Article

Antibacterial activity of elder (Sambucus nigra L.) flower or berry against hospital pathogens

September 2010
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 4(17):1805-1809

Authors:

University of Cape Town

An evidence-based scientific scrutiny of Irish traditional medicines for their antimicrobial potency is urgently required for combating antibiotic resistant common nosocomial pathogens. We now report our seminal findings on the major constituents including terpenes identified in native, historically significant herbal medicinal plant Elder (Sambucus nigra L.) flower and elder berry in particular and their concomitant strong antimicrobial effects exhibited on various nosocomial pathogens notably upon methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, recognised globally as a clinically significant pathogen, associated with skin and soft tissue infections.

Antioxidant properties and antibacterial activity of water extracts from Sambucus nigra L. under different conditions

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2023

Introduction: In folk medicine, dried white flowers of Sambucus nigra L. are used to make infusions, decoctions, and juices. Aim: The present article aims to study and compare the antioxidant activity of aqueous solutions of leaves and flowers of Sambucus nigra L obtained at different exposure times and assess the antibacterial activity of these solutions against Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Salmonella NCTC 6017, Listeria monocytogenes NCTC 11994, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25093. Materials and methods: We studied the physicochemical properties of aqueous extracts of leaves (fresh) and flowers (fresh and dry) of Sambucus nigra L collected from the Rhodope region of Bulgaria. The samples from Sambucus nigra L were analyzed to determine their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The diameters (in millimeters) of the growth inhibition zones of four pathogens were measured, and a comparative assessment of their antibacterial activity was made. Results: The infusions of fresh blossoms and fresh leaves of Sambucus nigra L had the highest antioxidant activity at the total contact time of 30 minutes (82.7 mmol TE/100 ml) and 35 minutes (36.5 mmol TE/100 ml), respectively. The phenol-richest infusions were those made from dried flowers of Sambucus nigra L after a 30-minute contact time (86.7 mg GAE/ml). Of the four pathogens we studied, we found that the extracts affected partially only the pathogenic bacteria of Salmonella . Conclusions: The highest content of bioactive components was obtained from dried blossoms of Sambucus nigra L. for infusions with a total contact time of 30 minutes and for decoctions at a contact time of 45 minutes.

Antimicrobial Activities Evaluation and Phytochemical Screening of Some Selected Plant Materials Used in Traditional Medicine

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2022
MOLECULES

Plant extracts are a source of valuable ingredients that can be used in many industries. This paper presents research on the content of selected bioactive compounds in extracts obtained from various plant materials. Raw materials have a documented use in traditional medicine not only in Poland. The tested plants were: bitter melon (fruit), elderberry (flowers, fruit, leaves), wild rose (fruit, flesh, seeds), mountain ash (fruit), guelder rose (fruit), and sea buckthorn (fruit, leaves, pomace). The main goal of these tests is to indicate the potential raw materials that may constitute an alternative source of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial activity. The plant material was tested for the content of bioactive antioxidant compounds and possible antimicrobial activity. The content of polyphenols (phenolic acids and flavonoids) was analyzed using UPLC/PDA, sterols, organic acids, and other bioactive compounds. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The total free phenolic acids (TPC) and total free flavonoids (TFC) of all plant raw materials was varied and ranged from 0.21 (mg RUTE/1 g of extract) to 38.30 mg RUTE/1 g of extract) for TFC. The concentration of sterols was, on average, about 10 mg/1 g of extract. The value of approx. 20 mg/1 g of the extract was recorded for bitter melon and beach rose. The content of organic acids was about 1.5 mg/1 g of the extract to even 13 mg/1 g of the extract for sea buckthorn berries. The most sensitive to the extracts’ activity were the following bacteria: M. luteus, P. mirabilis, P. fragii, S. enteritidis, and E. coli. The tested plant materials can be used in various industries as a source of bioactive compounds of an antibacterial nature.

Green Extraction of Sambucus nigra L. for Potential Application in Skin Nanocarriers

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2020

Sambucus nigra L. i s a well well-known species with a wide range of medicinal properties. In this work, supercritical fluids extracts were obtained from fresh and dried elderberries of S. nigra L.: A (dried berries, ethanol absolute), B (dried berries, ethanol 96%), C (dried berries, ethanol 70%) and D (fresh berries, ethanol 96%). In vitro enzymatic activities of those extracts, antioxidant activity (AA) and preliminary safety assessment were evaluated. The most promising extracts were selected for encapsulation in polymeric nano particles (NPs). All extracts demonstrated low to moderate AA and they did not reveal any antimicrobial activity for the bacteria and yeasts tested. No toxic effect in Artemia salina model was observed. Due to the antioxidant, anti-collagenase and anti anti-elastase activities, A and C extracts were successfully encapsulated into PLGA NPs. According to morphology analysis, empty PLGA NPs had a rounded irregular shape and seemed somewhat collapsed, while PLGA NPs loaded with extract A or C exhibited a spherical shape with a smooth surface. The encapsulation process produced a slight increase in the NPs’ size. Further studies will include the optimization of extract conditions to improve the yield of extraction as well as the in vivo evaluation of these nanocarriers.

Food Preservatives from Plants

Chapter

Full-text available

Sep 2017

It has long been shown that phytochemicals protect plants against viruses, bacteria, fungi and herbivores, but only relatively recently we have learnt that they are also critical in pro‐ tecting humans against diseases. A significant amount of medicinal plants is consumed by humans. As food‐related products, they additionally improve human health and general well‐being. This chapter deals with plant‐derived food preservatives. Particular attention has been paid to the following berry fruits: cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), black currant (Ribes nigrum), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) and açaí (Euterpe oleracea), as well as the following herbs and spices: peppermint (Mentha piperita), basil (Ocimum basilicum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), nettle (Urtica dioica), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeyl‐ anicum) bark, cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) as alternative sources of natural antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents with potential use in food indus‐ try. Moreover, we present an overview of the most recent information on the positive effect of bioactive compounds of these plants on human health. This chapter is a collec‐ tion of essential and valuable information for food producers willing to use plant‐derived bioactive substances for ensuring the microbiological safety of products.

Quality Control of Botanical Tinctures: Endogenous Bacterial Flora Present in Botanical Extractions

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2016

Jeffrey Langland

Botanical-based therapeutics are often prepared as either water, ethanol or glycerin-based extractions of the harvested plant material. The raw botanical material is not grown in a sterile environment and as such, may contain a variety of microbial flora. This research evaluated the level of microbial flora present in common botanical extractions prepared under different methodologies and did basic characterization to determine if these microbial populations may include potential human pathogens. The results indicated that significant bacterial flora is commonly present in botanical extracts, including potential human pathogens and that the extraction process utilized will alter the level of microbes present. This research is encouraged help physicians be aware of potential microbial contaminants present in herbal preparations and to use proper care and follow-up when treating patients.

Determination of quality indicators of sugar fortified with a by-product of elderberry processing

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2023

Granulated and pressed beet sugar consists of 99.61–99.7 % sucrose, which is a source of energy for the body. However, this product does not contain other vital nutrients. The object of the study is the method of non-waste processing of elderberry fruits. Wild-growing fruits of black elder Sambucus nigra L were used as the subject of the study. Pre-cleaned elder fruits were frozen at a temperature of –18±2 °C, and after defrosting they were subjected to osmotic dehydration. For this, a 70 % sugar solution with a temperature of 50±5 °C was used (hydromodule 1). The duration of osmosis was 1 hour. The derivative product formed as a result of osmotic dehydration of elderberries (elderberry syrup) was used to enrich granulated sugar in an amount of 10 % by weight of sugar. After thorough mixing with the solution, the sugar was dried in a laboratory vacuum dryer. Anthocyanin dyes contained in the elderberries gave the sugar a bright pink color. The resulting product had a characteristic smell and taste of elderberry. The composition of sugar was studied by high-performance liquid chromatography. It was found that sugar enriched with an elderberry derivative contains 0.03±0.02 mg/100 g of vitamin C and 0.28±0.02 % flavonoids. This gives it certain antioxidant properties. In addition to sucrose, glucose (0.20±0.02) and fructose (0.27±0.02) were found in the product by the polarimetric method. Analysis of the amino acid spectrum of enriched sugar showed the presence of 18 amino acids (total amount of 5.547 mg/100 g), including all essential ones. The most found in enriched sugar, mg/100g: tyrosine (0.93), alanine (0.79), phenylalanine (0.752) and leucine (0.749). The results obtained indicate an increase in the biological value and additional functional properties of fortified sugar

Comparative chloroplast genome analysis of Sambucus L. (Viburnaceae): inference for phylogenetic relationships among the closely related Sambucus adnata Wall. ex DC Sambucus javanica Blume

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2023

Sambucus L. is found in the family Viburnaceae (syn. Adoxaceae) and encompasses approximately 29 accepted species. The complex morphology of these species has caused continued confusion concerning their nomenclature, classification, and identification. Despite previous attempts to resolve taxonomic complexities in the Sambucus genus, there are still unclear phylogenetic relationships among several species. In this study, the newly obtained plastome of Sambucus williamsii Hance. as well as the populations of Sambucus canadensis L., Sambucus javanica Blume, and Sambucus adnata Wall. ex DC were sequenced, and their sizes, structural similarity, gene order, gene number, and guanine–cytosine (GC) contents were analyzed. The phylogenetic analyses were conducted using the whole chloroplast genomes and protein-coding genes (PCGs). The findings revealed that the chloroplast genomes of Sambucus species exhibited typical quadripartite double-stranded DNA molecules. Their lengths ranged from 158,012 base pairs (bp) ( S. javanica ) to 158,716 bp ( S. canadensis L). Each genome comprised a pair of inverted repeats (IRs), which separated the large single-copy (LSC) and small single-copy (SSC) regions. In addition, the plastomes contained 132 genes, encompassing 87 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and four rRNA genes. In the simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis, A/T mononucleotides had the highest proportion, with the most repetitive sequences observed in S. williamsii . The comparative genome analyses showed high similarities in structure, order, and gene contents. The hypervariable regions in the studied chloroplast genomes were trnT-GGU , trnF-GAA , psaJ , trnL-UAG , ndhF , and ndhE , which may be used as candidate barcodes for species discrimination in Sambucus genus. Phylogenetic analyses supported the monophyly of Sambucus and revealed the separation of S. javanica and S. adnata populations. Sambucus chinensis Lindl. was nested within S. javanica in the same clade, collaborating their conspecific treatment. These outcomes indicate that the chloroplast genome of Sambucus plants is a valuable genetic resource for resolving taxonomic discrepancies at the lower taxonomic levels and can be applied in molecular evolutionary studies.

