (5 µg), chloramphenicol (30 µg), cefoxitin (30 µg), ceftazidime (30 µg), ceftriaxone (30 µg), cotrimoxazole (25 µg), gentamicin (10 µg), imipenem (10 µg), levofloxacin (5 µg) and tetracycline (30 µg). Colistin resistance was determined by agar dilution method and colistin-resistant strains were further screened for plasmid-mediated mcr-1 gene, using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Out of 270 liver samples, 53.3% (144/270) showed growth of E. coli. The highest number (54%; 109/202) of E. coli isolates was obtained in the liver samples from poultry birds (of both types) aged less than forty days. In AST, 95.1% (137/144) and 82.6% (119/144) of E. coli isolates were resistant against tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, respectively, while 13.2% (19/144) and 25.7% (37/144) isolates were resistant to cefoxitin and imipenem, respectively. In the same assay, 76.4% (110/144) E. coli isolates were multi-drug resistant (MDR). The phenotypic prevalence of colistin resistance was 28.5% (41/144). In the PCR assay, 43.9% (18/41) of colistin-resistant isolates were screened positive for plasmid-mediated mcr-1. Conclusion: The high prevalence of mcr-1 in colistin-resistant E. coli isolates in our study is a cause of concern for the probable coming emergence of colistin resistance in human pathogens, due to horizontal transfer of resistant genes from poultry to human isolates.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-26
Author(s):  
Valentina Urumova ◽  
Mihni Lyutskanov ◽  
Vladi Petrov

Th e aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of antibiotic resistance to some aminoglycosides, streptomycin, spectinomycin and gentamicinand three aminoglycoside- resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from feces and lagoon manure in six swine farms in Republic of Bulgaria. Atotal of 274 E. coli isolates from 270 fecal samples and twelve samples from lagoon manure were tested by disk diff usion method to determine resistance patterns to 11 antimicrobial agents. Aminoglycosides resistance also was determined by E-test, agar dilution method, PCR and qPCR. Th e highest resistance observed to streptomycin (70.0%) and spectinomycin (65.5%). Multi-resistance patterns in studied E. coli strains showed that the resistance to streptomycin/spectinomycin was most frequently seen together with resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, and sulfonamides (39.6%). The E. coli isolates resistant to streptomycin, spectinomycin were examined for the presence of strA/strB, aadA1 genes, and resistant isolates to gentamicin were evaluated for the presence of the aacC1 gene. Th e most common gene determining resistance to aminoglycosides was aadA1 which was found in 54.0% of swine isolates and lagoon manure isolates followed by straA/strB genes (32.3%). Th e aacC1gene was not identifi ed in E. coli isolates resistant to gentamicin.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 450
Author(s):  
Chien-Tung Chiu ◽  
Chung-Hsu Lai ◽  
Yi-Han Huang ◽  
Chih-Hui Yang ◽  
Jiun-Nong Lin

Elizabethkingia anophelis has recently emerged as a cause of life-threatening infections. This study compared the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) conducted for E. anophelis through different methods. E. anophelis isolates collected between January 2005 and June 2019 were examined for their susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents by using disk diffusion, gradient diffusion (Etest; (bioMérieux S.A., Marcy l’Etoile, France), and agar dilution methods. The agar dilution method was the reference assay. According to the agar dilution method, the isolates exhibited the highest susceptibility to minocycline (100%), doxycycline (97.6%), rifampin (95.2%), and levofloxacin (78.6%). A very major error rate of >1.5% was observed for nine antibiotics tested using the disk diffusion method. The overall categorical agreement rate between the disk diffusion and agar dilution methods was 74.8%, and ceftazidime, minocycline, levofloxacin, and rifampin met the minimum requirements for discrepancy and agreement rates. The Etest method tended to produce lower log2 minimum inhibitory concentrations for the antibiotics, except for trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole and rifampin; the method resulted in very major errors for nine antibiotics. The overall essential and categorical agreement rates between the Etest and agar dilution methods were 67.3% and 76.1%, respectively. The Etest method demonstrated acceptable discrepancy and agreement rates for ceftazidime, minocycline, doxycycline, levofloxacin, and rifampin. AST results obtained through the disk diffusion and Etest methods for multiple antibiotics differed significantly from those obtained using the agar dilution method. These two assays should not be a routine alternative for AST for E. anophelis.


Author(s):  
Nabi Shariatifar ◽  
Akram Janghorban ◽  
Rezvan Rahimnia ◽  
Amir Sasan Mozaffari Nejad

Food-borne pathogens is a group of micro-organisms that cause food-borne illness, thus the research for finding effective drugs against this infection is necessary. The purpose of this study determines antibacterial, antioxidant activity antifungal of bee glue ethanol and aqueous extracts. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of extracts were evaluated against food-born (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio cholerae and Candida albicans) purchased from Boali hospital on by the well diffusion method. Broth serial dilution method was doing to find the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the agar dilution method to find the Minimal Bacterial Concentration (MBC) of extracts. The antioxidant activity of the extracts assaying by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Ethanol extract of bee glue was found the most effective against S. aureus strains (inhibition zone=27±0.87 mm) than E. coli strains (inhibition zone=5.5±0.37mm). Aqueous extract of propolis was found the most effective against S. aureus strains (inhibition zone=14.5±0.75 mm) than E. coli strains (inhibition zone=3.5±0.5mm) and C. albicans (inhibition zone=10±0.5 mm). The MIC and MBC values of the extracts ethanol and aqueous most effective against B. cereus strains were 0.3125, 0.625, 0.3125 and 1.25 mg/mL than E. coli strains 0.625, 1. 25, 2.5 and 50 mg/mL. and also for C. albicans was 0.625, 1.25, 1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL. IC50 ethanol and aqueous extracts of propolis were 8±0.25 and 45±1.75, respectively. This study was to assess the Antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities activities of bee glue extracts in in vitro.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 295
Author(s):  
Sebastián Candelaria-Dueñas ◽  
Rocío Serrano-Parrales ◽  
Marisol Ávila-Romero ◽  
Samuel Meraz-Martínez ◽  
Julieta Orozco-Martínez ◽  
...  

