Fecal concentration of intravenous vancomycin preparation after oral administration in an experimental model: preclinical assay.

INTRODUCTION: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection is the main cause of nosocomial diarrhea. First-line treatment is oral vancomycin, but that presentation is not commercially available in Latin America. Our aim was to determine the fecal concentration of the oral administration of the conventional dose of an intravenous vancomycin preparation (VCM), in an experimental model. METHODS: A preclinical trial was conducted on 18 male mice (Balb/c strain), in three batches. The following doses of VCM were administered: 125 mg in batch A; 500 mg in batch B; and VCM-placebo in batch C. After receiving the doses, the mice were placed in metabolic cages, by batch. Feces were collected and the fecal concentration of VCM was analyzed through high pressure liquid chromatography 2, 4 and 6 h after drug administration. RESULTS: The 125 mg dose of VCM reached the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for C. difficile, without reaching the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC90), at 2, 4, and 6 h (521, 688, and 280 mg/L, respectively). Likewise, the 500 mg dose of VCM reached the MIC at 2 h, increased gradually, and reached MBC90 between 4 and 6 h, in feces (1,062 and 1,779 mg/L, respectively), ANOVA, p = 0.0005. CONCLUSION: The fecal concentration of vancomycin was dependent on the intragastric dose administered. Only the 500 mg dose of VCM reached therapeutic concentration for C. difficile (MIC and MBC90), in the mice. We suggest starting a dose of 500 mg QID for achieving therapeutic concentration against C. difficile, as soon as 4 h after the first dose.

Antibacterial properties of some plants used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

Antibacterial properties of aqueous and methanolic extracts of 26 medicinal plants used in Mexico to treat gastrointestinal disorders were tested against eight different species of enteropathogens: two Escherichia coli species; two Shigella sonnei species; two Shigella flexneri species; and two Salmonella sp. species. The results showed that all crude extracts exhibited antibacterial activity, at least against one of the microorganisms tested, at concentrations of 8 mg/mL or lower. The extracts from Caesalpinia pulcherria, Chiranthodendron pentadactylon, Cocos nucifera, Geranium mexicanum (aerial parts and roots), Hippocratea excelsa, and Punica granatum possessed strong antibacterial activity against most of the pathogens tested. In general, methanolic extracts were more active than aqueous extracts. Their activity was higher than chloramphenicol but did not exceed that of trimethoprim. Shigella sonnei species showed the highest susceptibility to both extracts. This is the first evaluation of these plants against bacterial pathogen isolates, which cause diarrhea and dysentery in Mexican population.

Geranins C and D, additional new antiprotozoal A-type proanthocyanidins from Geranium niveum.

Two new additional A-type proanthocyanidins have been isolated from Geranium niveum. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic, chemical and chiroptical methods as epi-afzelechin-(4beta-->8,2beta-->O-->7)-gallocatechin (1) and epi-afzelechin-(4beta-->8,2beta-->O-->7)-afzelechin-(4beta-->8,2beta-->O-->7)-afzelechin (2). Proanthocyanidins 1 and 2 were given the trivial names of geranins C and D, respectively. Compound 2 showed moderate antiprotozoal activity against Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia, whereas 1 exhibited weak activity toward E. histolytica.

Antiprotozoal activity of the constituents of Conyza filaginoides.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the antiprotozoal extract of Conyza filaginoides led to the isolation of three new flavonol caffeoyl glycosides, namely, kaempferol 3-O-(6' '-O-E-caffeoyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (1), isorhamnetin 3-O-(6' '-O-E-caffeoyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2), and quercetin 3-O-(6' '-O-E-caffeoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3). In addition, seven known compounds, erythrodiol (4), beta-caryophyllene-4,5-alpha-oxide (5), astragalin (6), isoquercitrin (7), nicotiflorin (8), narcissin (9), and rutin (10), were obtained. The structures of the new isolates were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds were also assessed for antiamoebic and antigiardial activities, but none was significantly active compared to the standard drugs evaluated.

Amoebicidal and giardicidal compounds from the leaves of Zanthoxylum liebmannianun.

The crude ethanol extract from the leaves of Zanthoxylum liebmannianum exhibited inhibitory effect on the reproduction of trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica (IC(50)=3.48 microg/ml) and Giardia lamblia (IC(50)=58.00 microg/ml). From this extract, asarinin, hyperin, beta-sitosterol, and beta-sitosterol glucoside were isolated. Among them, asarinin was the most active with IC(50) values of 19.86 microg/ml for E. histolytica and 35.45 microg/ml for G. lamblia. The remaining compounds showed moderate activity against both parasites.

Geranins A and B, new antiprotozoal A-type proanthocyanidins from Geranium niveum.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the antiprotozoal extract of Geranium niveum led to the isolation of two new A-type proanthocyanidins, epi-afzelechin-(4beta-->8, 2beta-->O-->7)-afzelechin (1) and epi-catechin-(4beta-->8, 2beta-->O-->7)-afzelechin (2). Compounds 1 and 2 were given the trivial names of geranins A and B, respectively. In addition, five known compounds, mahuannin B (3), reynoutrin (4), hyperin (5), methyl gallate (6), and 3-beta-caffeoyl-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (7), were obtained. The structures of the new proanthocyanidins were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods as well as CD measurements. Compounds 1, 2, and 4-7 were tested against axenically grown trophozoites of Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica.

