Herbal treatment of MRSA-infected cases

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

 

Some time ago, a colleague on one of the lists (email mislaid) asked if there

is evidence that herbs may Tx MRSA effectively.

 

Below are some Medline abstracts on the topic. From these, it would seem

that the most likely candidates for reliable anti-MRSA efffects are:

 

Andrographis paniculata (water extract)

 

anisodamine

 

Atun tree (Atuna racemosa),

 

Baicalin (from Huangqin-Rx Scutellariae balcalensis) synergy with beta-

lactam antibiotics against MRSA

 

Baizhi-Angelica dahurica (falcarindiol, a polyacetylenic natural product)

 

Berberine in Huanglian-Rz Coptidis chinensis & Huangbai-Cx Phellodendri

amurensis (synergy w beta-lactam antibiotics)

 

Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Hochu-ekki-to / Hotyu-Ekki-Toh, 5-7.5g/day for 24+

weeks but 500mg powder extract /kg/day in another study; 10 Hbs: Huangqi-

Rx Astragali, Cangzhu-Rz Atractylodis lanceae, Renshen-Rx Ginseng,

Danggui-Rx Angelicae, Chaihu-Rx Bupleuri, Zizyphi fructus, Aurantii nobilis

pericarpium, Gancao-Rx Glycyrrhizae, Shengma-Rz Cimicifugae, &

Ganjiang-Rz Zingiberis

 

Centella asiatica (methanol extract)

 

Cha-Chinese green tea extract (polyphenols)

 

Juzen-taiho-to / Juzen-Taiho-Toh (powder extract; 500 mg/kg/day)

 

Mao-bushi-saishin-to

 

Morinda citrifolia (methanol extract)

 

Piper sarmentosum (methanol extract)

 

Tohki-Rikuoh-Toh (powder extract; 500 mg/kg/day)

 

My notes on Buzhong Tiqi Tang are:

 

Companies differ in their Hb inclusion rates; mean (and range) inclusion in 7

separate formulas (%) were: Huangqi 26.1 (23.5-28.0) [Tone Qi, Ascend

SJM-SP-ST Sunken Yangqi]; Renshen** 14.1 (9.2-18.6) [Tone SP Qi];

Baizhu " ´? 14.3 (9.4-17.6) [Tone SP; Dry Damp]; Danggui " -? 12.3 (5.9-15.5)

[Tone Qi; Tone Xue; Quicken Xue]; Chenpi ? " ç 9.9 (8.6-11.7) [Rectify Qi;

Digestive; Aid digestion of other Hbs]; Zhigancao àtSÃ` / Gancao SÃ` 8.3

(5.7-12.6) [Tone Qi, Harmonise other Hbs]; Chaihu ZÄOEÓ 8.1 (4.6-11.8)

[Ascend Sunken Yangqi]; Shengma ¡-f 6.8 (4.6-8.6) [Ascend Sunken

Yangqi]; (**dt cost of Renshen, one can substitute 2-3 times more Dangshen

instead); grind all Hbs to coarse powder; some formulas also add Dazao (at

Gancao dose) & Shengjiang (at Renshen dose); Dose: as Powder: 7.5g /

dose, TID; can make into pills w cooked honey (Miwan Fu -¨SÛoz); as Dec:

cook ??g formula w water (Shuijian Fu ...÷oz) (2 bowls); simmer until 1

bowl left; remove dregs from Dec & drink warm between meals; Tone Qi;

Boost Qi (Yiqi o/oov " Yf); Rectify & Tone SJM-SP-ST (Tiaobu Piwei ??äB^Ý);

Tone SJM-SP-ST Qi; Ascend Sunken Yang (Shengyang ¡?); Support SJM-

SP-ST (digestive system) to Aid Yang & Qi; key formula in TCM that

allows many MODIFICATIONS for many diseases; great for prolapsed

organs (anus, rectum & uterus; ST ptosis, eyelid ptosis), esp dt Qixu / Qi

Taxation / exertion; best for prolapse / ptosis dt SJM-SP-ST Qixu which

causes SJM-SP-ST Yangqi Sinking (organs / tissues lack nourishment &

become flaccid & body starts to collapse inwards & downwards); S & Ss:

Body Heat ( / Fever) (Shenre g?) w sweat (Youhan -LS¾), fever~

intermittent, fever worse w exertion, thirst (Ke ?) w preference for hot drinks

(Hao Reyin D??), headache w Aversion to Cold (Wuhan ?S¦, chills), weak

breathing (Shaoqi ­ " Yf) / breath shortness w laconic / sluggish speech

(Lanyan ?OE¾), inappetance (Yinshi ?HÙ-¡, drink & food tasteless / of no

interest), four limbs (Sizhi ZlZ^) weak, heavy (Suanzhong Z_d), lack

strength (Wuli Ù-Í) & pain & ache (Tengtong áu´É), indolence (Daiduo

`Ó`Ä) & prefer to lie down (Haowo D?) / curl up; face shiny & pale; tongue

pale & thin (She Nensedan ã>cF´W) w fur white; Pulse empty & big (Mai

Xuda ãõ<o`å) / weak & faint; if appropriate S & Ss of Qixu / Qi Sinking present,

can Tx: Qixu w Sinking (Qixu Xiaxian " Yf<oo/ooºèoe) causing (Yinqide ^ø<N " I)

prolapsed anus (Tuogong ´Eãè), uterus prolapse (Zigong Xiachui Zq?o/ooº`),

chronic dysentery (Jiuli <v- " Y) / chronic malaria (Jiunue <v<s), ST prolapse

(Wei Xiachui ^Ýo/ooº`), KI prolapse (Shen Xiachui ?o/ooº`), eyelids ptosis

(Yanpi Xiachui Sá " ço/ooº`), neurasthenia (Shenjing Shuairuo _?SZã),

myasthenia gravis (Zhongzheng Ji Wuli dÇ " §Ù-Í), hypotension (Xueya

Guodi OEOE??´á, BP too low), immunity low (Mianyili Di -Æo/oou-Í´á),

leucopenia; for better effect (Xiaoguo Genghao Áo/ooÊXD) to contract &

Strengthen (Shousuo Youli ¾?-L-Í) smooth muscle (o½SS " §) of internal

organs (Neizang " à?) & Strengthen their tension (Zhangli Zhengqiang

?-Íú?), add Zhike / Zhishi; used in chronic LV~ hepatitis (Manxing

Ganyan -«SÌo/ooS), hypercholesterolaemia, ST-Intestine (Changwei ?^Ý)