Anti-Inflammatory and Protective Effects of Water Extract and Bioferment from Sambucus nigra Fruit in LPS-Induced Human Skin Fibroblasts

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2023
INT J MOL SCI

In this study, an attempt was made to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and protective effects of the Sambucus nigra fruit extract and its ferment obtained by fermentation with kombucha tea fungus. For this purpose, fermented and non-fermented extracts were compared in terms of their chemical composition by the HPLC/ESI-MS chromatographic method. The antioxidant activity of the tested samples was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays. Cytotoxicity was also determined using Alamar Blue and Neutral Red tests to assess the viability and metabolism of fibroblast and keratinocyte skin cells. Potential anti-aging properties were determined by their ability to inhibit the activity of the metalloproteinases collagenase and elastase. Tests showed that the extract and the ferment have antioxidant properties and stimulate the proliferation of both cell types. The study also assessed the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract and ferment by monitoring levels of the pro-inflammatory interleukins IL-6, IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated fibroblast cells. The results indicate that both the S. nigra extract and its kombucha ferment can be effective in preventing free-radical-induced cell damage and have positive effects on skin cell health.

Biologically active substances of elder: Properties, methods of extraction and preservation

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2023

Anthocyanins and polyphenols are the main biologically active substances in elderberry. Extraction methods exert a significant effect on the extraction effectiveness, bioavailability and preservation of biologically active compounds. The aim of this work was a review of the published results of scientific studies of elderberry and products of its processing, their effect on the body, as well as examination of methods for extraction and encapsulation of biologically active substances of elderberry. The review includes papers in English and Russian. A search for foreign literature in English on this theme was carried out in the bibliographic databases Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Elsevier, ResearchGate. To select scientific papers in Russian, a search was done in the scientific electronic library eLIBRARY.RU by keywords. The review of the scientific publications shows that the results of numerous studies confirm the high antioxidant activity of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.), as well as wild elderberry (Sambucus ebulus), growing on the territory of the Belarus Republic and in other countries of Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America. This plant is applied in the traditional medicine and is used in the food industry as raw materials for creation of prophylactic and functional products due to the presence in the chemical composition of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) of bioactive flavonoids such as quercetin, kempherol and rutin, and other phenolic compounds. Bioactive compounds of elderberry possess several unique biological and pharmacological properties including the antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-depressive, anti-diabetic, antiviral and antibacterial activities. To extract bioactive substances from elderberry, traditional extraction methods are used, such as maceration and Soxhlet extraction, as well as modern promising “green” technologies (for example, supercritical fluids, pulsed electric field, emulsion liquid extraction, microwave-assisted and ultrasound-assisted extraction). To preserve and protect biologically active substances in elderberry, encapsulation methods that are most effective are employed. The materials of this paper can be used in future studies on optimization of extraction processes to increase the nutritional value and antioxidant activity of new functional foods, food additives and products of pharmaceutical industry.

Cultivation, Phytochemistry, Health Claims, and Genetic Diversity of Sambucus nigra, a Versatile Plant with Many Beneficial Properties

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2023

Sambucus is a cosmopolitan plant genus that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties and nutritional value. Sambucus nigra, the most studied species, contains a wide range of bioactive compounds that have been linked to various health benefits. Moreover, the fruit of the elderberry is a rich source of phytochemicals and is used to make a variety of food products. In this review, after an introduction of the species, we outline the main points for its cultivation and production. We then illustrate the major phytochemical components and related beneficial properties, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and pharmaceutical activities. We also provide insights into genetic variability, functional diversity, and some evolutionary relationships that were evaluated with DNA-based techniques. We discuss that despite its long history of use and potential benefits, Sambucus nigra has received relatively little attention in terms of horticulture, breeding, and molecular genetics, while studies on its biochemical composition and health benefits are well developed. Further research is also needed to better understand the pre-harvest and post-harvest factors that influence plant growth and production, as well as to explore new applications and industrial uses of this underutilized species.

Bioactive Potential of Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.): Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Activity, Bioaccessibility and Prebiotic Potential

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2023
MOLECULES

Due to its abundance of physiologically active ingredients, one of the oldest medicinal herbs, elderberry (EB) Sambucus nigra L., is beneficial for both therapeutic and dietary purposes. This study determined the bioaccessibility of the phenolic compounds and the prebiotic potential of the polyphenols from freeze-dried EB powder (FDEBP), along with the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of this extract. The most significant phenolic compounds in black EB are represented by anthocyanins (41.8%), predominating cyanidin-sambubiosides and cyanidin-glucosides (90.1% of the identified anthocyanins). The FRAP assay obtained the highest antioxidant activity value (185 ± 0.18 μmol Fe2+/g DW). The most sensitive to the antimicrobial activity of the extract was proven to be Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa had the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.95 mg/mL. To determine the prebiotic potential of the polyphenols, the cell growth of five probiotic strains (Lactobacillus plantarum, L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. fermentum and Saccharomyces boulardii) was tested. The influence on cell growth was positive for all five probiotic strains used. Overall, the most significant increase (p < 0.05) was recorded at 1.5% FDEBP, on S. boulardii with a growth index (GI) of 141.02%, very closely followed by GI at 0.5% and 1% concentrations. The stability of the total phenolic compounds through simulated gastronitestinal digestion was increased (93%), and the bioaccessibility was also elevated (75%).

Phytochemical Profiling of Sambucus nigra L. Flower and Leaf Extracts and Their Antimicrobial Potential against Almond Tree Pathogens

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2023
INT J MOL SCI

Despite extensive research on the chemical composition of elderberries and their numerous uses in pharmaceutical, beverage, and food production, there is still a lack of knowledge about Sambucus nigra leaves and flowers’ antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens. In this study, the phytoconstituents of their aqueous ammonia extracts were first characterized by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The major phytocompounds identified in the flower extract were octyl 2-methylpropanoate; 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydropyran-4-one; propyl malonic acid; adenine; and 1-methyl-2-piperidinemethanol. Concerning the leaf extract, 1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose; oleic acid; 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole; 2,3-dihydro-benzofuran; and 4-((1E)-3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-2-methoxyphenol and other phenol derivatives were the main constituents. The potential of the extracts to act as bioprotectants was then investigated against three almond tree pathogens: Diaporthe amygdali, Phytophthora megasperma, and Verticillium dahliae. In vitro tests showed higher activity of the flower extract, with EC90 values in the 241–984 μg·mL−1 range (depending on the pathogen) vs. 354–1322 μg·mL−1 for the leaf extract. In addition, the flower extract led to full protection against P. megasperma at a dose of 1875 μg·mL−1 in ex situ tests on artificially-infected excised almond stems. These inhibitory concentrations were lower than those of commercial fungicides. These findings suggest that S. nigra aerial organs may be susceptible to valorization as an alternative to synthetic fungicides for the protection of this important crop.

Bioactive Compounds from Elderberry: Extraction, Health Benefits, and Food Applications

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2022

Elderberries are appreciated for their antioxidant properties. Sambucus nigra L. is an extremely abundant plant in the wild flora of Romania, but it is underutilized. Elderberry is used in modern and traditional medicine due to the complex chemical composition of the fruit. The content of phenolic compounds is high (516–8974 mg/100 g DW), of which the most abundant are anthocyanins. Phenolic compounds are known for their beneficial effects on the body. Numerous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant capacity, antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties of the fruit. It is considered that most of the therapeutic properties of elderberries can be correlated with the antioxidant activity they have. S. nigra fruits are also used in the food industry. Some studies have shown that the therapeutic properties of elderberries can also be found in the products obtained from them. Therefore, this review aimed to describe the chemical composition of elderberries and products obtained from them, the positive effects on the body, and the methods by which the bioactive compounds can be extracted from the fruits and analyzed. This manuscript is useful for extraction optimization and characterization in order to valorize new functional foods, food supplements, and also in new pharmaceutical products.

Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Characteristics of Sambucus nigra L. Blossom from Different Regions in Bulgaria

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2022

The aim of the current study was to investigate some bioactive compounds from Sambucus nigra L. blossoms and to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the obtained extracts. In this study, samples from four different regions of Bulgaria /Rhodopes, Plovdiv, Strandzha and Dobrich region/ from Sambucus nigra L. were collected and analyzed for total phenols, flavonoids, sugars and amino acids. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated by four assays based on different mechanisms. The sweetness index and total sweetness index of the extracts were also evaluated. The carbohydrate composition of the leaves and the blossoms was determined, with glucose and fructose predominating in both cases, as their contents were not above 3%. Nineteen amino acids have been identified in the composition of Sambucus nigra L., and glutamic, leucine and asparagine acids are predominant. The highest antioxidant activity and total content of phenols (49.2 ± 1 mg GAE/g) and flavonols (18.6 ± 0.5 mgQE/g) were found in the sample from the Rhodope region. Therefore, the higher altitude and lower temperature in mountains could influence the accumulation of secondary metabolites in blossoms of Sambucus nigra L., which improves the antioxidant potential of the samples.

Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of the genus Sambucus L. (Viburnaceae)

Article

Mar 2022
J ETHNOPHARMACOL

Ethnopharmacological relevance The genus Sambucus L. (Viburnaceae) consists of about 29 recognized species distributed in all regions of the world except the extremely cold and desert areas. Some species have been used as traditional medicines to treat various disorders such as bone fractures, rheumatism, diabetes, respiratory and pulmonary disorders, skin diseases, inflammatory ailments, diarrhea, and others. However, the currently available data on traditional and pharmacological uses have not been comprehensively reviewed. Study aim The present review is designed to provide information on the ethnobotanical uses, phytochemistry, toxicity, and the known biological properties of Sambucus, to understand their connotations and provide a scientific basis and gaps for further research. Materials and methods The information was obtained from different bibliographic databases, Google Scholar, Springer Link, Web of Science, PubMed, and Science Direct along with other literature sources such as dissertation before August 2021. The scientific names were validated using The Plant List and World Flora Online websites. Results Twelve Sambucus species were found to be frequently mentioned in ethnomedical uses recorded in China, Korea, Turkey, Iran, and other countries. Traditionally, they have been used as remedies to numerous health complications among others, bone fractures and rheumatism, diabetes, wounds, inflammatory diseases, diarrhea, menstrual pains, respiratory and pulmonary complaints, skin disorders, headaches, snakebites, and urinary tract infections. To date, only eleven species have been studied for their chemical compounds and a total of 425 bioactive constituents, including phenolic compounds, terpenoids, fatty acids, cyanogenic glycosides, phytosterols, lectins, organic acids, alkaloid, coumarin, anthraquinone, and others have been reported. The crude extracts and the isolated chemical constituents exhibited diverse outstanding pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, analgesic, anti-giardial, immunomodulatory, scolicidal, anti-ulcerogenic, antiradical, bone-protective, anti-glycemic, antiosteoporotic, hypolipidemic, anti-glycation, and wound-healing properties. Conclusion This study summarized and scrutinized the data on traditional uses, pharmacological activities, phytochemicals, and toxicity of Sambucus species, which indicate they have interesting chemical compounds with diverse biological activities. Many traditional uses of some species from this genus have now been confirmed by pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, bone-protective, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. However, the currently available data has several gaps in understanding the traditional uses of all Sambucus species. Thus, we strongly recommend further investigations into the scientific connotations between traditional medicinal uses and pharmacological activities, mode of action of the isolated bioactive constituents, and toxicity of other Sambucus species to unravel their efficacy and therapeutic potential for safe clinical application. The current extensive study avails valuable information on therapeutic use of Sambucus species and paves way for further investigations of other useful species, as well as drug discovery.

A Flavonoid-Rich Extract of Sambucus nigra L. Reduced Lipid Peroxidation in a Rat Experimental Model of Gentamicin Nephrotoxicity

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022

The use of gentamicin (GM) is limited due to its nephrotoxicity mediated by oxidative stress. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of a flavonoid-rich extract of Sambucus nigra L. elderflower (SN) to inhibit lipoperoxidation in GM-induced nephrotoxicity. The HPLC analysis of the SN extract recorded high contents of rutin (463.2 ± 0.0 mg mL−1), epicatechin (9.0 ± 1.1 µg mL−1), and ferulic (1.5 ± 0.3 µg mL−1) and caffeic acid (3.6 ± 0.1 µg mL−1). Thirty-two Wistar male rats were randomized into four groups: a control group (C) (no treatment), GM group (100 mg kg−1 bw day−1 GM), GM+SN group (100 mg kg−1 bw day−1 GM and 1 mL SN extract day−1), and SN group (1 mL SN extract day−1). Lipid peroxidation, evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzymes activity—superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)—were recorded in renal tissue after ten days of experimental treatment. The MDA level was significantly higher in the GM group compared to the control group (p < 0.0001), and was significantly reduced by SN in the GM+SN group compared to the GM group (p = 0.021). SN extract failed to improve SOD, CAT, and GPX activity in the GM+SN group compared to the GM group (p > 0.05), and its action was most probably due to the ability of flavonoids (rutin, epicatechin) and ferulic and caffeic acids to inhibit synthesis and neutralize reactive species, to reduce the redox-active iron pool, and to inhibit lipid peroxidation. In this study, we propose an innovative method for counteracting GM nephrotoxicity with a high efficiency and low cost, but with the disadvantage of the multifactorial environmental variability of the content of SN extracts.

Medicinal Plants and their Contribution in Socio-Economic Upliftment of the Household in Gurez Valley (J&K)

Chapter

Full-text available

Jan 2022

Gurez is situated along the Kishanganga river in Kashmir valley. It is remotely located but the most beautiful valley. Owing to connectivity problems, this valley has largely remained unexplored and thereby its various features have generally gone unnoticed. This beautiful valley harbors a diversity of the medicinal plants. These medicinal plants are not only used in traditional health care system for the treatment of various diseases but also provide an edge for socio-economic upliftment for households. The socio-economic profile of the people of this remote area depicts that these people live in underprivileged conditions. The medicinal plants indigenous to Gurez, like Bunium persicum, Achillea Millefolium, and Carum carvi besides others, have high commercial value and can be utilized as a source of income. These phytochemically rich plant species can contribute to the development of various formulations of herbal therapies. However, overexploitation of these plant species has caused a decline in the frequency of these species in the past few years. Planned cultivation, proper exploitation, and the commercialization of these medicinal plants can serve as a primary source of income to the people of this downtrodden community of Gurez, particularly marginalized farmers and landless poor people. These plants have the potential to broaden livelihood opportunities of these people by framing proper policy that can give topmost priority to proper exploration of these plants.

Pharmacological Effects of Sacred Oils Belonging to Ancient Civilizations

Article

Full-text available

May 2021

Baraa A L Mansour

Over the centuries, humanity has known and utilized some sacred oils extracted from their medicinal plants for therapeutic purpose. They are considered as good source of bioactive compounds having a wide range of vital biological activities. Aromatic oils have been a part of human history for more than 3,500 years BC and appeared with regularity throughout all major civilizations down the ages, with uses ranging from religious ritual, food flavoring, medicines, perfumery and the masking of bad odors. It is impossible to date exactly when plants were first used medicinally, since such a development would have taken place over thousands of years. During recent decades, many researchers have investigated the mechanisms of action and the therapeutic use of essential oils as physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This review, highlights on some sacred essential oils extracted from important traditional medicinal plants that possesses several pharmacological properties, considering that the safety and versatility of this these supplement should allow for its use in numerous pathological conditions.

Antimicrobial Activities of Some Natural Dyes and Dyed Wool Yarn

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2017
IRAN J CHEM CHEM ENG

Natural dyes gained increasing attention due to environmental considerations. Many of the dye plants have also medicinal values. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 25 plants as dye and their dyed wool yarns against microorganisms. Prokaryotes were found to be more sensitive to dye extracts than eukaryotic microorganisms and dyestuff from Punica granatum, Berberis vulgaris, Agrimonia eupatoria, Rhus coriaria were effective against all bacteria. Sarcina lutea, Bacillus subtilis, MRSA and Enterococcus faecalis were sensitive to almost all dye extracts even at low concentrations. The dyed wool material tested with microorganisms, and maximum inhibition rates were obtained against S. lutea and MRSA of wool samples dyed with P. granatum and R. coriaria, respectively, while there was a drastic decrease in E. faecalis growth with the A. cepa and R. petiolaris.

Characterisation of Antimicrobial Properties of Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2017

The scope of the experiments included analysis of the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous extracts against bacterial and fungal cultures and determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration of plant extracts tested microbial growth. Analysis of the antifungal and antibacterial activity was carried out by the disc diffusion method using paper discs. In the experiment 11 species of microorganisms – 8 bacterial and 3 fungal strains were used. The highest antimicrobial activity against the tested strains was demonstrated by black elder (Sambucus nigra L.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) extracts. The study showed the diverse morphological activity of specific parts of elderberry and quince, which is the effect of different polyphenolic profile of these plants. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus subtilis showed the highest sensitivity to the effect of extracts of the analysed plants. As a positive control three antibiotics – amphotericin B, vancomycin and amoxicillin with clavulanic acid were used.

Bioactive properties of Sambucus nigra L. As a functional ingredient for food and pharmaceutical industry

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2018

European black elderberry naturally occurs in most of Europe and has been introduced into various parts of the world for fruit and flower production. Elderberry is rich in nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fatty acids, organic acids, minerals, vitamins and essential oils. Elderberry also contains cyanogenic glycosides which are potentially toxic. Polyphenols, known for their free radical scavenging (antioxidant) activity, are the most important group of bioactive compounds present in elderberry in relatively high concentration. The high antioxidant activity of elderberry fruit and flowers is associated with their therapeutic properties. Elderberry has for a long time been used in folk medicine as a diaphoretic, antipyretic and diuretic agent. In recent years it was also found to have antibacterial, antiviral antidepressant and antitumour and hypoglycemic properties, and to reduce body fat and lipid concentration. Due to its health-promoting and sensory properties, elderberry is used primarily in food and pharmaceutical industry.

