In vitro evaluation of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus susceptibility to Saudi honeys.

BACKGROUND: Honey has been increasingly recognized as a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of wound infections. There is an urgent need for assessment and evaluation of the antibacterial properties against wound pathogens of honeys that have not yet been tested. METHODS: Ten Saudi honeys collected from different geographical locations were screened initially for their antibacterial potential against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) by the agar well diffusion method. Manuka honey (UMF-12) was used for comparison. Of the tested honeys, the honey that exhibited the greatest antibacterial activity in the agar well diffusion assay was further evaluated for its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against ten MRSA clinical isolates and three American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) reference strains by the microbroth dilution method. RESULTS: Locally produced honeys exhibited variable antibacterial activity against the tested isolates in the agar well diffusion assay. They were unable to exhibit antibacterial activity against MSSA and MRSA at 25% dilutions (w/v) in catalase solution. However, Sumra and Talha honeys showed a zone of inhibition at 50% dilutions (w/v) in catalase solution. This finding means that both honeys possess weak non-peroxide-based antibacterial activity. Moreover, Sumra honey showed a larger inhibition zone at 50 and 25% dilutions (w/v) in distilled water than Manuka honey against both MSSA and MRSA. This result demonstrates that Sumra honey has more hydrogen peroxide-related antibacterial activity or total antibacterial activity than Manuka honey. In addition, MIC results obtained through a microbroth dilution assay showed that Sumra honey inhibited the growth of all MRSA clinical isolates (n = 10) and reference strains [MRSA (ATCC 43300) and MSSA (ATCC 29213)] at lower concentrations (12.0% v/v) than those required for Manuka honey-mediated inhibition (14.0% v/v). This result means that Sumra honey has more peroxide or synergistic antibacterial activity than Manuka honey. An equivalent MIC (15.0% v/v) was observed for E. coli (ATCC 25922) between Manuka honey and Sumra honey. CONCLUSIONS: Sumra honey may be used as an alternative therapeutic agent for infected wounds and burns, where additional hydrogen peroxide-related antibacterial activity is needed. In the future, the physiochemical characteristics of Sumra honey may be evaluated and standardized.

Antipyretic activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Artemisia absinthium L. as a standalone and as an adjuvant with barley water against yeast-induced pyrexia in albino Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: In Unani medicine, a comprehensive treatment plan has been delineated to deal with febrile illnesses using herbal drugs along with modified dietetics, which stands as a promising area of research. The present study was aimed at evaluating the antipyretic activity of the HAE of Artemisia absinthium L. whole plant as a standalone and as an adjuvant with barley water in an animal model of pyrexia to validate the age-old Unani principle of the treatment. METHODS: The pyrexia was induced in all the groups except the plain control using Brewer's yeast. Group II did not receive any treatment, while group III received crocin, group IV received HAE of A. absinthium, group V administered Ma al-Sha'ir, and group VI was treated with the HAE of A. absinthium along with Ma al-Sha'ir by oral route. The rectal temperature of each rat was recorded at '0' h, 30 min, 60 min, and 180 min. RESULTS: The mean rectal temperature of group III went down from 101.82±0.20 °F to 100.4±0.57 °F over the period of (0-180) minutes, whereas the mean temperature in group IV went down from 102.45±0.60 °F to 100.14±0.57 °F. The mean rectal temperature of group V decreased from 100.62±0.11 °F to 99.55±0.51 °F, while the mean rectal temperature of group VI went down from 101.95±0.1 °F to 97.7±0.11 °F. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the HAE of A. absinthium L. as a standalone and along with Ma al Sha'ir showed excellent antipyretic activity as compared to the standard drug in an animal model.

Ameliorative effects of Cuscuta reflexa and Peucedanum grande on letrozole induced polycystic ovary syndrome in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: The current study was designed to examine the therapeutic role of hydroalcoholic extract of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb (CRE) and Peucedanum grande C.B. Clarke (PGE) on letrozole (1 mg/kg) induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in female Wistar albino rats. METHODS: PCOS rats were treated with CRE (280 mg/kg), PGE (140 mg/kg) or CRE + PGE p.o. for 3 weeks. Vaginal smears for phase of estrous cycle determination, serum levels of sex androgens, lipid profile, oxidative stress parameters and histopathology of ovarian tissues were investigated. RESULTS: Diestrous cycle days treated with CRE (group III) or PGE (group IV) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to PCOS control animals (group II). Moreover, weight of uteri in PCOS animals treated with the plant extracts also increased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to that of group II animals. Histopathological examination showed the protective effect of the CRE and PGE indicated by the disappearance of ovarian cyst. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that the CRE and PGE either alone or in combination hold a significant effect in letrozole induced PCOS rat models and could be useful in the management of reproductive and metabolic disorders related to PCOS.