scholarly journals Antibacterial Activity of a Fractionated Pistacia lentiscus Oil Against Pharyngeal and Ear Pathogens, Alone or in Combination With Antibiotics

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Di Pierro ◽  
Valeria Sagheddu ◽  
Serena Galletti ◽  
Mara Forti ◽  
Marina Elli ◽  
...  

Previous studies have clearly demonstrated that the addition of lentisk oil (LO) to streptococcal cultures makes it possible to differentiate Streptococcus spp. into three categories with Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus intermedius sensitive, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Streptococcus mutans partially sensitive, and Streptococcus salivarius insensitive to the product. We have investigated here whether the winterization of LO, an easy and cheap procedure that removes some of the fatty substances contained within, resulted in a better antimicrobial effect on human pathogens affecting the pharyngeal mucosa and middle ear such as S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Haemophilus influenzae, without affecting, or minimally affecting, S. salivarius strains, oral probiotics commonly used to reduce oral and middle ear infection recurrence, especially in children. Our results not only demonstrated a stronger antimicrobial action of winterized LO (WLO) on S. pyogenes, compared to what was seen with LO, but also demonstrated a strong antimicrobial action vs. S. pneumoniae and M. catarrhalis and a very limited effect on S. salivarius (strains K12 and M18). Moreover, WLO demonstrated a co-acting action when tested along with the antibiotics amoxicillin (A) and amoxicillin clavulanate (AC), effects clearly visible also on H. influenzae. Our results also showed that at least part of the antimicrobial effect observed was due to the presence of anacardic acids (AAs). Finally, WLO, when tested with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (h-PBMCs), reduced the release of IL-6 and TNF-α and, in the case of cells stimulated by LPS, the release of IFN-γ. In conclusion, our study highlights an enhanced antimicrobial role for LO when winterized, suggests a co-acting effect of this when given with antibiotics, identifies AAs as possible active ingredients, and proposes a possible anti-inflammatory role for it.

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (12) ◽  
pp. 937-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhimin Duan ◽  
Qing Chen ◽  
Rong Zeng ◽  
Leilei Du ◽  
Caixia Liu ◽  
...  

The prevalence of Candida infection induced by non-albicans Candida (NAC) species is increasing. However, as a common NAC species, C. tropicalis has received much less study in terms of host immunity than C. albicans has. In this study, we evaluated the pro-inflammatory cytokine responses evoked by C. tropicalis and determined whether dectin-1 and downstream NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways played roles in inflammation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and THP-1 macrophage-like cells. Exposure of PBMCs and THP-1 macrophage-like cells to C. tropicalis led to the enhanced gene expression and secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. THP-1 macrophage-like cells being challenged by C. tropicalis resulted in the activation of the NF-κB, p38, and ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathways. We also found that the expression of dectin-1 was increased with C. tropicalis treatment. These data reveal that dectin-1 may play a role in sensing the inflammation response induced by C. tropicalis and that NF-κB and MAPK are involved in the downstream signaling pathways in macrophages.


2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia F. Herkert ◽  
Jessica C. dos Santos ◽  
Ferry Hagen ◽  
Fatima Ribeiro-Dias ◽  
Flávio Queiroz-Telles ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Cryptococcal species vary in capsule and cell size, thermotolerance, geographic distribution, and affected populations. Cryptococcus gattii sensu stricto and C. deuterogattii affect mainly immunocompetent hosts; however, C. bacillisporus , C. decagattii , and C. tetragattii cause infections mainly in immunocompromised hosts. This study aimed to compare the capacities of different species of the C. gattii species complex to induce cytokines and antimicrobial molecules in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Cryptococcus bacillisporus and C. deuterogattii induced the lowest levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 among the five species of the C. gattii complex. Cryptococcus deuterogattii induced higher levels of IL-22 than those induced by C. tetragattii and the environmental species C. flavescens . In addition, C. bacillisporus and C. gattii sensu stricto proliferated inside human monocyte-derived macrophages after 24 h of infection. All Cryptococcus species were able to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human PBMCs, with C. bacillisporus and C. deuterogattii being more efficient than the other species. In conclusion, C. bacillisporus and C. deuterogattii induce lower levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and higher ROS levels than those induced by the other species. Species of the Cryptococcus gattii complex have different abilities to induce cytokine and ROS production by human PBMCs.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 476
Author(s):  
Walied Alarif ◽  
Sultan Al-Lihaibi ◽  
Nahed Bawakid ◽  
Ahmed Abdel-Lateff ◽  
Hamdan Al-malky

Three new rare C12 acetogenins (enyne derivatives 1–3) were isolated from the organic extract obtained from the red alga Laurencia obtusa, collected from the Red Sea. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were established by spectroscopical data analyses. Potent anti-inflammatory effect of the isolated metabolites was evidenced by inhibition of the release of inflammatory mediators (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) by employing Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC).


2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (02) ◽  
pp. 280-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Annunziata Carluccio ◽  
Mariangela Pellegrino ◽  
Nadia Calabriso ◽  
Carlo Storelli ◽  
Giuseppe Martines ◽  
...  

SummaryMatrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 plays an important role in stroke by accelerating matrix degradation, disrupting the blood-brain barrier and increasing infarct size. Dipyridamole is an antiplatelet agent with recognised benefits in ischaemic stroke prevention. In addition to its antiplatelet properties, recent studies have reported that dipyridamole also features anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. We therefore investigated whether dipyridamole can ameliorate the proinflammatory profile of human monocytes, a source of MMP-9 in stroke, in terms of regulation of MMP-9 activity and expression, and explored underlying mechanisms. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and U937 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of dipyridamole (up to 10 µg/ml) for 60 minutes before stimulation with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Exposure of PBMC and U937 to dipyridamole reduced TNF-α- and PMA-induced MMP-9 activity and protein release as well as MMP-9 mRNA, without significantly affecting the release of TIMP-1. This inhibitory effect was independent of dipyridamole-induced cyclic adeno-sine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) increase. Correspondingly, dipyridamole also significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation and nuclear translocation of the p65 NF-κB subunit through a mechanism involving the inhibition of IkBα degradation and p38 MAPK activation. In conclusion, dipyridamole, at therapeutically achievable concentrations, reduces the expression and release of MMP-9 through a mechanism involving p38 MAPK and NF-κB inhibition. These results indicate that dipyridamole exerts anti-inflammatory properties in human monocytes that may favourably contribute to its actions in the secondary prevention of stroke, independent of its antiplatelet properties.


2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. K. Mao ◽  
J. van de Water ◽  
C. L. Keen ◽  
H. H. Schmitz ◽  
M. E. Gershwin

Epidemiological reports have suggested that the consumption of foods rich in flavonoids is associated with a lower incidence of certain degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Flavanols and their related oligomers, the procyanidins CFP, isolated from cocoa can modulate the production and level of several signaling molecules associated with immune function and inflammationin vitro, including several cytokines and eicosanoids. To further elucidate the potential immuno-modulatory functions of flavanol-rich cocoa, the present investigation examined whether isolated CFP fractions (monomers through decamers) influence the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) from resting and phytohemagluttinin (PHA)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We used anin vitroculture system where PBMC from 14 healthy subjects were introduced to individual CFP fractions for 72 h prior to measuring the levels of TNF-α released. The intermediate-sized CFP fractions (tetramers through octamers) were the most active on resting cells, causing a 3–4 fold increase in TNF-α relative to media baseline. The monomers and dimers were the least stimulatory of the fractions tested, displaying a 42 and 31% increase, respectively, over media control, whereas the trimers, nonamers and decamers showed an intermediate stimulation of this cytokine. In the presence of PHA, the intermediate-sized CFP fractions again were the most active, enhancing TNF-α secretion in the range of 48–128% relative to the PHA control. The monomers and dimers were slightly inhibitory (–1.5 and –15%, respectively), while trimers, nonamers and decamers stimulated moderate increases in TNF-α levels (13, 19 and 15%, respectively). The above results lend support to the concept that CFP can be immunomodulatory. The stimulation of TNF-α secretion may contribute to the putative beneficial effects of dietary flavanoids against microbial infection and tumorigenesis.


1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 1911-1916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Lührmann ◽  
Jürgen Thölke ◽  
Ingrid Behn ◽  
Jens Schumann ◽  
Gisa Tiegs ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We show that the coumeromycin antibiotic novobiocin, a potent inhibitor of ADP ribosylation, prevents lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and IL-10 secretion in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. It shares these cytokine-suppressing properties with other inhibitors of ADP ribosylation. We found that novobiocin prevents TNF-α production by inhibiting translation of the TNF-α mRNA. Elevated TNF-α levels in mice treated withd-galactosamine (GalN)-LPS or GalN-TNF were not reduced by novobiocin; however, the drug exhibited hepatoprotective properties. Novobiocin causes downregulation of the surface molecules on monocytes, among which CD14 was the most affected. The diminished expression of surface molecules was not observed on T and B lymphocytes. Similar to other inhibitors of ADP ribosylation, novobiocin prevents LPS-induced phosphate labelling of γ-actins.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1300800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pimolkan Kasemwattanaroj ◽  
Primchanien Moongkarndi ◽  
Kovit Pattanapanyasat ◽  
Supachoke Mangmool ◽  
Ekkarat Rodpai ◽  
...  

Mangosteen ( Garcinia mangostana L.) a tropical fruit, has been used in traditional medicine. A frequently used part of mangosteen is the pericarp, containing a high content of xanthones. α-Mangostin, one of the major xanthone derivatives, exhibits a variety of actions, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antitumor; however, its function on the immune system is still equivocal. This study aimed to examine the immunomodulatory activities of α-mangostin on lymphocyte lineage and cytokine production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The cytotoxic activity of α-mangostin was measured by MTT assay. The concentration of α-mangostin at 5.55 μg/mL resulted in a 50% survival of PBMCs, which was as potent a cytotoxic activity as that of paclitaxel. After 24 h of PBMCs culture, the percentages of T cells (CD3+), B cells (CD19+) and NK cells (CD3-CD16+CD56+) were not significantly changed by treatment with 1, 2 and 4 μg/mL of α-mangostin compared with untreated-PBMCs; in addition, the percentages of these lymphocytes treated with the combination of α-mangostin (1, 2 and 4 μg/mL) and the mitogen concanavalin A (ConA) was not significantly different from that of ConA-treated PBMCs. For cytokine secretion, α-mangostin (1, 2 and 4 μg/mL) did not significantly induce either proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., TNF-α and IL-1β) or cytokine of adaptive immunity (i.e., IL-2). The combination of α-mangostin (1, 2 and 4 μg/mL) and ConA did not significantly alter the relative difference of TNF-α and IL-1β compared with ConA-treated PBMCs; however, these combinations could significantly decrease the relative difference of IL-2 compared with ConA-treated PBMCs. These data indicated that α-mangostin was able to inhibit IL-2 release without interfering with human immune cells; therefore, further studies are necessary to investigate its effect on IL-2 production.


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