Antiprotozoal properties of Helianthemum glomeratum.

Structure characterization and biological evaluation of the compounds isolated from Helianthemum glomeratum, particularly that of the polyphenols, has been the aim of a series of studies carried out to define the further potential use of this plant in the treatment of infectious diarrhoea in children. The flavan-3-ols, (-)-epigallocatechin and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, isolated from Helianthemum glomeratum roots were tested for their antiamoebic and antigiardial effects in vitro. Compared with the activity determined with the leaf and the root methanol extracts, the effect of (-)-epigallocatechin against Entamoeba histolytica was of a similar potency, nevertheless, it also suppressed the growth of Giardia lamblia in axenic cultures, a parasite that proved to be resistant to the crude extracts. It might be assumed that determined biological properties are due to the presence of (-)-epigallocatechin in the plant, although the flavonoids, kaempferol and tiliroside isolated from the leaves, could account for the antiprotozoal properties of this herbal resource, used in Mayan traditional medicine for the treatment of bloody diarrhoea.

Antiamoebic and antigiardial activity of plant flavonoids.

The in vitro antiprotozoal activity of 18 natural flavonoids has been determined against Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia. (-)-Epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin and kaempferol were the most active flavonoids against both protozoa.

Smooth muscle relaxing flavonoids and terpenoids from Conyza filaginoides.

Activity-guided fractionation of the smooth muscle relaxing, chloroform-methanol (1:1) extract of Conyza filaginoides (D.C.) Hieron (Asteraceae) led to the isolation of three flavonoids (quercetin 3-glucoside, rutin, and pinostrobin), one sterol (alpha-spinasterol), a sesquiterpenoid (beta-caryophyllene 4,5-alpha-oxide), and two triterpenoids (erythrodiol and 3-beta-tridecanoyloxy-28-hydroxyolean-12-ene). 3-beta-Tridecanoyloxy-28-hydroxy-olean-12-ene is a new naturally occurring terpenoid. All the isolated compounds induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the spontaneous contractions of rat ileum. The spasmolytic activity exhibited by the extract and active principles tends to support the traditional use of C filaginoides as an antispasmodic agent.

Long-chain phenols from the bark of Amphypterygium adstringens.

The hexane extract of the stem bark of Amphypterygium adstringens at a dose of 100 mg/kg subcutaneously exhibited significant hypocholesterolemic effect on 24-h fasted rats, lowering the cholesterol levels by 31%, an effect similar to 15 mg/kg estrone given by the same route. Column chromatography of the active extract allowed the isolation of two mixtures of long chain phenols (Mixture I and Mixture II). According to GC/MS analysis, Mixture I contained five alkyl phenolic acids and Mixture II three alkyl phenolic aldehydes. Neither of the mixtures exhibited significant hypocholesterolemic activity at doses up to 15 mg/kg subcutaneously.

Chemical studies on Mexican plants used in traditional medicine, XV. Sesquiterpene evoninoate alkaloids from Hippocratea excelsa.

Three sesquiterpene evoninoate alkaloids, hippocrateine I [1], hippocrateine II [2], and emarginatine A have been isolated from the root and stem barks of Hippocratea excelsa. Compounds 1 and 2 are new naturally occurring substances. The structure of 1 was unequivocally established by X-ray crystallographic analysis, and the structure of the second new alkaloid was deduced by spectral analysis.

Chemical studies on mexican plants used in traditional medicine, VI. Additional new 4-phenylcoumarins from Exostema caribaeum.

Six additional 4-phenylcoumarins have been isolated from the MeOH extract of the bark of Exostema caribaeum. Their structures were determined by physical and chemical methods as 4'-5'-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-4-phenyl-5,2'-oxidocoumarin [1], 5,7,4'-trimethoxy-4-phenylcoumarin [2], 5,3'-dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxy-4-phenylcoumarin [3], 5-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-7,4'-dimethoxy-4-phenylcoumarin [6], 5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3',4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-4-phenylcoumarin+ ++ [7], and 5-O-(6"-acetyl)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-3', 4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-4-phenylcoumarin [9]. The last four compounds are new natural products.

Chemical studies on Mexican plants used in traditional medicine, III: New 4-phenylcoumarins from Exostema caribaeum.

Investigation of the MeOH extract of Exostema caribaeum (Rubiaceae) led to the isolation of three new 4-phenylcoumarins. Their structures, 5-O-beta-D-galactosyl-7-methoxy-3',4'-dihydroxy-4-phenylcoumarin [1a] 7,4',5'-trihydroxy-4-phenyl-5,2'-oxidocoumarin [2a] and 7,4'-dimethoxy-5'-hydroxy-4-phenyl-5,2'-oxido-coumarin [3a] were elucidated by spectral methods and chemical transformations. It was also demonstrated that 4-phenylcoumarins undergo oxidative cyclization under basic conditions in the presence of air to give 4-phenyl-5,2'-oxido-coumarins.