Bioactive properties of Sambucus nigra L. As a functional ingredient for food and pharmaceutical industry

Research

Dec 2017

Traditional wound-healing plants used in the Balkan region (Southeast Europe)

Article

Sep 2017
J ETHNOPHARMACOL

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The geographical and ecological specificity of the Balkan Peninsula has resulted in the development of a distinct diversity of medicinal plants. In the traditional culture of the Balkan peoples, plants have medicinal, economic and anthropological/cultural importance, which is reflected in the sound knowledge of their diversity and use. This study analyses the traditional use of medicinal plants in the treatment of wounds and the pharmacological characteristics of the most frequently used species. Materials and methods: A detailed analysis of the literature related to ethnobhe uses of medicinal plants in the Balkan region was carried out. Twenty-five studies were analysed and those plants used for the treatment of wounds were singled out. Result: An ethnobotanical analysis showed that 128 plant species (105 wild, 22 cultivated and 1 wild/cultivated) are used in the treatment of wounds. Their application is external, in the form of infusions, decoctions, tinctures, syrups, oils, ointments, and balms, or direct to the skin. Among those plants recorded, the most commonly used are Plantago major, Hypericum perforatum, Plantago lanceolata, Achillea millefolium, Calendula officinalis, Sambucus nigra, Tussilago farfara and Prunus domestica. The study showed that the traditional use of plants in wound healing is confirmed by in vitro and/or in vivo studies for P. major and P. lanceolata (3 laboratory studies for P. major and 2 for P. lanceolata), H. perforatum (5 laboratory studies and 3 clinical trials), A. millefolium (3 laboratory studies and one clinical trial), C. officinalis (6 laboratory studies and 1 clinical trial), S. nigra (3 laboratory studies) and T. farfara (one laboratory study). Conclusion: The beneficial effects of using medicinal plants from the Balkan region to heal wounds according to traditional practices have been proven in many scientific studies. However, information on the quantitative benefits to human health of using herbal medicines to heal wounds is still scarce or fragmented, hindering a proper evaluation. Therefore, further studies should be aimed at isolating and identifying specific active substances from plant extracts, which could also reveal compounds with more valuable therapeutic properties. Furthermore, additional reliable clinical trials are needed to confirm those experiences encountered when using traditional medicines. A combination of traditional and modern knowledge could result in new wound-healing drugs with a significant reduction in unwanted side effects.

Chemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activity of Black Elder (Sambucus Nigra L.) - A Review

Article

Full-text available

May 2017

Introduction: All plant parts of elderberry (leaves, berries, inflorescences, roots, shoots, bark) have a long history of use in herbal remedy or lots of culinary uses, widespread in almost every continent of the world (1). Pro-health properties indicated a role of elderberry products intake in the prevention of cancer and diabetes. Aims: This paper presents an overview of the evaluation of biochemical compounds (sugars, organic acids, total phenolics, antioxidative activity, flavonoids, flavor and volatile compounds), found in flowers, berries and leaves of Sambucus nigra L. Materials and Methods: Chromatographic profiling, spectrophotometric evaluation, DPPH antioxidant assay, ABTS radical scavenging activity. Results: The variability of concentration compounds are found by uniform maturity of each phenophase of elderberry, hence the need varieties improve the quantity and quality of its yield. Elderberry has food industry properties associated with the presence of increased nutritive and decreased caloric value at fruits best correlated with the content of sugars and organic acids of flower, organic acids as a important metabolic pathway of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates. Several studies have confirmed that Sambucus nigra L. is a valuable raw material with many nutrients and bioactive substances, being extraordinarily rich in antioxidants, and the leaves are remarked as easily available source of antioxidant preparations in different domains (food products, pharmaceutics, or cosmetics). Conclusion: A bush of Sambucus nigra L. in the garden is our true handy pharmacy, a food market like as functional ingredient, a spot of color with unmistakable smell.

Potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Sambucus australis

Article

Dec 2017

Context: Sambucus australis Cham. & Schltdl. (Adoxaceae) is used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat inflammatory disorders. Objective: To evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of S. australis. Materials and methods: The anti-inﬂammatory activity of ethanol extracts of the leaf and bark of S. australis (1-100 μg/mL) were studied in lipopolysaccharide/interferon γ stimulated murine macrophages RAW 264.7 cells (24 h incubation) by investigating the release of nitric oxide (NO) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and in the TNF-α-induced nuclear factor kappa (NF-κB) assay. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the microdilution test (24 h incubation). Antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the NO scavenging assays. Chemical composition was assessed by LC-MS/MS. Results: Antioxidant activities in the DPPH (IC50 43.5 and 66.2 μg/mL), FRAP (IC50 312.6 and 568.3 μg/mL) and NO radical scavenging assays (IC50 285.0 and 972.6 μg/mL) were observed in the leaf and bark ethanol extracts, respectively. Solely the leaf extract showed significant inhibition of NO and TNF-α production in RAW264.7 cells at concentrations of 2 and 100 μg/mL, respectively, and suppression of TNF-α inhibition of NF-κB by 12.8 and 20.4% at concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/mL, respectively. The extract also exhibited antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium (MIC 250 μg/mL) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC 250 μg/mL). LC-MS/MS revealed the presence of chlorogenic acid and rutin as major compounds. Discussion and conclusion: The results indicate that the ethanol leaf extract of S. australis exhibit prominent anti-inﬂammatory effects.

Actividad antibacteriana de extractos de plantas provenientes del área rural de Soracá contra Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina (SARM)/Antibacterial activity of plant extracts from rural area of Soracá against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Article

Jun 2015

Introducción: Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina (SARM) es una cepa bacteriana resistente a una gran variedad de antibióticos, incluidos los carbapenems y la vancomicina. Actualmente se cuenta con muy pocas opciones terapéuticas para el tratamiento de la infección por SARM, por lo tanto el enfoque hacia las plantas como fuente de moléculas con acción antibacteriana es una buena opción para investigar posibles compuestos activos. Objetivo: Evaluar la actividad antibacteriana de extractos metanólicos y diclorometánicos de plantas (reportadas por la población rural de Soracá-Colombia como tratamiento empírico para las infecciones) contra SARM. Métodos: Estudio experimental en el cual se aplicaron 16 tratamientos (extractos) a una cepa de SARM. Los extractos provinieron de siete plantas y se obtuvieron por medio de extracción continua con solventes (metanol y diclorometano) usando Soxhlet. El método de microdilución en caldo fue usado para determinar la concentración mínima inhibitoria (CMI) de los extractos, realizando inicialmente un tamizaje a una concentración de 10 mg/mL y luego hallando la CMI de los extractos que tuvieron actividad a tal concentración. La inhibición se verificó por lectura visual después de aplicar 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazolio (MTT). Resultados: De los 16 extractos probados, seis inhibieron al SARM en concentración de 10 mg/mL. Tales extractos tuvieron efecto a una CMI de 1,25 mg/mL. Conclusión: Los seis extractos de las plantas que tuvieron acción inhibitoria frente a SARM son fuentes potenciales de moléculas que deben ser estudiadas más a fondo con el fin de aportar al estudio de posibles alternativas contra la resistencia bacteriana.

Effects of Phytoestrogen Extracts Isolated from Elder Flower on Hormone Production and Receptor Expression of Trophoblast Tumor Cells JEG-3 and BeWo, as well as MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2016

Hereinwe investigated the effect of elderflower extracts (EFE) and of enterolactone/enterodiol on hormone production and proliferation of trophoblast tumor cell lines JEG-3 and BeWo, as well as MCF7 breast cancer cells. The EFE was analyzed by mass spectrometry. Cells were incubated with various concentrations of EFE. Untreated cells served as controls. Supernatants were tested for estradiol production with an ELISA method. Furthermore, the effect of the EFE on ERα/ERβ/PR expression was assessed by immunocytochemistry. EFE contains a substantial amount of lignans. Estradiol production was inhibited in all cells in a concentration-dependent manner. EFE upregulated ERα in JEG-3 cell lines. In MCF7 cells, a significant ERα downregulation and PR upregulation were observed. The control substances enterolactone and enterodiol in contrast inhibited the expression of both ER and of PR in MCF7 cells. In addition, the production of estradiol was upregulated in BeWo and MCF7 cells in a concentration dependent manner. The downregulating effect of EFE on ERα expression and the upregulation of the PR expression in MFC-7 cells are promising results. Therefore, additional unknown substances might be responsible for ERα downregulation and PR upregulation. These findings suggest potential use of EFE in breast cancer prevention and/or treatment and warrant further investigation.

Antibacterial and Antiadhesive Activities of Extracts from Edible Plants against Soft Drink Spoilage by Asaia spp

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial and antiadhesive activities of ethanol extracts from ﬁve edible plant parts: cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), licorice root (Glycyrrhiza radix), nettle leaves (Urtica dioica), green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis), and elderberry ﬂowers (Sambucus nigra). The chemical constituents of the extracts were identiﬁed using high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography plus mass spectrometry. Six strains of Asaia lannensis and Asaia bogorensis bacteria isolated from spoiled commercial fruit-ﬂavored noncarbonated mineral water were used. Bacterial adhesion to polystyrene as an attachment substrate in culture media supplemented with 10% plant extract was evaluated using luminometric measurement of the ATP extracted from adhered cells. The viability of the adhered and planktonic cells was assessed using the plate count method, and the relative adhesion coefﬁcient was calculated. All tested crude extracts contained ﬂavonols (kaempferol, quercetin, and their derivatives), ﬂavanols (catechin and derivatives), ﬂavanones (glabrol, licorice glycoside A, and liquiritin), and phenolic acids (gallic, quinic, chlorogenic, neochlorogenic, caffeic, coumaric, and ferulic). The culture medium with 10% elderberry extract provided the least favorable environment for all tested bacterial strains. Extracts from green tea, cinnamon, and licorice also had signiﬁcant inhibitory effects on the adhesion of the tested bacterial strains. This research suggests that the addition of selected edible plant extracts could improve the microbial stability of noncarbonated soft drinks

Comparison of near-infrared diffuse reflectance (NIR) and attenuated-total-reflectance mid-infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopic determination of the antioxidant capacity of Sambuci flos with classic wet chemical methods (assays)

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2015

Near-infrared diffuse reflectance (NIR) and attenuated-total-reflectance mid-infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy techniques in hyphenation with multivariate analysis were utilized to determine the antioxidant capacity of ground Sambuci flos samples. Folin–Ciocalteu (FC), ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) were optimized and performed as reference methods. To remove systematic errors several spectral pretreatments like 1st and 2nd derivative Savitzky–Golay, standard normal variate (SNV) or multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) were applied. Cross-validations and test-set validations were performed for all assays. The quality parameters, standard error of prediction (SEP) and the ratio performance deviation (RPD), were calculated. An acceptable quality of the calibration can be confirmed for ATR-IR spectroscopy (e.g. for the CUPRAC assay: R2: 0.85, RPDcorr: 2.68, SECV: 0.13% GAE for cross-validation; R2: 0.81, RPDcorr: 2.20, SEP: 0.15% GAE for test-set validation). Surprisingly all models calculated for NIR spectroscopy were of poor quality and point to unpredictability of the antioxidative capacity. Further investigations of extracts by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a diode array detector (DAD) coupled to mass spectroscopy (MS) were performed to analyze the principal compounds. Thus, rutin and chlorogenic acid were confirmed to be the main components in the samples. This study demonstrates that ATR-IR spectroscopy is suitable to determine the antioxidative capacity in ground Sambuci flos samples and can be used for quality control.

