Antistaphylococcal and biofilm inhibitory activities of acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid from Boswellia serrata.

BACKGROUND: Boswellic acids are pentacyclic triterpenes, which are produced in plants belonging to the genus Boswellia. Boswellic acids appear in the resin exudates of the plant and it makes up 25-35% of the resin. ß-boswellic acid, 11-keto-ß-boswellic acid and acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid have been implicated in apoptosis of cancer cells, particularly that of brain tumors and cells affected by leukemia or colon cancer. These molecules are also associated with potent antimicrobial activities. The present study describes the antimicrobial activities of boswellic acid molecules against 112 pathogenic bacterial isolates including ATCC strains. Acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (AKBA), which exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity, was further evaluated in time kill studies, postantibiotic effect (PAE) and biofilm susceptibility assay. The mechanism of action of AKBA was investigated by propidium iodide uptake, leakage of 260 and 280 nm absorbing material assays. RESULTS: AKBA was found to be the most active compound showing an MIC range of 2-8 µg/ml against the entire gram positive bacterial pathogens tested. It exhibited concentration dependent killing of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 up to 8 × MIC and also demonstrated postantibiotic effect (PAE) of 4.8 h at 2 × MIC. Furthermore, AKBA inhibited the formation of biofilms generated by S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and also reduced the preformed biofilms by these bacteria. Increased uptake of propidium iodide and leakage of 260 and 280 nm absorbing material by AKBA treated cells of S aureus indicating that the antibacterial mode of action of AKBA probably occurred via disruption of microbial membrane structure. CONCLUSIONS: This study supported the potential use of AKBA in treating S. aureus infections. AKBA can be further exploited to evolve potential lead compounds in the discovery of new anti-Gram-positive and anti-biofilm agents.

Synthesis of (3-nitro-2-oxo-benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazonato)-zinc(II) complexes: the position of nitro group in phenyl ring alters antimicrobial activity against K. pneumoniae 1, S. typhimurium 2, MRSA and C. albicans.

The basic purpose of this investigation was to explore the effect on antimicrobial activity of a nitro group at an ortho- versus para-position in the 2-hydroxy-phenyl ring of nitro-salicylaldehyde-N-substituted thiosemicarbazone (X-NO2-stscH2-N1HR, X = 3 or 5; stsc-stands for salicyladehyde thiosemicarbazone) complexes with zinc. Reactions of zinc(ii) acetate with 3-nitro-salicylaldehyde-N-substituted thiosemicarbazones (3-NO2-stscH2-N1HR) and 2,2-bipyridine, or 1,10-phenanthroline as co-ligands, yielded complexes of stoichiometry, [Zn(3-NO2-stsc-N1HR)(N,N-L)] {L, R: bipy, H, 1; Me, 2; Et, 3; Ph, 4; phen, H, 5; Me, 6; Et, 7; Ph, 8}. The thio-ligands coordinate to the metal as dianions (deprotonation of -OH and -N2H moieties) through O, N3 and S donor atoms in distorted trigonal bipyramid geometry (4, 5, 7: τ = 0.718-0.576) or in distorted square pyramid geometry (8: τ = 0.349). ESI-mass spectrometry supported the formation of molecular ion peaks. Complexes displayed fluorescence with λmax = 438-473 nm. It was found that these five-coordinated [Zn(3-NO2-stsc-N1HR)(N,N-L)] complexes showed high antimicrobial activity against methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae 1, Salmonella typhimurium 2 and C. albicans vis-à-vis that of 5-NO2-stscH2-N1HR zinc complexes reported earlier. However, in comparison, the antimicrobial activity of 5-nitro complexes against S. aureus was high relative to 3-nitro complexes in the present case.

Di-2-pyridylketone-N1-substituted thiosemicarbazone derivatives of copper(II): Biosafe antimicrobial potential and high anticancer activity against immortalized L6 rat skeletal muscle cells.

