Analysis of Pathogens of Urinary Tract Infections Associated with Indwelling Double-J Stents and Their Susceptibility to Globularia alypum

Ureteral double-J stents are frequently used to prevent urinary obstruction. They can develop bacterial colonization and encrustation, which leads to persistent infections that seldom respond to antibiotic treatment. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate the local spectrum of bacterial pathogens and their susceptibility to natural compounds. A total of 59 double-J ureteral stents from 59 consecutive patients were examined. The samples were inoculated on agar culture mediums. Extracts of Globularia alypum L. were evaluated for their antibacterial activity with the diffusion and broth dilution methods; for antibiofilm activity, the crystal violet assay was used. The identification and the quantification of the different constituents of extracts were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Bacterial growth was found in three patients (5.1%). Enterococcus faecalis (1.7%), Acinetobacter baumanii (1.7%), and Pseudomonas putida (1.7%) strains were more commonly detected. They were resistant to several common antibiotics. All extracts presented several components, mainly nepetin-7-glucoside and trans-ferulic-acid, and they had antibacterial activity (MIC = 6.25 mg/mL and MBC = 6.25 mg/mL), and antibiofilm (59.70% at 25 mg/mL) properties, especially against Acinetobacter baumanii. The results achieved confirm the important role of this plant as a source of therapeutic activities.

The Role of Globularia alypum Explored Ex Vivo In Vitro on Human Colon Biopsies from Ulcerative Colitis Patients

The existing literature indicates that Globularia alypum L. (GA) influences inflammation and oxidative stress modulation in rats and in vitro. The present study aims to investigate the effects of this plant in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and normal controls. In our experiments, we pretreated colon biopsies from 46 UC patients and normal controls with GA leaves aqueous extract (GAAE) used at two concentrations (50 and 100 µg/mL) for 3 h, followed by Lipopolysaccharides (from Escherichia coli) stimulation. We analyzed the effects on inflammation by studying the cyclo-oxygenase-2, the intercellular adhesion molecule-1, the nuclear factor kappa B, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression. Moreover, we assessed the levels of interleukin 6, the superoxide dismutase activity, and nitric oxide release in the supernatant of cultures. Our data showed that GAAE influences UC patients and normal controls for most studied markers and enzymes. These results acknowledge, with some scientific evidence, the traditional belief in the anti-inflammatory properties of GA and represent the first demonstration of its effect in a human in vitro model of inflammatory conditions.

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.

Anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-antipyretic and analgesic activities of Globularia alypum extracts

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycaemic, analgesic and antipyretic activities of Globularia alypum (GA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

GA methanol and water extracts (GAME, GAWE) were administered to high-fat-high-glucose diet (HFFD) rats.

RESULTS

This study showed that GAME exhibited the highest antioxidant, anti-α-amylase and anti-lipase activities, with half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values 0.067, 1.05 and 2.97 mg/ml respectively. In HFFD rats, the administration of GAME inhibited lipase activity by 36, 37 and 30% in the intestine, pancreas and serum, respectively, reduced body weight by 17.7% and modulated lipid profile. In addition, administration of GAME to HFFD-rats decreased α-amylase activity, improved glucose level and protected liver function. Furthermore, the administration of GA extracts to rats revealed antipyretic (reduction in writhing by 64%) and analgesic (decrease of temperature by 1.11 °C) activities.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that GA extracts exhibited an anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycaemia, anti-pyretic and analgesic activities.

Globularia alypum methanolic extract improves burn wound healing process and inflammation in rats and possesses antibacterial and antioxidant activities

Burns are known as one of the most common and destructive forms of injury with a vast spectrum of consequences. Despite the discovery of various antibacterial and antiseptic agents, burn wound healing still has remained a challenge to modern medicine. Plants have been considered as potential agents for prevention and treatment of disorders in recent years. Globularia alypum L. (GA) is widely used in folk medicine against skin diseases and abscesses, however there is no scientific evidence justifying its use. This study aimed to evaluate the wound healing and anti-inflammatory effect, the antibacterial and antioxidant activities, as well as the chemical compositions of GA methanolic extract (GAME). Chemical compounds of GAME were examined by GC-MS. Wound healing effect was assessed by second-degree burn wounds in rats, anti-inflammatory activity was studied by carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, antioxidant activity was estimated by the DPPH, reducing power and β-carotene tests and antimicrobial activity was tested against 6 bacteria. A total of 17 compounds were identified. GAME-treated rats showed an improvement in healing process and carrageenan-induced hind paws edema as assessed by histological and biochemical investigations, compared to the control. A significant antioxidant and antibacterial activities were also observed in GAME-treated rats. GAME revealed a burn wound healing activity probably due to the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of its phytochemical contents. Thus, this study confirms its traditional use, however further more precise studies are needed for future clinical application.

(Globulariaceae) leaves by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS

INTRODUCTION

Globularia alypum L., belonging to the Globulariaceae family, is a perennial wild shrub found throughout the Mediterranean area, Europe, and Africa. This plant is widely used to treat many diseases, but no previous work on the phytochemical composition of the Algerian G. alypum species has yet been reported.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the phytoconstituents of the methanolic extract of G. alypum using an LC-ESI-QTOF-MS method.

METHODS

Ground air-dried leaves of G. alypum were macerated with methanol at room temperature for 24 h. The supernatant was filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure in a rotary evaporator, and extracts were recovered with methanol and filtered. Afterwards, the G. alypum extract was injected into the LC-ESI-QTOF-MS system.

RESULTS

The combined LC-MS/MS led to the tentative characterisation of 63 phytochemicals. In this work, a large number of compounds have been characterised in the leaf-extract analysis of this plant. Among others, 24 iridoids and secoiridoids were found, of which nine compounds have not previously been recorded in G. alypum. Also, nine unusual phenylethanoid glycosides were characterised for the first time in this species.

CONCLUSION

The method used has proved to be a valued tool for the characterisation of a wide range of compounds from G. alypum leaves. This work constitutes a detailed investigation of the chemical composition of G. alypum leaves, which are widely used in different traditional systems of medicine.