ulcers (Kuiyang ??, losing Yang), chronic KI~ nephritis (Manxing Shenyan

-«?o/ooS), KI Disease Complex (nephrosis) (Shenbing Zonghebing

?oa?oa), chronic bleeding (Manxing Chuxue -«oOEOE), anaemia

(Pinxue ?OEOE), HT disease (Xinzangbing S?oa), neurasthenia, dizziness /

vertigo, chronic diarrhoea (Manxing Fuxie -«o ?) / faeces~ loose / watery,

loss of hair (Tuofa ´E?), eyesight fatigue (Shili Pilao ?-Í " æ?), impotence w

premature ejaculation (Yangwei Zaoxie ?^Þ` " Yo), rhinitis (Biyan o@o/ooS),

habitual / recurrent (Xiguanxing ??«) miscarriage (Liuchan -¬?),

haemorrhoids (Zhichuang Z¤?), chyle in urine (proteinuria) (Ruminiao

" ûâô " A), spontaneous sweat (Zihan Z©S¾), chronic bronchitis (Manxing

Qiguanyan -« " YfSÇo/ooS), night sweat (Daohan " S¾), oligospermia

(Jingzi Quefazheng ¸Zqãz-RÇ, sperm Xu / shortage disease), recurrent

neuritis / neuralgia (Duofaxing Shenjingyan `½?«_?o/ooS), asthma

(Xiaochuan sKsb), senile (Laonianxing ~V " N«) osteoporosis (Guzhi

Shusong oe?``¼), atrophic (Weisuoxing ^Þ?«) vulvitis (Waiyinyan

SO?o/ooS), senile red & white leucorrhoea (Chibaidai Ô " ´?), hereditary

(Yichuanxing ??«) cerebellar (Xiaonaoxing ¬?«) ataxia (Gongji Shitiao

<¤?Z¸?), glucosuria / diabetes (Tangniaobing " oe " Aoa); complement (Peihe

" z) WM cancer therapy (Xiyao Zhi'ai ¼?Z¡Sà); aid recovery /

rehabilitation (Tiaoli ?-) after surgery (Shoushuhou Zè?@); debility after

severe illness, pernicious anaemia, fatigue, metrorrhagia~ functional,

leucorrhoea, postpartum problems (dizziness, anaemia, hypolactia, lochia~

retained, urinary incontinence, lochioschesis, infertility, metrorrhagia~

irregular, bleeding between menses, bleeding~ irregular), corneal ulcers,

cerebral arteriosclerosis;

 

Buenz EJ, Bauer BA, Schnepple DJ, Wahner-Roedler DL, Vandell AG,

Howe CL. A randomized Phase I study of Atuna racemosa: A potential new

anti-MRSA natural product extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Aug 19; [Epub

ahead of print] BioSciential, LLC, Rochester, MN, USA. AIM: We previously

reported significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria from

the extract of the Atun tree (Atuna racemosa), identified through rapid digital

bioprospecting of a 400-year-old historic herbal text. Toxicity studies in

human cell lines showing safety, combined with the ethnomedical

descriptions of botanical use, suggested that this extract might be clinically

useful against topical Gram-positive bacteria infections. MATERIALS AND

METHODS: Using a minimal inhibitory concentration assay, we examined

the susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to

an extract of the kernel of the Atun tree (Atuna racemosa). Additionally, a

maximum tolerated topical application of the extract was determined in a

randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. RESULTS:

Here we report that the effectiveness of this Atuna racemosa extract against

MRSA (MIC=16-32mug/mL) is on par with currently available last-line

antibiotics, while it remains well tolerated in short-term topical applications

of

10 times the minimally inhibitory concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Although

further studies are needed to determine safety and clinical efficacy, this

effective extract, identified in a 400-year-old historic herbal text, may prove

to be clinically useful in the treatment of MRSA. PMID: 17889468 [PubMed -

as supplied by publisher]

 

 

Itoh T, Itoh H, Kikuchi T. | Five Cases of MRSA-Infected Patients with

Cerebrovascular Disorder and in a Bedridden Condition, for Whom Bu-

Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang Was Useful - Hochu-ekki-to. | American Journal of

, Summer-Fall, 2000 | | Abstract: The herbal formula Bu-

Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (Hochu-ekki-to, 5g per clay) was administered to five

MRSA-infected bedridden patients with cerebrovascular disorder, dementia

and, in two cases, bed sores, who had resistance to several antibacterial

drugs. After Hochu-ekki-to the patients showed an excellent result;