The basic aim of this study pertains to developing antimicrobial or anticancer agents based on N, S-donor organic ligands bonded to metals. In the present investigation, di-2-pyridylketone-N1-substituted thiosemicarbazone (py2tscH-N1HR2, Chart 2) thio-ligands were reacted with copper(I) halides in organic solvents yielding copper(II) complexes of stoichiometry, [Cu(N,N,S-py2tsc-N1HR2)X] (X = I, R2 = H, 1; Me, 2; Et, 3; Ph, 4; X = Br, R2 = H, 5; Me, 6; Et, 7; Ph, 8; X = Cl, R2 = H, 9; Me, 10; Et, 11; Ph, 12); the formation of CuII probably occurs through a proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) process. Electron spin resonance, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography (2, 3, 5, 7, 11) supported a distorted square planar geometry of these complexes. Moderate to high antimicrobial activities of these complexes against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Gram positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae 1, Salmonella typhimurium 2 and one yeast Candida albicans were recorded. Complexes were found to be biosafe with 88-91% cellular viability. All complexes have shown high anticancer activity against the immortalized L6 rat skeletal muscle cell line with very low IC50 values.

Antibacterial and phytochemical screening of Anethum graveolens, Foeniculum vulgare and Trachyspermum ammi.

BACKGROUND: Anethum graveolens Linn., Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and Trachyspermum ammi L. are widely used traditional medicinal plants to treat various ailments. To provide a scientific basis to traditional uses of these plants, their aqueous and organic seed extracts, as well as isolated phytoconstituents were evaluated for their antibacterial potential. METHODS: Antibacterial activity of aqueous and organic seed extracts was assessed using agar diffusion assay, minimum inhibitory concentration and viable cell count studies; and their antibacterial effect was compared with some standard antibiotics. The presence of major phytoconstituents was detected qualitatively and quantitatively. The isolated phytoconstituents were subjected to disc diffusion assay to ascertain their antibacterial effect. RESULTS: Hot water and acetone seed extracts showed considerably good antibacterial activity against all the bacteria except Klebsiella pneumoniae and one strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Minimum inhibitory concentration for aqueous and acetone seed extracts ranged from 20-80 mg/ml and 5-15 mg/ml respectively. Viable cell count studies revealed the bactericidal nature of the seed extracts. Statistical analysis proved the better/equal efficacy of some of these seed extracts as compared to standard antibiotics. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of 2.80 - 4.23% alkaloids, 8.58 - 15.06% flavonoids, 19.71 - 27.77% tannins, 0.55-0.70% saponins and cardiac glycosides. CONCLUSION: Antibacterial efficacy shown by these plants provides a scientific basis and thus, validates their traditional uses as homemade remedies. Isolation and purification of different phytochemicals may further yield significant antibacterial agents.

Silver derivatives of multi-donor heterocyclic thioamides as antimicrobial/anticancer agents: unusual bio-activity against methicillin resistant S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and E. faecalis and human bone cancer MG63 cell line.

The basic aim of this study pertains to the synthesis of silver nitrate complexes and the study of their antimicrobial and anticancer bio-activity. A series of new silver(i) derivatives of N-substituted-imidazolidine-2-thiones (L-NR, R = Et, Pr n , Bu n , Ph), purine-6-thione (purSH2), 2-thiouracil (tucH2), pyrimidine-2-thione (pymSH) and pyridine-2-thione (pySH) of composition [Ag(S-L-NR)(PPh3)2(ONO2)] {R = Et (1), Pr n (2), Bu n (3), Ph (4)}, [Ag2(N,S-purSH2)2(µ-dppm)2](NO3)2·2H2O (5) (dppm = Ph2P-CH2-PPh2), [Ag(L)(PPh3)2](NO3) {L = N,S-purSH2 (6); S-tucH2 (7)}, [Ag(N,S-pymS)(PPh3)2](CH3OH) (8), and [Ag(N,S-pyS)(PPh3)2] (9) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. These new and some previously reported complexes {[Ag2(L-NH)4(PPh3)2](NO3)2 (10), [Ag(L-NMe)2(PPh3)](NO3) (11), and [Ag(S-bzimSH)2(PPh3)2](OAc) (12), L-NH = 1,3-imidazolidine-2-thione; L-NMe = 1-methyl-3-imidazolidine-2-thione and bzimSH2 = benzimidazoline-2-thione)} have shown moderate to high anti-microbial activity against Gram positive bacteria, namely methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 740), and Gram negative bacteria, namely Staphylococcus epidermidis (MTCC 435), Enterococcus faecalis (MTCC 439), Shigella flexneri (MTCC 1457) and a yeast Candida albicans (MTCC 22). These complexes have also been found to be bio-safe as studied using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay. The anti-tumor study of silver complexes against human osteosarcoma cell line (MG63) has shown IC50 values in the range of 6-33 µM.