KARA MÜRVERİN BAĞIŞIKLIK SİSTEMİ ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ

Article

Jan 2023

Kara mürver, latince ismiyle Sambucus nigra, uzun yıllardır kullanılan Adoxaceae familyasına ait bir bitkidir. Ortak isimleri arasında kara mürver, siyah yaşlı, Avrupa yaşlısı, Avrupa mürveri ve Avrupa kara mürveri de vardır. Hipokrat tarafından doğanın en şifalı bitkisi olarak görüldüğü de bilinmektedir. Meyveleri koyu mor-siyah renktedir. 100 gramı ortalama 73 kalori içerir ve vitamin-mineral açısından oldukça zengin bir yapıya sahiptir. Kara mürver, yapısında birçok faydalı bileşik bulundurmaktadır. Bunlar arasında en önemli olanlar flavonoidler, fenolik asitler ve antosiyaninlerdir. En baskın olanı ise antioksidan özelliği olduğu bilinen antosiyaninlerdir. Bunların yanında kara mürver, içerdiği siyanojenik glikozitlerden kaynaklı olarak zehirlenmeye sebep olabilmektedir. Bunu önleyebilmek için mutlaka ısıl işleme maruz bırakıldıktan sonra tüketilmesi gerekmektedir. Kara mürverin diüretik, laksatif, diyaforetik, antioksidan, antiviral, immünomodülatör, antiinflamatuar, antimikrobiyal, antikonvülsan, antidepresan ve antikarsinojenik gibi çeşitli etkilere sahip olduğu bilinmektedir. Aynı zamanda diyabet, hipertansiyon, obezite, hiperlipidemi, metabolik işlev bozuklukları, üriner parametreler üzerinde de kullanılabilmektedir. Hem sağlıklı hem de hasta organizmalarda vücudun savunma mekanizmalarını düzenlemeye destek olarak bağışıklık sistemini güçlendirdiği bilinmektedir. Henüz çalışmalar yetersiz olsa da COVID-19 için de kullanılabileceği düşünülmektedir. Bu derlemede kara mürverin antioksidan, antiviral, antibakteriyel, antiinflamatuar, antikanser etkileri ve bağışıklık sistemiyle ilişkisinden bahsedilmiştir.

Elderberry is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and modulates the immune system: anti-bacterial, anti-viral and immunomodulatory non-clinical (in-vitro) effects of elderberry fruit and flowers (Sambucus nigra): a systematic review

Thesis

Full-text available

Feb 2023

Julia Wermig-Morgan

Potential Use of African Botanicals and Other Compounds in the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections

Chapter

Full-text available

Dec 2022

Infections caused by the group of Staphylococcus bacteria are commonly called Staph infections, and over 30 types of Staphylococcal bacteria exist with Staphylococcus aureus causing about 90% of the infections from the genus. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major cause of both hospital- and community-acquired infections with major concern arising from its strain of species that is resistant to many antibiotics. One of such strain is the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that has been described to be a resistance to methicillin drugs. Another is glycopeptides-resistant emerging from the increased use of glycopeptides drugs. This continuous emergence and spread of new resistant strains of S. aureus is a major challenge which makes the search for novel anti-resistant agents imperative. The development of vaccines from natural and synthetic products is some of the measures being proposed for the protection against the infections. Also, the development of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies for passive immunization is sought for, and attentions with regard to arriving at successful trials have been directed back to medicinal plant research as an alternative. This review discusses the treatment strategies of MRSA, the antibacterial property of various medicinal plants, and the influence of their active compounds on methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), as well as to recommend the path to future research in this area.

Aktywność biologiczna bzu czarnego (Sambucus nigra L.)

Article

Full-text available

May 2022

Dziki bez czarny (Sambucus nigra L.) jest jedną z najczęściej użytkowanych roślin zielarskich na świecie. W medycynie ludowej surowce czarnego bzu stosowane były przede wszystkim jako środki napotne, przeciwgorączkowe i moczopędne. Współcześnie udowodniono również działanie przeciwbakteryjne, przeciwwirusowe, przeciwdepresyjne, przeciwnowotworowe i hipoglikemizujące oraz obniżające stężenie tłuszczu i lipidów ekstraktów z bzu czarnego. Skład chemiczny kwiatów i owoców bzu czarnego jest zmienny i podlega różnym czynnikom zmienności (genetyczne, ontogenetyczne, środowiskowe, pozbiorcze). Kwiaty bzu czarnego zawierają flawonoidy, kwasy fenolowe, olejek eteryczny, kwasy organiczne, cukry i związki mineralne, podczas gdy w owocach dominują antocyjany. Bogaty skład chemiczny surowców bzu czarnego oraz ich silna aktywność biologiczna stwarzają duże możliwości zastosowania w produkcji farmaceutycznej, spożywczej i kosmetycznej.

Herbal Products and Their Active Constituents Used Alone and in Combination with Antibiotics against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

Article

Aug 2022

The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge acquired on herbal products and their active constituents with antimicrobial activity used alone and in combination with antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria. The most promising herbal products and active constituents used alone against multidrug-resistant bacteria are Piper betle (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), Glycyrrhiza glabra (methicillin-resistant S. aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, P. aeruginosa), and berberine (methicillin-resistant S. aureus, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa), respectively. The synergistic effect of the combination of herbal products and their active constituents with antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria are also described. These natural antibacterial agents can be promising sources of inhibitors, which can modulate antibiotic activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, especially as efflux pump inhibitors. Other possible mechanisms of action of herbal therapy against multidrug-resistant bacteria including modification of the bacterial cell wall and/or membrane, inhibition of the cell division protein filamenting temperature sensitive Z-ring, and inhibition of protein synthesis and gene expression, all of which will also be discussed. Our review suggests that combination herbal therapy and antibiotics can be effectively used to expand the spectrum of their antimicrobial action. Therefore, combination therapy against multidrug-resistant bacteria may enable new choices for the treatment of infectious diseases and represents a potential area for future research.

Plant-Derived Antioxidants Significance in Skin Health and the Ageing Process

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022
INT J MOL SCI

Monika Michalak

Natural substances have traditionally been used in skin care for centuries. There is now an ongoing search for new natural bioactives that not only promote skin health but also protect the skin against various harmful factors, including ultraviolet radiation and free radicals. Free radicals, by disrupting defence and restoration mechanisms, significantly contribute to skin damage and accelerate ageing. Natural compounds present in plants exhibit antioxidant properties and the ability to scavenge free radicals. The increased interest in plant chemistry is linked to the growing interest in plant materials as natural antioxidants. This review focuses on aromatic and medicinal plants as a source of antioxidant substances, such as polyphenols, tocopherols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and macromolecules (including polysaccharides and peptides) as well as components of essential oils, and their role in skin health and the ageing process.