disappearance of MRSA, improvement of their general condition, and no

side effects. Therefore, it is thought that Hochu-ekki-to may be a useful drug

for MRSA-infected patients. A methicilline resistant strain of staphylococcus

aureus (MRSA) appeared because several antibiotics of the [beta]-lactam

system had been used frequently in Japan during the 1980s. MRSA is the

generic name of staphylococcus aureus which has a resistance to antibiotics

of the [beta]-lactam system (Kent et al., 1979). However, MRSA, which is

responsible for causing hospital-acquired infections including enteritis,

recently became resistant to other antibacterial drugs as well. The

symptoms caused by MRSA infection showed no sign of improvement even

after treatment with a general run of antibacterial drugs. Therefore,

bedridden consciousness-confused patients in a lowered nutritive condition

and with reduced immune mechanisms descend to critical condition when

infected by MRSA. In addition, MRSA carriers who do not show any signs of

infection have recently been observed (Sumiyama, 1996; Sumiyama et al.,

1996; Karibe et al., 1997). Recently, it has been reported that herbal

formulae (Inaki et al., 1992) with a tonic effect in kampo medicine cause a

stimulation of leucocytosis (Sato et al., 1994), an increase in activity of

macrophages (Kataoka et al., 1998) and an increase in activity of natural

killer cells (Maemura et al., 1989). It has also been reported that these

formulae are useful for patients with general malaise and poor digestion

during and after illness (Odachi et al., 1993; Karibe et al., 1997; Sumiyama

et al., 1996; Matsui et al., 1997). In the present study, Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang

(Hochu-ekki-to), a formula with a tonic effect, was administered to five

MRSA-infected patients with cerebrovascular disorder, dementia, in a

bedridden condition or with bedsores. MRSA disappeared in the first few

days after the administration and the symptoms afflicting the patients were

alleviated. Subjects and Methods: The subjects were three patients with

symptoms of cerebrovascular disorder and dementia, who were also in a

bedridden condition, and two patients with sacral bedsores and

cerebrovascular disorder, who were also in a bedridden condition. MRSA

was diagnosed from throat cultures in the former cases and from bedsore

cultures in the latter cases. The patients were admitted into the Shouseikai

Ashiro Clinic and Dept of Surgery, Shouseikai Takizawa Central Hospital,

Iwate Pref., in March, 1999. Despite the administration of vancomycin

hydrochloride at 2g/day (VCM) or minomycine hydrochloride at 400 mg/day

(MINO), their MRSA did not become negative and their symptoms showed

no improvement, nor did the ebb and flow of their general condition. So, Bu-

Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (Tumura Hochu-ekki-to extract, hereafter, Hochuekki-to;

Table 1) was administered to the MRSA-infected patients at 5g/day, for 59 to

88 days. For the duration of the administration of Hochu-ekki-to,

antibacterial drugs were discontinued; otherwise treatment, including drug

therapy, was unchanged.

 

Itoh T, Itoh H, Kikuchi T. | Five cases of MRSA-infected patients with

cerebrovascular disorder and in a bedridden condition, for whom bu-zhong-

yi-qi-tang (hochu-ekki-to) was useful. | Am J Chin Med. 2000;28(3-4):401-8. |

Shouseikai Ashiro Clinic, Ashiro Town, Iwate Pref., Japan. | Herbal formula

bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang (hochu-ekki-to, 5g/day) was administered to five MRSA-

infected bedridden patients with cerebrovascular disorder, dementia and, in

two cases, bed sores, who had resistance to several antibacterial drugs.

After hochu-ekki-to the patients showed an excellent result; disappearance

of MRSA, improvement of their general condition, and no side effects.

Therefore, it is thought that hochu-ekki-to may be a useful drug for MRSA-

infected patients. PMID: 11154054 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Kamei T, Nagura S, Toriumi Y, Kumano H, Kondoh T, Tomioka H. | Effect of

half the standard dose of Mao-bushi-saishin-to in two MRSA patients and

one decubitus ulcer patient. | Am J Chin Med. 2000;28(2):301-4. | | PMID:

10999449 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Karibe H, Kumabe T, Ishibashi Y, Sakai K, Shiina G. | [The effect of

Japanese herbal medicine on MRSA carrier in neurosurgery] [Article in

Japanese]. | No Shinkei Geka. 1997 Oct;25(10):893-7. | Dept of

Neurosurgery, Watanabe Hospital. | Since the management of methicillin-

resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers is not established, these

patients are isolated individually, limited in activity, and delayed in

rehabilitation. In this study, the effect of Japanese herbal medicine on MRSA

carriers was examined. In the control group, MRSA carriers were isolated

individually. In the treatment group, one of the Japanese herbal medicines

" Juzentaihotou " or " Hotyuekkitou " was given in addition to isolating the

patient. It was shown in cultures that Japanese herbal medicines had

effectively changed MRSA carriers to negative. They also shortened the

duration required to bring about the change of MRSA carriers to negative.

