Potentiating activity of luteolin on membrane permeabilizing agent and ATPase inhibitor against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of antibacterial activity of luteoiin(LUT) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).Methods:The mechanism of anti-MRSA activity of LUT was analyzed by the viability assay in membrane permeabilizing agent ATPase inhibitors,and peptidoglycan(PGN) derived from Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus).Also,transmission electron microscopy was used to monitor survival characteristics and changes in S.aureus morphology.Results:Compared to the LUT alone,the optical density of suspensions treated with the combination of 125 μg/mL Tris and 230 μg/mL DCCD were reduced to 60%and 46%,respectively.PGN(15.6 μg/mL) gradually impeded the activity of LUT,and PGN(62.5 μg/mL) completely blocked the activity of LUT on S.aureus.Conclusions:Increased susceptibility to LUT with me Tris and DCCD combinations is evident in all tested MRSA isolates.The results indicate LUT synergy in increasing cytoplasmic membrane permeability and inhibiting ATPase.S.aureus PGN directly blocks the antibacterial activity of LUT,suggesting the direct binding of LUT with PGN.These findings may be validated for the development of antibacterial agent for low MRSA resistance.

Inhibitory effect of Patrinia scabiosaefolia on acute pancreatitis

AIM： To investigate the effect of Patrinia scabiosaefolia （PS） on the cholecystokinin （CCK） octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis （AP） in rats.METHODS： Wistar rats weighing 240-260 g were divided into three groups： （1） Normal saline-treated group; （2） treatment with PS at 100 mg/kg group, in which PS was administered orally, followed by subcutaneous administration of 75μg/kg CCK octapeptide three times after 1, 3 and 5 h, and this whole procedure was repeated for 5 d; （3） treatment with saline group, in which the protocols were the same as in treatment group with PS. We determined the pancreatic weight/ body weight ratio, the levels of pancreatic HSP60, HSP72 and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Repeated CCK octapeptide treatment resulted in the typical laboratory findings of experimentally induced pancreatitis.RESULTS： PS reduced the pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, the levels of serum amylase and lipase, and inhibited expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the CCK octapeptide-induced AP. Furthermore, PS pretreatment increased the pancreatic levels of HSP60 and HSP72.CONCLUSION： Pretreatment with PS has an antiiinflammatory effect on CCK octapeptide-induced AP.

Antimicrobial activity and synergism of Sami-Hyanglyun-Hwan with ciprofloxacin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objective: To investigate the antibacterial activity of SHHextracted with either water or ethanol against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and combinatory antimicrobial effect with ciprofloxacin(CIP) by time kill assay and checkerboard dilution test. Methods: The antibacterial activity determined by broth dilution method indicated that the antibacterial activity of Sami-Hyanglyun-Hwan(SHH) water extract(SHHW) and SHH ethanol extract(SHHE) ranged from 250 to 2000 μg/m L and 125 to 1000 μg/m L against MRSA, respectively. Results: In the checkerboard method, the combinations of SHHE with CIP had a partial synergistic or synergistic effect against MRSA. The time-kill curves showed that a combined SHHE and CIP treatment reduced the bacterial counts dramatically after 24 h. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates the therapeutic ability of SHHE against MRSA infections.

Taraxacum offlcinale protects against cholecystokinin-induced acute pancreatitis in rats

AIM: Taraxacum officinale (TO) has been frequently used as a remedy for inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TO on cholecystokinin (CCK)-octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis in rats.METHODS: TO at 10 mg/kg was orally administered, followed by 75 μg/kg CCK octapeptide injected subcutaneously three times after 1, 3 and 5 h. This whole procedure was repeated for 5 d. We determined the pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, the levels of pancreatic HSP60 and HSP72, and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Repeated CCK octapeptide treatment resulted in typical laboratory and morphological changes of experimentally-induced pancreatitis.RESULTS: TO significantly decreased the pancreatic weight/body weight ratio in CCK octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis. TO also increased the pancreatic levels of HSP60 and HSP72. Additionally, the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α decreased in the animals treated with TO.CONCLUSION: TO may have a protective effect against CCK octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis.

The inhibition effect of Chlorpromazine against the β-lactam resistance of MRSA

Objective:To investigate the gene related to β-lactam resistance and to confirm the mechanism about a synergy effect between CPZ and β-lactam antibiotics.Methods:To measure antibacterial activity,we performed a minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) and synergy test.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) was used in morphological analysis.To analyze gene expression,we conducted reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(PCR).Results:We confirmed a synergy effect between CPZ and β-lactam antibiotics.Furthermore,we observed that CPZ affect the cell envelope of MRS A by using TEM.At the gene level,CPZ reduced the expression of resistance genes.Conclusions:Through this result,we hypothesize that a decrease of resistance factor expressions was caused by CPZ because it disrupts the activity of a sensor protein located in the cell membrane.

Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor ameliorates cholecystokinin-octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis in rats

AIM： To investigate the effect of selective Cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） inhibitor 4-[5-（4-Chloro-phenyl）-3- （trifluoromethyl）- 1H-pyrazol- 1-yl] benzenesulfonamide （SC-236）, on the cholecystokinin （CCK）-octapeptideinduced acute pancreatitis （AP） in rats. METHODS： Wistar rat weighing 240 g to 260 g were divided into three groups. （1） Normal DMSO treated group, （2） SC-236 at 4 mg/kg treated group; SC-236 systemically administered via the intravenous （i.v.） catheter, followed by 75 μg/kg CCK octapeptide subcutaneously three times, after 1, 3 and 5 h. This whole procedure was repeated for 5 d. （3） Dimethyl sulfoxide （DMSO） treated group： an identical protocol was used in this group as in the SC-236 cohort （see 2. above）. Repeated CCK octapeptide treatment resulted in a typical experimentally induced pancreatitis in the Wistar rats. RESULTS： SC-236 improved the severity of CCK- octapeptide-induced AP as measured by laboratory criteria [the pancreatic weight/body weight （p.w/ b.w） ratio, the level of serum amylase and lipase]. The SC-236 treated group showed minimal histologic evidence of pancreatitis and a significant reduction in myeloperoxidase activity. SC-236 also increased heat shock protein （HSP）-60 and HSP72 compared with the DMSO-treated group in the CCK-octapeptide-induced AP and also reduced the pancreatic levels of COX-2. Furthermore, SC-236 reduced proinflammatory cytokine synthesis and inhibited NF-KB activation compared with the DMSO-treated group in the CCK-octapeptide-induced AP. CONCLUSION： Our results suggested that COX-2 plays pivotal role in the development of AP and COX-2 inhibitors may play a beneficial role in preventing AP.

Anti-aging properties of Ribes fasciculatum in Caenorhabditis elegans

The present study investigated the effects and underlying mechanism of ethylacetate fraction of Ribes fasciculatum （ERF） on the lifespan and stress tolerance using a Caenorhabditis elegans model. The longevity activity of ERF was determined by lifespan assay under normal culture condition. The survival rate of nematodes under various stress conditions was assessed to validate the effects of ERF on the stress tolerance. To determine the antioxidant potential of ERF, the superoxide dismutase （SOD） activities and intracellular reactive oxygen species （ROS） levels were investigated. The ERF-mediated change in SOD-3 expression was examined using GFP-expressing transgenic strain. The effects of ERF on the aging-related factors were investigated by reproduction assay and pharyngeal pumping assay. The intestinal lipofuscin levels of aged nematodes were also measured. The mechanistic studies were performed using selected mutant strains. Our results indicated that ERF showed potent lifespan extension effects on the wild-type nematode under both normal and various stress conditions. The ERF treatment also enhanced the activity and expression of superoxide dismutase （SOD） and attenuated the intracellular ROS levels. Moreover, ERF-fed nematodes showed decreased lipofuscin accumulation, indicating ERF might affect age-associated changes in C. elegans. The results of mechanistic studies indicated that there was no significant lifespan extension in ERF-treated daf-2, age-l, sir-2.1, and daf-16 null mutants, suggesting that they were involved in ERF-mediated lifespan regulation. In conclusion, R. fasciculatum confers increased longevity and stress resistance in C. elegans via SIR-2.1-mediated DAF-16 activation, dependent on the insulin/1GF signaling pathway.

Effects of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction(Yukmijihwang-tang)on Physical Fatigue by Regulating Neurotransmitters in Brain

Objective:To study the effect of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction(六味地黄汤)or Yukmijihwangtang(YJT)on endurance exercise by in vivo experiment.Methods:ICR mice were randomly divided into the control group(distilled water)and the YJT groups(1,10,100 mg/kg),5 animals per group.YJT and distilled water were orally administered.The anti-fatigue effect of YJT was evaluated by open fifiled test(OFT),forced swimming test(FST),and tail suspension test(TST).Results:In the OFT,YJT signifificantly increased the total movement distance in a dose-dependent manner.Additionally,treatment with YJT signifificantly decreased immobility time in the FST and the TST.Various neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine(NE),serotonin(5-HT),dopamine(DA)levels were increased by FST.Administration of YJT down-regulated the expression levels of NE,5-HT,5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid(5-HIAA),and DA in the brain stem and hypothalamus of mice.Moreover,protein expression of HSP70 in mice liver and heart muscles was signifificantly increased in the YJT groups.Conclusions:YJT could ameliorate fatigue and enhance exercise tolerance through suppressing of brain monoamines including NE,5-HT,5-HIAA,and DA in FST mice model.

Two new diterpene and sesquiterpene from Pteris dispar

A new diterpene and a new sesquiterpene were isolated from Pteris dispar and identified on the basis of spectral data including 2D NMR.Compounds 1 and 2 showed potent cytotoxic activity against KB cell.

Promising Pharmaceuticals:edited by Purusotam Basnet

The better understanding of human biology and disease pathology has been a comer stone of the rapid advancements in the field of pharmaceutical science, including drug discovery, manufacturing and treatment procedures. Building on these important achievements, Purusotam Basnet, the editor of, and a contributing author to the book entitled Promising Pharmaceuticals （its information is shown in Table 1; cover paper is shown in Figure 1）,