Evaluation of In Vitro Synergistic Effects of Tetracycline with Alkaloid-Related Compounds against Diarrhoeic Bacteria.

Diarrhoea remains an important public health concern, particularly in developing countries, and has become difficult to treat because of antibacterial resistance. The development of synergistic antimicrobial agents appears to be a promising alternative treatment against diarrhoeic infections. In this study, the combined effect of tetracycline together with either nitroxoline, sanguinarine, or zinc pyrithione (representing various classes of plant-based compounds) was evaluated in vitro against selected diarrhoeic bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Yersinia enterocolitica). The chequerboard method in 96-well microtiter plates was used to determine the sum of the fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs). Three independent experiments were performed per combination, each in triplicate. It was observed that the combination of tetracycline with either nitroxoline, sanguinarine, or zinc pyrithione produced synergistic effects against most of the pathogenic bacteria tested, with FICI values ranging from 0.086 to 0.5. Tetracycline-nitroxoline combinations produced the greatest synergistic action against S. flexneri at a FICI value of 0.086. The combinations of the agents tested in this study can thus be used for the development of new anti-diarrhoeic medications. However, studies focusing on their in vivo anti-diarrhoeic activity and safety are required before any consideration for utilization in human medicine.

Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to Anti-Inflammatory Drugs with a Focus on the Combinatory Effect of Celecoxib with Oxacillin In Vitro.

Musculoskeletal infections (MIs) are among the most difficult-to-treat staphylococcal diseases due to antibiotic resistance. This has encouraged the development of innovative strategies, such as combination therapy, to combat MI. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antistaphylococcal activity of anti-inflammatory drugs and the combined antimicrobial effect of celecoxib and oxacillin. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 17 anti-inflammatory drugs against standard strains and clinical isolates of S. aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSAs), were determined using the broth microdilution method. The fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) were evaluated using checkerboard assays. Celecoxib produced the most potent antistaphylococcal effect against all tested strains (MICs ranging from 32 to 64 mg/L), followed by that of diacerein against MRSA3 and MRSA ATCC 33592 (MIC 64 mg/L). Several synergistic effects were observed against the tested S. aureus strains, including MRSA (FICI ranging from 0.087 to 0.471). The strongest synergistic interaction (FICI 0.087) was against MRSA ATCC 33592 at a celecoxib concentration of 2 mg/L, with a 19-fold oxacillin MIC reduction (from 512 to 26.888 mg/L). This is the first report on the combined antistaphylococcal effect of celecoxib and oxacillin. These findings suggest celecoxib and its combination with oxacillin as perspective agents for research focused on the development of novel therapies for MI caused by S. aureus. This study further indicates that celecoxib could resensitize certain MRSA strains, in some cases, to be susceptible to ß-lactams (e.g., oxacillin) that were not previously tested. It is essential to mention that the in vitro concentrations of anti-inflammatory drugs are higher than those typically obtained in patients. Therefore, an alternative option for its administration could be the use of a drug delivery system for the controlled slow release from an implant at the infection site.

Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used in the Qampaya District, Bolivia / Inventario etnobotánico de plantas medicinales usadas en el Distrito Qampaya, Bolivia

Herbal medicine therapy is traditionally practiced by indigenous healers in Bolivia for hundreds years. Due to the great geographical and ecological diversity, there are thousands of native plants, which are utilized against diverse types of diseases. Nowadays, there is a worldwide problem connected with possible loss of ethnobotany knowledge because of the lack of the interest of young people. In present study, survey focused on medicinal plants used by rural people in Qampaya District, Potosí Department, Bolivia has been done. The data were collected from 60 respondents by semi-structured interviews. The results showed that 60 plant species belonging to 30 families are known as curative plants in this area. The mostly named families were Asteraceae (14 species) followed by Lamiaceae (7 species) and Brassicaceae (4 species). Predominant health problems treated by these plants are urological problems and gastro-intestinal disorders. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves and the preparation is mostly done as infusion. Even though the knowledge of using medical plants plays important role in life of Bolivian rural people, which use plants as medicines against various types of diseases, this study showed that 25 percent of respondents didn’t know any medicinal plants. On the other hand 40 percent of asked people have known 6 or more medicinal plant species.

La terapia de la medicina herbolaria es practicada, tradicionalmente, por los curanderos indígenas en Bolivia, desde hace cientos de años. Gracias a la gran diversidad geográfica y ecológica, hay miles de plantas nativas, que se utilizan para el tratamiento de diferentes tipos de enfermedades. Hoy en día, hay un problema mundial relacionado con la posible pérdida del conocimiento etnobotánico, esto debido a la falta de interés de las nuevas generaciones. El presente estudio descriptivo, mediante una encuesta, fue enfocado a las plantas medicinales utilizadas por la población rural del Distrito Qampaya, Departamento de Potosí, Bolivia. Los datos se obtuvieron de 60 informantes mediante una encuesta semiestructurada. Los resultados mostraron que 60 especies de plantas medicinales. pertenecientes a 30 familias botánicas, son conocidas en el área de intervención. Las familias botánicas, más importantes de uso medicinal son Asteraceae (14 especies), seguido de Lamiaceae (7 especies) y Brassicaceae (4 especies). Los problemas predominantes de salud, tratados con estas especies, son los urológicos y trastornos gastrointestinales. La parte de la planta más utilizada son las hojas y la forma más común de uso es en infusión. A pesar de que el conocimiento sobre la utilización de las plantas medicinales, juega un papel importante en la vida de la población rural de Bolivia, quienes utilizan las plantas medicinales para el tratamiento de diversos tipos de enfermedades, este estudio mostró que el 25 por ciento de los encuestados no tienen conocimiento sobre la utilidad medicinal de ninguna especie vegetal. Por otro lado, el 40 por ciento de los informantes conocen 6 o más especies de plantas medicinales.