As a result, the total number of MRSA carriers was reduced. These results

suggested that Japanese herbal medicines may be useful for the

management of MRSA carriers in neurosurgery. PMID: 9330391 [PubMed -

indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Kushiya K, Nakagawa S, Taneike I, Iwakura N, Imanishi K, Uchiyama T,

Tsukada H, Gejyo F, Yamamoto T. | Inhibitory effect of antimicrobial agents

and anisodamine on the staphylococcal superantigenic toxin-induced

overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines by human peripheral blood

mononuclear cells. | J Infect Chemother. 2005 Aug;11(4):192-5. | Division of

Bacteriology, Dept of Infectious Disease Control and International Medicine,

Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Japan. |

Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA),

produces superantigenictoxins, such as toxic shock syndrome toxin-1

(TSST-1). TSST-1 abnormally activates T cells to overproduce inflammatory

cytokines (such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-2, and interferon-

gamma) leading to shock. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect

of antimicrobial agents and anisodamine (a Chinese herbal extract) on

TSST-1-induced cytokine production. Among the macrolides and related

agents examined, azithromycin and rokitamycin showed the greatest

inhibitory activity against the TSST-1-induced cytokine production. This

inhibitory effect was similar to that of anisodamine, which, however, had no

inhibitory activity against bacterial growth. Vancomycin, teicoplanin,

arbekacin, and linezolid (anti-MRSA and related agents) had no significant

inhibitory effect on cytokine production. The inhibitory effect of the drugs on

cell proliferation was not significant. These data indicate that some

antimicrobial agents, e.g., azithromycin and rokitamycin, manifest anti-

superantigenic toxin activity through the inhibition of cytokine production,

just

like anisodamine. PMID: 16133711 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Lechner D, Stavri M, Oluwatuyi M, Pereda-Miranda R, Gibbons S. | The

anti-staphylococcal activity of Angelica dahurica (Baizhi). | Phytochemistry.

2004 Feb;65(3):331-5. | Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy,

School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29-39 Brunswick Square,

London WC1N 1AX, UK. | Bioassay-guided fractionation of a hexane extract

prepared from the roots of the Chinese drug Angelica dahurica (Baizhi) led

to the isolation of the polyacetylenic natural product falcarindiol (1). The

absolute stereochemistry of this compound was confirmed by careful 1H

NMR analysis of its ®- and (S)-Mosher ester derivatives as the 3®, 8(S)

isomer. Activity was tracked using a Mycobacterium fortuitum screening

assay and the purified product was evaluated against multidrug-resistant

and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The

minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of this metabolite ranged from 8 to

32 microg/ml highlighting the potential of the acetylene natural product class

as antibiotic-lead compounds. These MIC values compare favourably with

some of the newest agents in development for the treatment of MRSA

infection and indicate that further evaluation of the antibiotic activity of

acetylenes is warranted. PMID: 14751304 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Lee CK, Kim H, Moon KH, Shin KH. | Screening and isolation of antibiotic

resistance inhibitors from herb materials-resistance inhibition of volatile

components of Korean aromatic herbs. | Arch Pharm Res. 1998

Feb;21(1):62-6. Erratum in: Arch Pharm Res 1998 Apr;21(2):223. | College

of Pharmacy, Kyungsung University, Pusan, Korea. | The resistance

inhibitory activities of 54 odorant mixtures (essential oil) from 41 Korean

aromatic herbs were tested against multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus

aureus SA2, which has resistances to 10 usual antibiotics including

chloramphenicol. As results, combinations of 28 kinds of samples from 21

herbs and chloramphenicol have resistance inhibitory activities in dose

dependent manner. PMID: 9875516 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Li AL, Komatsu Y, Ono Y, Nakatani F, Nakashima K, Yamaguchi N. | [The

effect of herbal medicines on the immunodeficient animals by injecting

cancer chemotherapeutic agent-special reference to age related recovery of

the function] [Article in Japanese]. | Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 1996