In Tehuacán-Cuicatlán valley (Mexico), studies have been carried out on the essential oils of medicinal plants with antimicrobial activity and it was found that they present compounds in common such as: α-pinene, β-pinene, carvacrol, eugenol, limonene, myrcene, ocimene, cineole, methyl salicylate, farnesene, and thymol. The goal of this study was to assess the antimicrobial activity of essential oils’ compounds. The qualitative evaluation was carried out by the Kirby Baüer agar diffusion technique in Gram-positive bacteria (11 strains), Gram-negative bacteria (18 strains), and yeasts (8 strains). For the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), the agar dilution method was used. All the evaluated compounds presented antimicrobial activity. The compounds eugenol and carvacrol showed the largest inhibition zones. Regarding yeasts, the compounds ocimene, cineole, and farnesene did not show any activity. The compounds eugenol, carvacrol, and thymol presented the lowest MIC; bactericidal effect was observed at MIC level for S. aureus 75MR, E. coli 128 MR, and C albicans CUSI, for different compounds, eugenol, carvacrol, and thymol. Finally, this study shows that the essential oils of plants used by the population of Tehuacán-Cuicatlán valley share compounds and some of them have antibacterial and fungicidal activity.


Gut Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bijaya Muktan ◽  
Upendra Thapa Shrestha ◽  
Binod Dhungel ◽  
Bagish Chandra Mishra ◽  
Nabaraj Shrestha ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Plasmid-mediated resistance to the last-resort drugs: carbapenems and colistin is an emerging public health threat. The studies on the prevalence and co-expression of resistant genes among livestock and human pathogens are rare in Nepal. This is the first study in Nepal exploring the prevalence and co-existence of colistin resistance gene, mcr-1 along with carbapenemase resistance gene, OXA-48 in Escherichia coli isolated from poultry and clinical specimens. Methods A total of 240 rectal swabs from chickens of five different poultry farms of Kathmandu valley and 705 mid-stream urine samples from human subjects attending Kantipur Hospital, Kathmandu were collected between August, 2018 and March, 2019. Rectal swabs and urine specimens were cultured. E. coli isolated from the specimens were screened for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) using disk diffusion method’. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of colistin was determined by agar dilution method using 0.5 µg/ml to 32 µg/ml. The E. coli isolates were first screened for mcr-1 followed by screening for OXA-48 genes using conventional Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Of the total samples analyzed, E. coli was isolated from 31.7% (76/240) of poultry and 7.9% (56/705) of clinical specimens. In AST, 80% (61/76) of E. coli from poultry and 79% (44/56) from clinical specimens were MDR. The phenotypic prevalence of colistin resistance in poultry specimens were 31.6% (24/76) and clinical specimens were 21.4% (12/56). In PCR assay, 27.6% (21/76) of poultry and 19.6% (11/56) of clinical isolates had colistin resistant mcr-1 gene. MICs value of E. coli isolates ranged from 4 to 32 (µg/ml) in both clinical and poultry isolates. Prevalence of co-existing carbapenem resistance gene, OXA-48, among colistin resistant mcr-1 positive isolates was 38% (8/21) in poultry specimens and 18.2% (2/11) in clinical specimens. Conclusions The high prevalence of colistin and carbapenem resistant genes, and their co-existence in plasmid DNA of E. coli isolates in this study suggests the possible spread to other animal, human and environmental pathogens. Molecular methods in addition to the conventional diagnostics in laboratories can help in early diagnosis, effective management and control of their potential transmission.


2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirva Lehtopolku ◽  
Pirkko Kotilainen ◽  
Pauli Puukka ◽  
Ulla-Maija Nakari ◽  
Anja Siitonen ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
Maria Fatima Palupi ◽  
Hera Maheshwari ◽  
Huda Salahuddin Darusman ◽  
Etih Sudarnika ◽  
I Wayan Teguh Wibawan

Colistin sulphate is the ultimate antimicrobial choice for the treatment of multidrug resistance gram negative bacteria infections with in human. The purposes of this study were to detect the presence of colistin resistant E. coli and mcr-1 gene in broiler and to transfer the mcr-1 gene to Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076. A total of 54 one day old broilers were divided into three groups that consists of 18 chicks broiler per group and raised up to 40 days old. The first group was used as control. The first treatment group was given colistin sulphate 5 ìg/g feed for 40 days and broilers in second treatment group was given 80.000 IU/kg body weight for first three days. Swab cloaca samples were taken every 10 days from each broiler. At age 40 days all chickens were slaughtered and meat samples were collected. Samples of cloacal swabs, fresh and cooked meat were examined for the presence of colistin resistant E. coli and mcr-1 gene. Susceptibility to colistin sulfate was conducted by agar dilution method, and detection of mcr-1 gene was conducted using polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that no colistin resistant E. coli was detected in the control group. Colistin resistant E. coli (27.78%) and mcr-1 gene (20.00%) were detected in animals in the first treatment group, respectively. Whilst 11.11% colistin resistant E. coli and 5.56% were carriying mcr-1 gene in the second treatment group. Colistin resistant E. coli were found 5.56% from raw meat samples and 3.70% had mcr-1 gene. Transfer of mcr-1 gene from colistin resistant E. coli to Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076 was success. These results showed the necessity of limitation usage of colistin sulphate in food animal. 


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