Skin Delivery Of Bioactive Plant Extracts Through Nanocarriers

Thesis

Jul 2021

Ana Henriques Mota

In recent years, the scientific community has seen an increasing interest in the use of natural compounds in medicines, food supplements, cosmetics and dermatological products. An important example is Sambucus nigra L. whose flowers (elderflowers) and berries (elderberries) have been widely used in traditional medicine. The traditional use of elderflowers in the relief of early symptoms of common cold has been officially recognised by the European Union, where several products in the form of herbal tea, tincture or liquid extract, are available on the market. Elderberries have also been traditionally used in the form of herbal tea, syrup or juice. Nevertheless, no single herbal substance/herbal preparation is registered as medicine. In line with the need for comprehensive pharmacological studies to validate the traditional use of S. nigra, namely its anti-inflammatory activity, one of the aims of this PhD thesis was to screen and characterize biological activities of S. nigra L. extracts obtained using different extraction methodologies. Then, to optimize the biological activity of the best extract (i.e. with high interest for therapeutic uses), different extract-loaded nanocarriers were prepared. Different materials were applied in this task such as polymeric and lipid-based materials. In this specific context, the purpose of using nanotechnology as strategy was to increase the stability of bioactive compounds and to modulate their release, creating a potential topical formulation. Due to the harvesting time of elderflowers and elderberries, in a first part of this PhD thesis, initial nanoencapsulation studies were performed using hyaluronic acid as model drug. Hyaluronic acid is commonly used through intraarticular administration for viscosupplementation in osteoarthritis and other inflammation disorders. Therefore, the first studies consisted of producing an characterising polymeric nanoparticles made of poly(lacticco-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were prepared with and without hyaluronic acid. The inclusion of hyaluronic acid was achieved with an efficiency higher than 70%, but resulted in a marked particle size increase. Particles revealed an in vitro sustained release profile and in vitro cell compatibility, as well as a risk of haemolysis less than 1%, ensuring their safety. In vivo antiinflammatory studies showed a higher inhibition for hyaluronic acid-loaded PLGA particles when compared to hyaluronic acid suspension (78% versus 60%). Results were not so different from the positive control, clearly suggesting that this formulation may be a promising alternative to the current hyaluronic acid injectable dosage form. Having characterised the intended particulate carrier, different extraction methods were studied to obtain the S. nigra extracts from elderflowers and elderberries. For this purpose, fresh flowers, and fresh and dried berries were considered, resulting in eighteen S. nigra extracts. Several parameters were considered for selecting the extraction method, i.e. yield of extraction, type of solvent, flavonoid content and biological activity of the resultant extracts (antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content, collagenase, elastase, tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition). The most promising extracts were characterized for in vitro and in vivo antiinflammatory activity and cytotoxicity (skin and monocytic cells). The most promising extracts were those obtained from fresh flowers using ultrasounds method with methanol. Specifically, these extracts showed results similar to positive controls, particularly the antioxidant activity (75 ± 2%), collagenase inhibition (94 ± 1%) and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity (97 ± 3%). Nevertheless, extracts of fresh flowers using ultrasounds/ethanol presented higher collagenase inhibition (88 ± 3%) and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity (102 ± 2%). Cytotoxicity testing confirmed their safety. The second aim of the present PhD thesis was to optimize the activity of the resultant methanolic extracts through encapsulation in different types of nanocarriers: polymeric nanoparticles based on PLGA and poly-Ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) and lipid-based nanoparticles (ethosomes). The so obtained nanoparticulate formulations were analysed in terms of particle size and morphology, physicochemical stability over the time, extract encapsulation efficiency, release profile and biological activities (e.g., anti-inflammatory activity, collagenase inhibition, antioxidant activity). Small and well-defined polymeric nanoparticles and ethosomes were prepared. The highest encapsulation efficiency (76%) was found in PLGA nanoparticles. The same happened for the anti-inflammatory activity (60.7 ± 9.0%). On the other hand, ethosomes presented a very promising value of collagenase inhibition. At the end, this thesis validates and supports the scientific evidence of potential uses of S. nigra as a therapeutic agent, in the case of polymeric nanoparticles, or as cosmetic ingredient, in the case of ethosomes. However, further studies should be carried out, hopefully attracting interest from pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Sambucus Nigra Extracts–Natural Antioxidants and Antimicrobial Compounds

Article

Full-text available

May 2021
MOLECULES

Due to the health-promoting properties of elderberry fruits, which result from their rich chemical composition, this raw material is widely used in herbal medicine and the food industry. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the antibacterial activity of the elderberry fruit extracts. The research showed that the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the extracts determined their antibacterial activity. The research showed that the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the extracts determined their antibacterial activity. The following phenolic acids were predominant: chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, and t-cinnamic acid. Their average content was, respectively, 139.09, 72.84, 51.29 mg/g extract. Rutin and quercetin (their average content was 1105.39 and 306.6 mg/g extract, respectively) were the dominant flavonoids. The research showed that the elderberry polyphenol extracts exhibited activity against selected strains of bacteria within the concentration range of 0.5–0.05%. The following bacteria were the most sensitive to the extracts: Micrococcus luteus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas fragii, and Escherichia coli. Of the compounds under analysis, apigenin, kaempferol and ferulic, protocatechuic, and p-coumarin acids had the greatest influence on the high antibacterial activity of elderberry extracts. The results of the microbiological and chemical analyses of the composition of the extracts were analyzed statistically to indicate the bioactive compounds of the greatest antimicrobial significance.

Kara Mürverin (Sambucus nigra L.) Besinsel İçeriği ve Fonksiyonel Özellikleri

Article

Apr 2021

Kara mürver (Sambucus nigra) Adoxaceae familyasında, Avrupa, Asya, Kuzey Afrika ve ABD’ye özgü bir bitki türüdür. Kara mürver bitkisi; yuvarlak şekilli, mor-siyah renkli, 3-5 çekirdekli, küçük meyvelere sahiptir. Sambucus türlerinin kimyasal yapısını; majör bileşikler, flavonoidler, fenolik asitler, antosiyanidoller, triterpenler, lektinler, siyanojenik heterozitler ve uçucu yağlar oluşturmaktadır. Mürver türleri önemli miktarda lektin içermektedirler. Mürver meyveleri zengin antosiyanin içerikleri ile yüksek antioksidan aktivite göstermektedir. Antioksidan aktivitesi sayesinde insan sağlığında soğuk algınlığı, grip, kanser, diyabet gibi birçok hastalığa karşı terapötik etkiye sahiptir. Antioksidan özelliğinin yanı sıra; antiviral, antidepresan, antienflamatuvar ve antikarsinojenik gibi çeşitli aktiviteler de göstermektedir. Kara mürver, tüm bu özellikleri ile modern gıda ve tıbbi ürünlerin zenginleştirilmesi ve/veya geliştirilmesinde önemli katkı sağlayabilme potansiyeline sahip bir bitkidir. Bu makale kara mürver meyvesinin besinsel içeriği ve fonksiyonel özellikleri ile ilgili yapılan çalışmaları derlemektedir ve gelecekte yapılabilecek çalışmalara ışık tutmayı amaçlamaktadır.

ANTI-QUORUM SENSING AND ANTITUMOR ACTIVITY OF PRUNELLA VULGARIS, SAMBUCUS NIGRA, CALENDULA OFFICINALIS: potential use in food industry

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2021

With the emergence of health related side effects of synthetic substances, the trend towards natural products has increased and has directed researchers to determine their pharmacological properties. At the same time, the resistance of the microorganisms to the antibiotics used in the treatment revealed that they should be controlled without allowing them to gain resistance. In this study, the total phenolic content, volatile composition and antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-quorum sensing and antitumor activities of Prunella vulgaris, Sambucus nigra and Calendula officinalis extracts were determined. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was determined by the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) method, volatile component analyses were determined by GC-MS, and antimicrobial activity was determined by the disc diffusion method. Chromobacterium violaceum 026 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens A136 were used to determine the anti-quorum sensing activity. Additionally, the antitumor potential of the extracts was determined by the potato disc method. Prunella vulgaris was the plant with the highest antioxidant capacity, while the extract with the highest antimicrobial activity was determined to be Sambucus nigra against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The results showed that all extracts have anti-quorum sensing properties. Prunella vulgaris was the plant with the highest anti-quorum sensing properties. There was a correlation between the extract concentration and tumor inhibition. The Prunella vulgaris extract was found to have the highest antitumor activity. As a result, it was determined that the plants used in the study have the potential to be used in alternative medicine treatment and can be utilized for the control of microorganisms.

Thesis

Full-text available

Nov 2020

Julia Wermig-Morgan

Elderberry extract from fruit and flowers appears to show some inhibitory effect against many microorganisms including those found as nosocomial pathogens (hospital “super-bugs”) e.g. MRSA; HIV; Mycoplasmae; IBV coronavirus (an envelope virus), and influenza (and its bacterial super-infections). These effects may be stronger in-vivo than in-vitro. The immunomodulatory effects of S. nigra have been investigated and appear to show that the plant would be likely to stimulate the immune systems of the weak or immune-compromised. It has also been investigated to see whether it would exacerbate or mitigate a cytokine storm, and does not seem to make one worse and might dampen it. Elderberry is also shown to have potential as an ingredient in a hospital disinfectant for which in-vitro trials are sufficient, and without effective disinfectants modern medicine will become impossible. The S. nigra inactivates two distinct envelope viruses and should be tested on Ebola, also an envelope virus, as it is likely that it may inactivate that too. It should also be tested on SARS and other novel coronaviruses such as COVID-19 which are all envelope viruses. Other species of Sambucus appear to have very similar properties including inhibiting coronaviruses. Elderberry seems to have potential as a useful medicine, particularly since there are reasons to believe resistance to it is unlikely to ever develop. It might be possible to use it in combination with leeks (Gallium porrum) which are also anti-viral. Elderberry has been shown to be effective against upper respiratory tract diseases including some Coronaviruses, and has potential against the current pandemic of Covid-19. Two case studies, included here, suggest it to be effective against Covid-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2, and clinical trials are under way. In-vitro trials are planned to test it against other viral possible future pandemics.

The comparative study of medicinal plants utilization as herbal antibiotics by college students

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2019

The medicinal plant utilization has become more and more popular and increasing number of consumers prefer alternative medicine to synthetic antibiotic. Research dealing with evaluation of medicinal plant usage as herbal antibiotics including the sample of 584 quizzed college students aged 19 – 25 years (337 women, 217 men) originated from Slovak Republic (n = 338), Czech Republic (n = 112) and Hungary (n = 134). According to university and the study programme the following groups were evaluated: Constantine the Philosopher University CPU (PEES – Pre-school and elementary education in Slovak language, PEEH – Pre-school and elementary education in Hungarian language, BI – Biology, RT – Regional Tourism), Mendel University in Brno MU (H – Horticulture), Slovak University of Agriculture SUA (H – Horticulture), University of Pécs UP (PE – Physical education), Comenius University CU (PE – Physical education). The study was aimed at the evaluation of the significance of the country and the study programme for the use of the most commonly used herbs: plantain, elderberry, stinging nettle, ginger and coneflower (Echinacea). Our results showed that the choice of preferred medicinal plants as herbal antibiotics during illness had not been clearly influenced by country or field of study programme. Plantain was the most frequently used herb by students of UP/PE (51.5%), CPU/PEES and CPU/PEEH (47.9%; 41.1%). Elderberry was the most popular herb among the students CPU/BI (52.9%), CPU/RT and SUA/H (37.8%). Stinging nettle was preferred as the most popular herb in groups of CPU/RT (46%). The significantly lower consumption of Echinacea was noticed in MU/H 4.5% in comparison with groups, CU/PE 26.4% (p

The morphological and antioxidant characteristics of inflorescences within wild-growing genotypes of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.)