Jul;70(7):717-26. | Dept of Serology, Kanazawa Medical University,

Uchinada, Japan. | The acquired immunodeficiency of the host plays an

essential role in the occurrence of infections even with low pathogenic

bacteria. The increase of cases with MRSA and/or pseudomonas infection is

one of the serious problems in hospital management in Japan for the elderly

as well as pediatric patients. In the present study, mitomycin C (MMC)-

treated hosts were prepared in young, adult and old mice to test the

immunopotentiating action of the promising Chinese herbal medicine, Tohki-

Rikuoh-Toh (TRT), Hotyu-Ekki-Toh (HET) and Juzen-Taiho-Toh (JTT). The

effect of these herbal medicines on organ structure and its function in the

MMC-treated hosts is clarified and discussed for medical use. 4-5, 8-10 and

over 50 week old male C57BL/6 (Clea Japan Inc.) were injected with MMC

at a dosage of 3 to 5 mg/kg to inhibit the bone marrow, thus creating a

mouse model with reduced immunopotential. A powder extract of TRT, HET

and JTT was administrated orally at a dosage of 500 mg/kg/day for seven

consecutive days. The white cell number and the subset analysis were

carried out by the FACS method. The bactericidal effect of the host was

monitored by NBT reduction test. Peritoneal macrophages were prepared by

the adherence technique. The macrophage phagocytic activity was

examined by an ACAS system. After the administration of TRT, HET and

JTT, the body weights recovered as much as 90%, especially in young

animals which had been reduced to 75% of their normal values. After MMC-

treatment, with the herbal medicines, HET was good for young mice while

JTT was effective for the old ones. As for the effect on B cells, the plaque-

forming cells (PFC) of spleen cells were compared among the groups. As a

result, PFC in the HET group was 184% and the other two were 80

approximately 95% as compared to 76% in the MMC-treated ones. The

number of white blood cells in the MMC-treated mice returned to 80% of

their normal value. In addition, the phagocytic activity of macrophages

increased to 50% although that of the non-treated group was only 20%. The

phagocytic activity also recovered in the JTT and TRT of 131% to 95%,

respectively compared to 11% in the MMC-treated control. When TRT, HET

and JTT were administered orally to mouse models whose immunopotential

had been inhibited, the herbal medicines activated both quantitatively and

qualitatively, showing themselves to be effective interstitial medicines. In

addition, the data from the animal models showed no side effects,

confirming the complete efficacy of the drug. Moreover, there was no direct

anti-bactericidal effect from these medicines, suggesting that the

immunomodulating action of this medicine is host-mediated. It is interesting

that quantitative and qualitative recovery were seen when HET was

administered to MMC-treated young hosts while JTT was good for the old.

With this investigation, the effective components are still unknown for

different generations, and we need to clarify this aspect for better

understanding of the efficacy of herbal medicines. PMID: 8797307 [PubMed

- indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Liu IX, Durham DG, Richards RM. | Baicalin synergy with beta-lactam

antibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other

beta-lactam-resistant strains of S. aureus. | J Pharm Pharmacol. 2000

Mar;52(3):361-6. | School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Social Care,

The Robert Gordon Univ, Schoolhill, Aberdeen, UK. | Bacterial resistance to

antibiotics is a serious global problem and includes strains of beta-lactam-

resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).

