The antimicrobial property of JY-1, a complex mixture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is linked to it abilities to suppress biofilm formation and disrupt membrane permeability.

The substantial increase of infections, caused by novel, sudden, and drug-resistant pathogens, poses a significant threat to human health. While numerous studies have demonstrated the antibacterial and antiviral effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the potential of a complex mixture of traditional Chinese Medicine with a broad-spectrum antimicrobial property remains underexplored. This study aimed to develop a complex mixture of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), JY-1, and investigate its antimicrobial properties, along with its potential mechanism of action against pathogenic microorganisms. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using a zone of inhibition assay and the drop plate method. Hyphal induction of Candida albicans was conducted using RPMI1640 medium containing 10% FBS, followed by microscopic visualization. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed to quantify the transcript levels of hyphal-specific genes such as HWP1 and ALS3. The impact of JY-1 on biofilm formation was evaluated using both the XTT reduction assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the cell membrane integrity was assessed by protein and nucleic acid leakage assays. Our results clearly showed that JY-1 significantly inhibits the vegetative growth of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus spp. In addition, this complex mixture is effectively against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae. More interestingly, JY-1 plays a direct anti-viral role against the mammalian viral pathogen vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Further mechanistic studies indicate that JY-1 acts to reduce the expression of hyphal specific genes HWP1 and ALS3, resulting in the suppression of the hyphal formation of C. albicans. The antimicrobial property of JY-1 could be attributed to its ability to reduce biofilm formation and disrupt the cell membrane permeability, a process resulting in microbial cell death and the release of cellular contents. Taken together, our work identified a potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, a complex mixture of TCM which might be developed as a potential antimicrobial drug.

[Clinical observation on treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction by fu'an liquid for retention enema in children with critical illness].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Fu'an Liquid (FAL) for retention enema in treating gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction of children with critical illness. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients were randomly divided into two groups, 52 in the treated group and 37 in the control group. Conventional therapy of western medicine was given to both groups and to the treated group FAL was given additionally. Plasma endothelin (ET) level was measured during admission, GI dysfunction occurrence and after treatment, and the therapeutic effect as well as the recovery of GI condition were observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate of FAL in treating GI dysfunction was 84.62%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (62.17%) (P < 0.05). In the treated group, 34 cases were treated successfully, 16 died and the other 2 abandoned, the mortality rate being 30.77%, while in the control group, the corresponding numbers were 16, 18, 3 and 48.65%. The mortality rate in the treated group was lower than that in the control group (chi 2 = 4.64, P < 0.05). Level of ET in both groups was higher than normal range during admission (P < 0.01), it further increased when GI dysfunction occurred (P < 0.01), and decreased when successfully treated, the decrease was quicker in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In children with critical illness, ET level would increase when the patient was complicated with GI dysfunction. FAL for retention enema could reduce the ET level effectively, promote the recovery of patients from GI dysfunction, so as to play a definite role in enhancing the successful rate of rescue.