Synthesis, structures, and ESI-mass studies of silver(I) derivatives of imidazolidine-2-thiones: Antimicrobial potential and biosafety evaluation.

The basic objective of this investigation is to explore potential metallo-organic antimicrobial agents based on silver-heterocyclic-2-thiones. In this respect, a series of silver(I) halide complexes with imidazolidine-2-thiones (L-NR, R=H, Me, Et, Prn, Bun, Ph), namely, mononuclear [AgX(L-NR)(PPh3)2] (X, R: Cl, Bu, 1; Br, Ph, 7); [AgX(L-NR)3] (Br, Bu, 5; Br, Prn, 8) and halogen bridged dinuclear [Ag2(µ-X)2(L-NR)2(PPh3)2] (Cl, Bun, 2; Cl, Ph, 3; Cl, Prn, 4; Br, Ph, 6) have been synthesized and characterized using modern techniques. The thio-ligands are terminally S-bonded in all the complexes. The in vitro antimicrobial potential and biosafety evaluation of the above complexes as well as that of previously reported analogous silver complexes has been studied against Gram positive bacteria, namely, Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 740) and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Gram negative bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 109), Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC 98) and a yeast Candida albicans (MTCC 227). Most of the complexes tested have shown significant antimicrobial activity with low values of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Significantly, the activity against MRSA is an important outcome of this investigation. Among complexes tested for their cytotoxicity using MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay, some complexes showed low cellular toxicity with high percent cell viability. A dinuclear complex [Ag2(µ-Cl)2(L-NPh)2(PPh3)2] 3 with 93.3% cell viability emerges the most important candidate for further investigations.

Correction: Variable coordination and C-S bond cleavage activity of N-substituted imidazolidine-2-thiones towards copper: synthesis, spectroscopy, structures, ESI-mass and antimicrobial studies.

Correction for 'Variable coordination and C-S bond cleavage activity of N-substituted imidazolidine-2-thiones towards copper: synthesis, spectroscopy, structures, ESI-mass and antimicrobial studies' by Jaspreet K. Aulakh, et al., Dalton Trans., 2017, 46, 1324-1339.

Variable coordination and C-S bond cleavage activity of N-substituted imidazolidine-2-thiones towards copper: synthesis, spectroscopy, structures, ESI-mass and antimicrobial studies.

An equimolar reaction of copper(i) iodide with N-ethyl-imidazolidine-2-thione (l-Et) in acetonitrile formed black prismatic crystals over a period of three weeks. The X-ray structure determination of black crystals revealed that the thio-ligand l-Et has transformed into a new thio-ligand, 1-ethyl-3-(1-ethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)imidazolidine-2-thione (l-NEt), through C-S rupture/C-N bond formation which was coordinated in the unusual 2D polymer, {(CuII(κ2-N,S-l-NEt)2)·(CuI4)·(CuI2)}n1. An ESR spectrum supported the presence of divalent CuII in the polymer. In contrast, reaction of copper(i) iodide with N-phenyl-imidazolidine-2-thione (l-Ph) in 1 : 1 molar ratio yielded a polymer, [-Cu(µ-I)2Cu(µ-S-l-Ph)2Cu-]n2, with alternate Cu2I2 and Cu2S2 cores. Further, a series of reactions of copper(i) halides with N-substituted imidazolidine-2-thiones, namely, l-R in 1 : 2 metal to ligand molar ratio (M : L) in acetonitrile have yielded different type of complexes: trigonal planar {CuX(κ1-S-l-R)2, R, X : Et, I, 4; Me, I, 5; Bun, I,6; Me, Br,7; Bun, Br, 8; Me, Cl, 9; Prn, Cl, 10; Ph, Cl, 11}, dinuclear [Cu2Br2(µ-S-l-Ph)2(κ1-S-l-Ph)2] 12, tetranuclear, [Cu4I2(µ-I)2(µ-S-l-Ph)4(κ1-S-l-Ph)2] 3 and hexanuclear [Cu6Cl6(µ-S-l-Bun)6] 13. All these complexes have been characterized using analytical data, IR and proton NMR spectroscopy, ESI-mass studies and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The antimicrobial activity of these complexes has been investigated against Gram positive bacteria, namely, Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC740), methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Gram negative bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC109), Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC741) and Candida albicans (MTCC227)- a yeast. It is significant to add that among various complexes tested for cytotoxicity toward living cells, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 complexes were toxic, while complex 12 was non-toxic.