Novel antimicrobials and/or new approaches to combat the problem are

urgently needed. The Chinese herb Xi-nan Huangqin (Scutellaria amoena

C.H. Wright) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a wide

range of infectious diseases. In this study we have examined the

antibacterial action of baicalin, a flavone isolated from the herb. When

combined with 16 microg mL(-1) baicalin, minimum inhibitory concentrations

(MICs) of benzylpenicillin against MRSA and penicillin-resistant S. aureus

were reduced from 125 and 250 microg mL(-1) to 4 and 16 microg mL(-1),

respectively. This activity of baicalin was dose-dependent. Viable counts

showed that the killing of MRSA and beta-lactam-resistant S. aureus cells by

10 to 50 microg mL(-1) ampicillin, amoxycillin, benzylpenicillin, methicillin

and cefotaxime was potentiated by 25 microg mL(-1) baicalin. From the

study it was concluded that baicalin has the potential to restore the

effectiveness of beta-lactam antibiotics against MRSA and other strains of

beta-lactam-resistant S. aureus. In view of its limited toxicity baicalin offers

potential for the development of a valuable adjunct to beta-lactam

treatments against otherwise resistant strains of microorganisms. PMID:

10757427 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Nishida S. | Effect of Hochu-ekki-to on asymptomatic MRSA bacteriuria. | J

Infect Chemother. 2003 Mar;9(1):58-61. | Dept of Urology, Yokohama Seibu

Hospital, St Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao,

Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan. yazniskisla |

Hochu-ekki-to, a multiple herbal drug which consists of 10 medicinal plants

(Astragali radix, Atractylodis lanceae rhizoma, Ginseng radix, Angelicae

radix, Bupleuri radix, Zizyphi fructus, Aurantii nobilis pericarpium,

Glycyrrhizae radix, Cimicifugae rhizoma, and Zingiberis rhizoma), was

administered to 38 patients with asymptomatic methicillin-resistant

Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteriuria, and the effect was evaluated.

The patients received Hochu-ekki-to at a daily dose of 7.5 g for at least 24

weeks. As a prognostic nutritional index (PNI), albumin and lymphocytes in

the peripheral blood were measured, in addition to urine culture. The results

were compared with those in 12 untreated control patients with

asymptomatic MRSA bacteriuria. Four of the 38 patients treated with Hochu-

ekki-to received antibacterial drugs during the treatment period, and were

excluded from the study. Among the 34 eligible patients treated with Hochu-

ekki-to, urinary MRSA was eradicated in 12 patients, and the bacterial

counts in urine culture decreased to 10(2) CFU/ml or less in 10 patients. In

patients treated with Hochu-ekki-to, urinary bacteria were decreased from

10 weeks after treatment compared with the findings in control patients (P <

0.05). PNI improved in all patients compared with the baseline before

treatment. It was considered that the biodefense function was recovered via

nutritional improvement by the administration of Hochu-ekki-to, and, as a

result, MRSA bacteriuria improved. Further investigation would be needed in

future. PMID: 12673409 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Si W, Gong J, Tsao R, Kalab M, Yang R, Yin Y. | Bioassay-guided

purification and identification of antimicrobial components in Chinese green

tea extract. | J Chromatogr A. 2006 Sep 1;1125(2):204-10. Epub 2006 Jun

23. | Food Research Program, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph,

Ont. N1G 5C9, Canada. | The Chinese green tea extract was found to

strongly inhibit the growth of major food-borne pathogens, Escherichia coli

O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium DT104, Listeria monocytogenes,

Staphylococcus aureus, and a diarrhoea food-poisoning pathogen Bacillus

cereus, by 44-100% with the highest activity found against S. aureus and

lowest against E. coli O157:H7. A bioassay-guided fractionation technique

was used for identifying the principal active component. A simple and

efficient reversed-phase high-speed counter-current chromatography

(HSCCC) method was developed for the separation and purification of four

bioactive polyphenol compounds, epicatechin gallate (ECG),

epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin (EC), and caffeine (CN). The

structures of these polyphenols were confirmed with mass spectrometry.