Article

Full-text available

May 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the basic morphological characteristics (weight, length) and antioxidant activity (using DPPH method) of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) inflorescences as well as some elderberry-derived food products prepared from fresh (honey, alcoholic extract, tea infusions) and dried inflorescences (syrup). For the study of problematic, it was used 113 wild-growing genotypes of elderberry from 56 locations in Slovakia growing at an altitude of 98.15-712.32 m. The weight of fresh inflorescences ranged from 0.45 to 57.59 g (75.65% coefficient of variation value), the total length of inflorescences ranged from 19.0 to 282.0 mm (22.42%), the length of inflorescence´s stems from 9.0 to 197.0 mm (31.51%), a number of petals predominated pentanumerous petals. Variability in primary and secondary branching reported a low to high degree of variability among as well as within the genotypes. Results showed significant differences in the shape of inflorescences and the colour of flowers among each genotype. Antioxidant activity by DPPH method in elderberry inflorescence water extract was between 85.12 and 89.29%. Activation of tea infusions and beverages was ensured using a mechanism Kalyxx based on galvanic effect. In beverages made from 10% diluted honey prepared from fresh inflorescences in the carbohydrate-based extract, anti-radical activity was determined in the range of 16.81-24.16%. In an alcoholic extract from fresh inflorescences, anti-radical activity was between 90.99 and 93.16%. In beverages acquired from the syrup of flowers, we identified antioxidant activity ranging from 37.92 (10%) to 62.82% (40%). Results indicated that elderberry inflorescences and elderberry-derived food products can be attractive to consumers and in future can increase the assortments of healthy products.

Antimicrobial activity of four varieties of plants against pathogens clinical significance in Colombia

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2017

Objetivo. Evaluar la actividad antimicrobiana de los extractos de las plantas Bauhinia sp., Sambucus nigra, Eichhornia crassipes y Taraxacum officinale frente a patógenos de importancia clínica. Método. La metodología incluyó la adquisición, secado, maceración, molienda, preparación de los extractos crudos etanólicos y concentración por rotaevaporación, análisis fitoquimico y se separaron las fracciones por cromatografía en capa fina. Las pruebas antimicrobianas se realizaron con diferentes concentraciones de los extractos según las indicaciones de Clinical and Laboratory Standars Institute. Los microorganismos utilizados fueron Enterococcus faecium resistente a vancomicina, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae con presencia de KPC, Providencia rettgeri con presencia de ESBLs, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus (3-lisina y Candida albicans. Resultados. Las cromatografías permitieron comprobar la presencia de flavonoides, terpenos, saponinas, fenoles, quinonas y alcaloides que han sido reportados con actividad antimicrobiana. En los ensayos de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana se encontró que los extractos presentaban diversos grados de inhibición frente a los microrganismos de estudio, siendo el más eficaz los tallos de T. officinale. Conclusión. Se puede concluir que los extractos vegetales podrían ser una alternativa de tratamiento para infecciones nosocomiales.

Bacterial development of resistance to botanical antimicrobials

Article

Aug 2017
J BIOTECHNOL

Actividad antimicrobiana de cuatro variedades de plantas frente a patógenos de importancia clínica en Colombia

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2017

p>Objetivo. Evaluar la actividad antimicrobiana de los extractos de las plantas Bauhinia sp., Sambucus nigra, Eichhornia crassipes y Taraxacum officinale frente a patógenos de importancia clínica. Método. La metodología incluyó la adquisición, secado, maceración, molienda, preparación de los extractos crudos etanólicos y concentración por rotaevaporación, análisis fitoquimico y se separaron las fracciones por cromatografía en capa fina. Las pruebas antimicrobianas se realizaron con diferentes concentraciones de los extractos según las indicaciones de Clinical and Laboratory Standars Institute. Los microorganismos utilizados fueron Enterococcus faecium resistente a vancomicina, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae con presencia de KPC, Providencia rettgeri con presencia de ESBLs, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus β-lisina y Candida albicans. Resultados. Las cromatografías permitieron comprobar la presencia de flavonoides, terpenos, saponinas, fenoles, quinonas y alcaloides que han sido reportados con actividad antimicrobiana. En los ensayos de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana se encontró que los extractos presentaban diversos grados de inhibición frente a los microrganismos de estudio, siendo el más eficaz los tallos de T. officinale. Conclusión. Se puede concluir que los extractos vegetales podrían ser una alternativa de tratamiento para infecciones nosocomiales.</p

Plant-based remedies for wolf bites and rituals against wolves in the Iberian Peninsula: Therapeutic opportunities and cultural values for the conservation of biocultural diversity

Article

Sep 2017

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Combined approaches to local knowledge and folk plant use improve awareness and promote effective strategies for the conservation of significant biocultural patrimony. Moreover, the information reported might be the basis for further appropriate phytochemical and pharmacological research. Therefore we provide an insight into traditional herbal remedies and practices for healing bite injuries in humans and domestic animals caused by the Iberian wolf. Wolf bites are associated with inflammatory processes and rabies is a potential complication AIMS: This paper describes and summarises the medicinal-veterinary empirical and ritual uses of the Iberian flora for wolf injuries and reviews the ethnopharmacological data of specific plants that are already published. The Iberian wolf is a critically endangered subspecies of the grey wolf. Livestock attacks attributed to wolves are increasingly frequent in the Iberian Peninsula, resulting in serious social problems. Interesting strategies for Iberian wolf conservation might be related to traditional grazing practices that are deeply linked with empirical knowledge and local practices passed on by oral tradition, which are also vulnerable now. Materials and methods: Based on documentary sources from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present, we systematically searched old monographs, regional documents, technical papers, project reports, as well as the international and national databases and the available scientific literature, without restrictions regarding the language of the publications consulted. Results: A total of 39 remedies for healing wolf bite injuries in humans and domestic animals was reported, highlighting the medicinal use of 33 species of vascular plants, mostly wild herbs, belonging to 18 botanical families. The use of wood ashes was also reported. The number of use-reports found represents a very high number considering similar European studies. Leaves were the predominant plant part mentioned. Boiling plant materials in water for topical uses was the most frequent method of preparation found. Some traditional remedies combined two or more plant species in order to potentiate their effects. Moreover, some plant-based traditional practices and rituals to ward off wolves and to prevent wolf attacks were also documented. In these practices eleven other species (belonging to seven more families) were used. Conclusions: Despite the decline of the Iberian wolf over the last few decades, wolves are still in the imaginary of rural communities that perceive this large carnivore as both a diabolic creature and a mythic and benign animal. Wolf-related cultural heritage is of great interest in terms of conservation strategies. This review emphasises the importance of local knowledge and provides useful information about several potential sources of phytochemicals and their claimed therapeutic effects, aiming at contributing to the conservation and appreciation of the Iberian biocultural heritage.

Triagem fitoquímica e avaliação da atividade antibacteriana de extratos das flores de Sambucus nigra L. (Caprifoliaceae)

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2015

RESUMO O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar a triagem fitoquímica e avaliar a atividade antibacteriana de extratos das flores de Sambucus nigraL. Os extratos; aquoso (10 %), etanólico (5 %) e Acetato de etila (5 %) foram submetidos a testes colorimétricos para triagem fitoquímica e a avaliação da atividade antibacteriana foi realizada pelo método de disco-difusão em ágar. Os resultados mostraram que nas concentrações de 6 e 12 mg o extrato aquoso apresentou halos significativos de inibição para Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Streptococcus pyogenes, porém, quando comparado aos medicamentos usados como referência a atividade não foi satisfatória, e, ainda, evidenciou a ausência de inibição para todas as cepas testadas com o aumento da concentração para 18 e 24 mg. A análise da triagem fitoquímica evidenciou a presença de flavonoides com intensa reação de cor no extrato aquoso e etanólico, e de fraca intensidade no extrato acetato de etila. Nos mesmos extratos, pelos testes realizados, não foram detectados taninos, saponinas, antraquinonas e alcaloides. Concluiu-se que o extrato aquoso apresentou melhor efeito inibitório para Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Streptococcus pyogenes, porém insuficiente para promover a inativação eficiente quando comparado aos controles.

Bez czarny (Sambucus nigra) domowy sposób nie tylko na grypę i przeziębienie

Article

Full-text available

May 2013

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts from fruits of Nitraria sibirica Pall. In vitro

Article

Dec 2015

Nitraria sibirica Pall. (Zygophyllaceae) are traditionally utilized as food or folk medicine in China. To provide the basis for exploiting Nitraria resources and developing a natural food antiseptic, we determined the in vitro radical scavenging activity and antimicrobial activities of N. sibirica fruits. For the radical scavenging activity study, fruits of N. sibirica were extracted by 70% acetone, ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol successively. The DPPH and ABTS experiment showed that water phase extract had the highest radical scavenging activity. We have isolated isorhamnetin-3-O-β-L-rutinoside and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside-7-O-glucoside from the water phase fraction, both of which are radical scavenging compounds. For antimicrobial activity study, fruits were extracted with 95% ethanol, petroleum ether, chloroform and n-butanol successively. Except n-butanol, all extracts exhibit antibacterial activity against three tested bacteria species (E. coli, B. subtilis, S. aureus). We have determined the MICs against the three bacterial species of ethyl acetate extract, which possessed the highest antibacterial activity.

