Antibacterial Effects of Cinnamon Extract, Clove Oil and Antibiotics against Helicobacter pylori Isolated from Stomach Biopsies

Abstract Helicobacter pylori is a pathogenic bacterium causing gastric problems such as, peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. H. pylori were isolated from the stomach biopsy specimens (n = 100) of gastric patients by performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) against cagA (cytotoxin associated gene A) and ureC (Urease subunit alpha) genes. Furthermore, antibiogram studies of the H. pylori isolates were evaluated against the common antibiotics. The overall detection rate of H. pylori was 71% in biopsy specimens of gastric patients. The antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed the resistance rate of H. pylori isolates against metronidazole (50%), clarithromycin (28.33%), tetracycline (21.66%), amoxicillin (18.33%), and ciprofloxacin (11.66%). However, the H. pylori isolates were completely resistant to vancomycin, erythromycin and nalidixic acid antibiotics. Clove oil showed a remarkable antimicrobial effect against H. pylori whereas, mild inhibition (10 mm) was observed in case of curcumin extract. Due to increase incident of resistance and high prevalence of H. pylori in gastric patients, natural antimicrobial like clove oil can be explored as an alternative treatment.

Administration of Vaccine Preservative Thimerosal Produces Impairment in Rat Liver

Abstract The present research was planned to analyze the toxic effects of thimerosal on rat liver. Mercury and mercury compounds are universally known toxicants for animals and humans. Thimerosal is widely used in the vaccines as a preservative which contains 49.6% mercury. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were distributed into four groups (n=6). The first group was considered as a control group. While, second, third and fourth groups were intoxicated with 0.5, 10 and 50 µg/kg thimerosal (i.m.) respectively. After 30 days, rats were slaughtered to analyze the liver tissues. The results of the experiment exposed that thimerosal instigated significant (p<0.05) increase in alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminotransferase (AST) levels. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) activities and Glutathione (GSH) and protein levels were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. Furthermore, significant increases in Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level and DNA damage was observed. Histopathological study revealed severe damages, e.g. fatty alterations, deterioration of lobular structure and degeneration of nuclei in hepatic tissues of thimerosal treated rats. Results of present investigation revealed that thimerosal induces hepatotoxicity at different levels.