Among the four compounds, ECG and EGCG were the most active,

particularly EGCG against S. aureus. EGCG had the lowest MIC90 values

against S. aureus (MSSA) (58 mg/L) and its methicilin-resistant S. aureus

(MRSA) (37 mg/L). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies showed

that these two compounds altered bacterial cell morphology, which might

have resulted from disturbed cell division. This study demonstrated a direct

link between the antimicrobial activity of tea and its specific polyphenolic

compositions. The activity of tea polyphenols, particularly EGCG on

antibiotics-resistant strains of S. aureus, suggests that these compounds are

potential natural alternatives for the control of bovine mastitis and food

poisoning caused by S. aureus. PMID: 16797571 [PubMed - indexed for

MEDLINE]

 

Yu HH, Kim KJ, Cha JD, Kim HK, Lee YE, Choi NY, You YO. | Antimicrobial

activity of berberine alone and in combination with ampicillin or oxacillin

against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. | J Med Food. 2005

Winter;8(4):454-61. | Dept of Food and Nutrition, Kunsan National

University, Kunsan. | Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

bacteria have been responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality in

hospitals because they usually have multidrug resistance. Some natural

products are candidates as new antibiotic substances. In the present study,

we investigated the antimicrobial activity of berberine, the main antibacterial

substance of Coptidis rhizoma (Coptis chinensis Franch) and Phellodendri

cortex (Phellodendron amurense Ruprecht), against clinical isolates of

MRSA, and the effects of berberine on the adhesion to MRSA and

intracellular invasion into human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Berberine

showed antimicrobial activity against all tested strains of MRSA. Minimum

inhibition concentrations (MICs) of berberine against MRSA ranged from 32

to 128 microg/mL. Ninety percent inhibition of MRSA was obtained with 64

microg/mL or less of berberine. In the checkerboard dilution test, berberine

markedly lowered the MICs of ampicillin and oxacillin against MRSA. An

additive effect was found between berberine and ampicillin, and a synergistic

effect was found between berberine and oxacillin against MRSA. In the

presence of 1-50 microg/mL berberine, MRSA adhesion and intracellular

invasion were notably decreased compared with the vehicle-treated control

group. These results suggest that berberine may have antimicrobial activity

and the potential to restore the effectiveness of beta-lactam antibiotics

against MRSA, and inhibit the MRSA adhesion and intracellular invasion in

HGFs. PMID: 16379555 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Zaidan MR, Noor Rain A, Badrul AR, Adlin A, Norazah A, Zakiah I. | In vitro

screening of five local medicinal plants for antibacterial activity using disc

diffusion method. | Trop Biomed. 2005 Dec;22(2):165-70. | Bioassay Unit,

Herbal Medicine Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala

Lumpur. | Medicinal plants have many traditional claims including the

treatment of ailments of infectious origin. In the evaluation of traditional

claims, scientific research is important. The objective of the study was to

determine the presence of antibacterial activity in the crude extracts of some

of the commonly used medicinal plants in Malaysia, Andrographis

paniculata, Vitex negundo, Morinda citrifolia, Piper sarmentosum, and

Centella asiatica. In this preliminary investigation, the leaves were used and

the crude extracts were subjected to screening against five strains of

bacteria species, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),

Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

and Escherichia coli, using standard protocol of Disc Diffusion Method

(DDM). The antibacterial activities were assessed by the presence or

absence of inhibition zones and MIC values. M. citrifolia, P. sarmentosum

and C. asiatica methanol extract and A. paniculata (water extract) have

potential antibacterial activities to both gram positive S. aureus and

Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA). None of the five plant extracts

tested showed antibacterial activities to gram negative E. coli and K.

pneumoniae, except for A. paniculata and P. sarmentosum which showed

activity towards P. aeruginosa. A. paniculata being the most potent at MIC of

2 g/disc. This finding forms a basis for further studies on screening of local

medicinal plant extracts for antibacteria properties. PMID: 16883283

[PubMed - in process]

 

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