Synthesis, structures, spectroscopy and antimicrobial properties of complexes of copper(II) with salicylaldehyde N-substituted thiosemicarbazones and 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline.

Among the biometals (Cu, Co, Ni-cofactors in many enzymes), copper derivatives of O, N, S-donor salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazones have received considerable attention owing to their potential biological applications. Eight new complexes of salicylaldehyde-N-substituted thiosemicarbazones [5-MeO-2-HO-C6H4-C(2)(H)N(3)-N(2)H-C(1)(S)-N(1)HR; R = Me, H2L(1); Et, H2L(1), Ph, H2L(3), H, H2L(4)] with copper(II), namely, [Cu(κ(3)-O,N,S-L)( κ(2)-N,N-L')] {(L)(2-) = (L(1))(2-), L' = bipy, 1, phen, 2; (L)(2-) = (L(2))(2-), L' = bipy, 3, phen, 4; (L)(2-) = (L(3))(2-), L' = bipy, 5, phen, 6; (L)(2-) = (L(4))(2-), L' = bipy, 7, phen, 8} have been isolated. Complexes have slightly distorted square pyramidal geometry around the metal center (τ parameter = 0.243-0.357) and display weak to intense fluorescence in the region, 375-475 nm. These copper complexes have shown significant growth inhibitory activity (antimicrobial activity) against Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC740), methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae 1 (MTCC109), Shigella flexneri (MTCC1457), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC741) and Candida albicans (MTCC227). The activity against MRSA is an interesting observation as the commercially available gentamycin is found to be inactive against this bacterial strain. Specifically complex 5 formed by 5-methoxysalicylaldehyde-N-phenylthiosemicatbazone has shown novel antimicrobial activity against various bacteria and yeast investigated.

Acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (AKBA); targeting oral cavity pathogens.

BACKGROUND: Boswellic acids mixture of triterpenic acids obtained from the oleo gum resin of Boswellia serrata and known for its effectiveness in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease including peritumor edema. Boswellic acids have been extensively studied for a number of activities including anti inflammatory, antitumor, immunomodulatory, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The present study describes the antimicrobial activities of boswellic acid molecules against oral cavity pathogens. Acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (AKBA), which exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity, was further evaluated in time kill studies, mutation prevention frequency, postantibiotic effect (PAE) and biofilm susceptibility assay against oral cavity pathogens. FINDINGS: AKBA exhibited an inhibitory effect on all the oral cavity pathogens tested (MIC of 2-4 µg/ml). It exhibited concentration dependent killing of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 up to 8 × MIC and also prevented the emergence of mutants of S.mutans ATCC 25175 at 8× MIC. AKBA demonstrated postantibiotic effect (PAE) of 5.7 ± 0.1 h at 2 × MIC. Furthermore, AKBA inhibited the formation of biofilms generated by S.mutans and Actinomyces viscosus and also reduced the preformed biofilms by these bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: AKBA can be useful compound for the development of antibacterial agent against oral pathogens and it has great potential for use in mouthwash for preventing and treating oral infections.

Laccase production by some Phlebia species.

The present study was carried out to examine the ability of four species of the genus Phlebia, viz. P. floridensis, P. brevispora, P. radiata and P. fascicularia, to produce the ligninolytic enzyme laccase in liquid culture. P. floridensis was the most active species that even surpassed laccase production by Trametes versicolor, and was chosen for further study. Among several carbon sources tested, malt extract turned out to be the best medium for subsequent laccase concentration by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Specific enzyme activity increased 12-fold during this procedure and a K(m) value of 0.33 mM was calculated for the resulting laccase preparation using guaiacol as the substrate. Concentrated laccase from P. floridensis was relatively thermostable and retained 70% and 15% of its activity after 1 h preincubation at 50 degrees C and 60 degrees C, respectively.