Antibacterial and antibiotic-potentiation activity of the constituents from aerial part of Donella welwitshii (Sapotaceae) against multidrug resistant phenotypes

Geoherbalism Metabolomic Analysis of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. by LC-Triple TOF-MS/MS and GC-MS

The rhizome of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. (AL), called Maocangzhu in Chinese, is a geoherbalism medical herb in Jiangsu Province that is often used in the prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), such as for the treatment of COVID-19. The landform and climatic environment of each province varies greatly from south to north, which has an important influence on the chemical constituents in AL. However, there is a lack of research on the significance of its geoherbalism, especially in water-soluble parts other than volatile oil. In this study, eight known compounds were isolated and obtained as reference substances from AL. In addition, liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-triple TOF-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to analyze and characterize chemical constituents from different habitats. Moreover, orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was applied to reveal the differential metabolomics in AL from different habitats based on the qualitative information of the chemical constituents. Results showed that a total of 33 constituents from GC-MS and 106 constituents from LC-triple TOF-MS/MS were identified or inferred, including terpenoids, polyacetylenes, and others; meanwhile, the fragmentation pathways of different types of compounds were preliminarily deduced from the fragmentation behavior of the major constituents. According to the variable importance in projection (VIP) and p-values, only one volatile differential metabolite was identified by GC-MS screening: β-eudesmol. Overall, five differential metabolites were identified by LC-triple TOF-MS/MS screening: sucrose, 4(15),11-eudesmadiene; atractylenolide I, 3,5,11-tridecatriene-7,9-diyne-1,2-diacetate, and (3Z,5E,11E)-tridecatriene-7,9-diynyl-1-O-(E)-ferulate. This study provides metabolomic information for the establishment of a comprehensive quality evaluation system for AL.

Triterpenoid and Steroid Content of Lipophilic Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants of the Mediterranean Region

The available phytochemical characteristics of the medicinal plants and derived herbal material often lack data concerning the content of steroids (including phytosterols) and triterpenoids, that can be responsible for various beneficial properties and therapeutic effects, either directly, or as a result of synergistic action with other bioactive constituents. The aim of the present work was the analysis of the content of these compounds in herbal material (leaves, aerial parts) derived from selected medicinal plants (Cistus ladanifer, Cistus monspeliensis, Erica arborea, Globularia alypum, Pistacia lentiscus, Rhamnus alaternus), widely used in folk medicine in the Mediterranean region. Results obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-targeted profiling revealed the diversity in the profiles and contents of steroids and triterpenoids in the analyzed plant material, ranging from 5.7% d.w. in E. arborea to 0.1% in G. alypum. The obtained results supplement the existing phytochemical data of the investigated medicinal plants, pointing to the E. arborea aerial parts and P. lentiscus leaves as valuable resources of phytosterols and bioactive triterpenoids.

Antimicrobial potential of the Mayan medicine plant Matayba oppositifolia (A. Rich.) Britton against antibiotic-resistant priority pathogens

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The bark of Matayba oppositifolia (A. Rich.) Britton (commonly known as "huaya" or "palo huacax") is commonly utilized in traditional Mayan medicine for treating diarrhea and for canker and other sores.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to investigate the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of M. oppositifolia bark extracts against drug-susceptible and -resistant ESKAPE-E pathogens. In addition, the phytochemical composition of the best antibacterial extract was analyzed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The bark extracts were prepared with different solvents, including water, n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. These were tested against ESKAPE-E (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp., including Escherichia coli) strains using Resazurin Microtiter Assay. In addition, the composition of the most active extract was analyzed by GC-MS.

RESULTS

The aqueous and organic bark extracts showed activity on drug-susceptible and -resistant ESKAPE-E microbes (MIC = 1000-31.25 μg/mL). The n-hexane bark extract was more active against the superbugs carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (MIC = 500-31.25 μg/mL) and A. baumannii (MIC = 250-125 μg/mL). The GC-MS analysis of this extract allowed the identification of 12 phytochemicals as the potential antibacterial compounds. The major compounds identified were palmitic acid (1), friedelan-3-one (2) and 7-dehydrodiosgenin (3).

CONCLUSION

The present study reveals the strong in-vitro antibacterial activity of the n-hexane extract from the bark of M. oppositifolia and demonstrates the potential of natural products as a source of antibacterial compounds or phytomedicines that are specifically effective against drug-resistant ESKAPE-E bugs. Additionally, our investigation contributes to the ethnopharmacological knowledge and reappraisal of Mayan medicinal flora, as well as supports the traditional use of the bark of the medicinal plant M. oppositifolia for the treatment of infectious diseases.