Salud y Sociedad Uptc 2015 Vol 2 (No1)

Book

Jul 2015

Salud & Sociedad Uptc

La revista Salud y Sociedad Uptc, es el medio oficial de difusión científica de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia. La revista publica semestralmente manuscritos que tengan su fundamentación en disciplinas relacionadas con el campo de la salud y la psicología. Los tipos de publicación que ofrece la revista son entre otros: artículos originales, revisiones de tema, artículos de reflexión, artículos cortos, ensayos, casos clínicos y cartas al editor. El objetivo principal de la publicación es difundir trabajos de investigación u otros tipos de trabajos que aporten al conocimiento y avance en el campo de las ciencias de la salud. Esta revista provee acceso libre inmediato a su contenido a través de su página web, bajo el principio de globalización del conocimiento.

Pentacyclic Triterpene Distribution in Various Plants – Rich Sources for a New Group of Multi-Potent Plant Extracts

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2009
MOLECULES

Pentacyclic triterpenes are secondary plant metabolites widespread in fruit peel, leaves and stem bark. In particular the lupane-, oleanane-, and ursane triterpenes display various pharmacological effects while being devoid of prominent toxicity. Therefore, these triterpenes are promising leading compounds for the development of new multi-targeting bioactive agents. Screening of 39 plant materials identified triterpene rich (> 0.1% dry matter) plant parts. Plant materials with high triterpene concentrations were then used to obtain dry extracts by accelerated solvent extraction resulting in a triterpene content of 50 - 90%. Depending on the plant material, betulin (birch bark), betulinic acid (plane bark), oleanolic acid (olive leaves, olive pomace, mistletoe sprouts, clove flowers), ursolic acid (apple pomace) or an equal mixture of the three triterpene acids (rosemary leaves) are the main components of these dry extracts. They are quantitatively characterised plant extracts supplying a high concentration of actives and therefore can be used for development of phytopharmaceutical formulations.

An examination of antibacterial and antifungal properties of constituents described in traditional Ulster cures and remedies

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2009
Ulster Med J

Traditional herbal cures and remedies have played an important historical role in the treatment of a variety of illnesses and diseases in Northern Ireland for the last three hundred years. Recently, these have been reviewed in the publication by Linda Ballard from the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra, Co. Down, which details the variety of local plants used and for what purpose. From this publication and another related publication, we note the description of several plant species that consistently appear in traditional cures and remedies, particularly used to treat infections and infectious diseases. Unfortunately, although these plants have strong associations with the local historical evidence base, there are very limited and mainly no formal publications in the medical/scientific evidence base, examining their scientific background and clinical efficacy.

An Approach to Traditional Cures in Ulster

Article

Feb 2009
Ulster Med J

Linda-May Ballard

An examination of antibacterial and antifungal properties of constituents of Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) mushrooms

Article

Mar 2009

Antibiotic agents have been in widespread and largely effective therapeutic use since their discovery in the 20th century. However, the emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens now presents an increasing global challenge to both human and veterinary medicine. It is now widely acknowledged that there is a need to develop novel antimicrobial agents to minimize the threat of further antimicrobial resistance. With this in mind, a study was undertaken to examine the antimicrobial properties of aqueous extracts of 'exotic' Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms on a range of environmental and clinically important microorganisms. Several batches of Shiitake and oyster mushrooms were purchased fresh from a local supermarket and underwent aqueous extraction of potential antimicrobial components. After reconstitution, aqueous extracts were tested qualitatively against a panel of 29 bacterial and 10 fungal pathogens, for the demonstration of microbial inhibition. Our data quantitatively showed that Shiitake mushroom extract had extensive antimicrobial activity against 85% of the organisms it was tested on, including 50% of the yeast and mould species in the trial. This compared favourably with the results from both the Positive control (Ciprofloxacin) and Oyster mushroom, in terms of the number of species inhibited by the activity of the metabolite(s) inherent to the Shiitake mushroom. This small scale study shows the potential antimicrobial effects of Shitake extracts, however further work to isolate and identify the active compound(s) now requires to be undertaken. Once these have been identified, suitable pharmaceutical delivery systems should be explored to allow concentrated extracts to be prepared and delivered optimally, rather than crude ingestion of raw material, which could promote further bacterial resistance.

Antimicrobial properties of shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes)

Article

Jun 2009

Background: Antibiotic agents have been in widespread and largely effective therapeutic use since their discovery in the 20th century. However, the emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens now presents an increasing global challenge to both human and veterinary medicine. It is now widely acknowledged that there is a need to develop novel antimicrobial agents to minimize the threat of further antimicrobial resistance. With this in mind, a study was undertaken to examine the antimicrobial properties of aqueous extracts of 'exotic' Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms on a range of environmental and clinically important microorganisms. Method: Several batches of Shiitake and oyster mushrooms were purchased fresh from a local supermarket and underwent aqueous extraction of potential antimicrobial components. After reconstitution, aqueous extracts were tested qualitatively against a panel of 29 bacterial and 10 fungal pathogens, for the demonstration of microbial inhibition. Results: Our data quantitatively showed that Shiitake mushroom extract had extensive antimicrobial activity against 85% of the organisms it was tested on, including 50% of the yeast and mould species in the trial. This compared favourably with the results from both the Positive control (Ciprofloxacin) and Oyster mushroom, in terms of the number of species inhibited by the activity of the metabolite(s) inherent to the Shiitake mushroom. Conclusions: This small scale study shows the potential antimicrobial effects of Shitake extracts, however further work to isolate and identify the active compound(s) now requires to be undertaken. Once these have been identified, suitable pharmaceutical delivery systems should be explored to allow concentrated extracts to be prepared and delivered optimally, rather than crude ingestion of raw material, which could promote further bacterial resistance.

Lectins from Sambucus nigra L. inflorescences: Isolation and investigation of biological activity using procaryotic test-systems

Article

Sep 2007

Isolation of lectins from extracts of the Sambucus nigra inflorescences and of pollen material have been performed using isoelectric focusing without carrier ampholytes (autofocusing). Fractions active in agglutination tests with different carbohydrate specificity were subjected to SDS-PAGE. The major lectin found in whole inflores-cences was GalNAc specific and is proposed to be a heterotetramer with subunits of about 30 and 33 kDa. It was called SNAflu-I. At least two other lectins were present in the pollen material and supposed to consist of identical subunits. Major positively charged lectin was Glc/Man specific with subunit of 26 kDa and called SNApol-I. Other pollen component (SNApol-II) was Gal specific with subunit of about 20 kDa. In order to elucidate cell targets sensitive for the S. nigra lectin's activity the combined effects of the lectins and transcriptional of phenazine origin on B. subtilis cells growth have been studied. Only SNApol-I demonstrated the antagonistic activity against these inhibitors in vivo. This lectin but not the SNAflu-I can also inhibit transcription in vitro. It is supposed that lectins from the same source may act in different directions on cell metabolism. Particularly one of the common targets may be the DNA-dependent synthesis of RNA.

Antibacterial activity of honey against community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA)

Article

Jun 2008
Compl Ther Clin Pract

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has now been described globally, as a clinically significant pathogen, particularly associated with skin and soft tissue infections, including abscesses, cellulitis and furunculosis. The recent emergence of CA-MRSA combined with its predominant presentation associated with skin and soft tissue infection, the previous literature indicating honey as an effective treatment of healthcare-associated HA-MRSA-related wound infection, as well as honey's ease of topical application, make the current study timely and of interest to healthcare practitioners involved with wound management. Although previous studies have examined the antimicrobial activity of honey against HA-MRSA, such data are limited regarding the activity of honey against this emerging type of MRSA. CA-MRSA (n=6 isolates), was examined for its susceptibility to natural honey (n=3 honey produced from bees in Northern Ireland and one commercial French honey). Results demonstrated that all honey was able to reduce the cultural count of all CA-MRSA from approximately 10(6) colony-forming units (cfus) (mean = 6.46 log10 cfu/g) to none detectable within 24h of co-culture of separate CA-MRSA organisms individually with all four-honey types examined. Subsequent non-selective enrichment of honey demonstrated that inoculated honey remained positive for CA-MRSA until 72h postinoculation, after which point no culturable organisms could be detected. This study demonstrated that, in vitro, these natural products had an antimicrobial activity against the CA-MRSA organisms tested. Further studies are now required to demonstrate if this antimicrobial activity has any clinical application.

Effects of extracts from Italian medicinal Plants on planktonic growth, biofilm formation and adherence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Article

May 2008
J ETHNOPHARMACOL

One-third of botanical remedies from southern Italy are used to treat skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI). Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of SSTI, has generated increasing concern due to drug resistance. Many plants possess antimicrobial agents and provide effective remedies for SSTI. Our aim was to investigate plants from different ethnobotanical usage groups for inhibition of growth and biofilms in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Three groups were assessed: plant remedies for SSTI, plant remedies not involving the skin, and plants with no ethnomedical application. We screened 168 extracts, representing 104 botanical species, for activity against MRSA (ATCC 33593). We employed broth dilution methods to determine the MIC after 18 h growth using an optical density (OD 600 nm) reading. Anti-biofilm effects were assessed by growing biofilms for 40 h, then fixing and staining with crystal violet. After washing, 10% Tween 80 was added and OD 570 nm readings were taken. Extracts from 10 plants exhibited an IC50<or=32 microg/ml for biofilm inhibition: Lonicera alpigena, Castanea sativa, Juglans regia, Ballota nigra, Rosmarinus officinalis, Leopoldia comosa, Malva sylvestris, Cyclamen hederifolium, Rosa canina, and Rubus ulmifolius. Limited bacteriostatic activity was evident. This study has demonstrated that the anti-biofilm activity of medicinal plants used for SSTI is significantly greater than plants without any ethnomedical applications.

Antibacterial activity of elder (Sambucus nigra L.) flower or berry against hospital pathogens

Abstract

No full-text available

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