Effect of ethanolic extract of Ecballium elaterium against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans

Objective:To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Ecballium elaterium(E. elaterium)fruits alone against Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus) strains and Candida albicans(C.albicans)strains,or in combination with penicillin against Staphylococcus areus strains. Methods:Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity or synergy interaction was carried out using microdilution method.Results:The results showed that ethanolic extract of E.elaterium fruits has antimicrobial activity against methicillin resistant S.aureus(MRSA),methicillin sensitive S. aureus(MSSA) and C.albicans.This extract showed a significant decrease in minimum inhibitory concentrations(MIC)of penicillin against both MRSA and MSSA strains.Fractional inhibitory concentration index(FIC)between penicillin and ethanolic extract of E.elaterium fruits against these test strains was less than 0.5.Conclusions:This study suggests that ethanolic extract of E.elaterium fruits has antimicrobial activity against S.aureus and C.albicans and there is a possibility of concurrent use of penicillin and E.elaterium extract in combination in the treatment of infections caused by MRSA and MSSA strains.A wider study is needed to identify the effective components,the mode of action and the possible toxic effect in vivo of these ingredients.

Human Exposure to <i>Ecballium elaterium</i>Fruit Juice: Fatal Toxicity and Possible Remedy

The human serious adverse reactions of the folkloric plant, Ecballium elaterium (EE), are well documented in the literature. This report is presenting the medical literature of 74 cases, which experienced severe adverse reactions or deaths that resulted from the administration of the plant juice. The survey of these human cases exhibits several adverse effects such as: acute rhinitis, uvular edema, soft palate, upper airway edema. In conclusion, the use of EE juice in folk medicine can cause severe adverse reactions that should not be ignored but it should be medically treated.

Hepatoprotective and proapoptotic effect of Ecballium elaterium on CCl_4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of perorally administered juice on tetrachloromethane(CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity model in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were tubeadministrated silymarin, Ecballium juice at 0.2 mL/kg and 0.7 mL/kg daily for 3 consequent days, ie. 3.28 μg and 11.48 μg of cucurbitacin B per kg of body weight respectively. On the third day, liver damage was induced by intraperitoneal application of CCl4. On the fourth day, abdominal cavity was macroscopically examined and liver samples were taken for histopathological and immunochemical evaluation. HPLC was used to determine the content of the active substance cucurbitacin B. Results: The experiment revealed that 0.7 ml/kg juice concentration expressed the highest pro-apoptotic activity, but with prevailing negative effects. Compared with the lower concentration, there was an observable vasodilatation with consequent interstitial hemorrhages and a larger scope of inflammatory damage, which suppressed the hepatoprotective effect. In the 0.2 mL/kg concentration, there was a smaller pro-apoptotic activity but other parameters had better results, and the liver parenchyma damage was reversible. Conclusions: No reactions confirming the potentially allergic effect on laboratory rats were observed; its hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effect was confirmed on a model of acute liver damage.