PMID: 

J Med Microbiol. 2012 Oct ;61(Pt 10):1366-72. Epub 2012 Jul 12. PMID: 22790205

Abstract Title: 

Ellagitannin from Quercus infectoria eradicates intestinal colonization and prevents renal injuries in mice infected with Escherichia coli O157 : H7.

Abstract: 

The use of antimicrobial agents in the management of patients infected with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 : H7 remains controversial. Here, we examined the antibacterial efficacy of a natural product, ellagitannin from Quercus infectoria (Qi 4), against the organism in a murine model. Streptomycin-pretreated mice were orogastrically inoculated with 2×10(9) c.f.u. streptomycin-resistant E. coli O157 : H7. The results demonstrated a stable high level of STEC present in the faeces of the infected animals. The bacterial levels in infected mice receiving Qi 4 at MIC and 2×MIC were not significantly different from those of the untreated group (t-test; P>0.05). In contrast, Qi 4 at 4×MIC significantly reduced the numbers of STEC within 2 days (t-test; 0.05>P>0.01). No viable bacteria were detected between day 5 and day 10. Similarly, at day 10, no organisms were detected from the intestines of the Qi 4-treated group, while they were recovered at levels of 10(8-11) and 10(5-10) c.f.u. g(-1) in the colons and caeca of the infected mice, respectively. Histopathological findings from the infected kidneys revealed a marked increase in the number of mesangial cells and mesangial matrix. Ultrastructural examination of the kidneys from the infected mice also demonstrated proliferation of mesangial cells and an increase in the mesangial matrix. Cellular injury of endothelial cells with irregular borders and cytoplasmic bleb formation were noted. In contrast, the effects were not observed in the animals treated with Qi 4. The results clearly indicated that administration of Qi 4 could effectively eradicate the colonization of STEC O157 : H7 in the intestinal tract of mice and prevent renal injury. This compound may be an alternative candidate for a therapeutic agent against infections caused by this dangerous organism.

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PMID: 

Indian J Dent Res. 2009 Jul-Sep;20(3):337-9. PMID: 19884719

Abstract Title: 

Screening of Quercus infectoria gall extracts as anti-bacterial agents against dental pathogens.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A number of bacteria have now become antibiotic-resistant. This increases the importance of ayurvedic drugs. We report, here, the activity of different extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water) of Quercus infectoria galls against dental pathogens — Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus acidophilus (designated) and Streptococcus sanguis (isolated).MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cup-plate method was used in anti-bacterial activity of the extracts at concentration of 200 mg/ml against dental pathogens. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of most effective extracts against the most susceptible bacteria were determined using a two-fold serial micro dilution method.RESULTS: Methanolic extract showed maximum anti-bacterial activity against all the bacteria. The most susceptible bacteria were S. sanguis followed by S. aureus, S. mutans, S. salivarius and L. acidophilus. The MIC values showed that methanolic extract was more effective than water extract.CONCLUSION: The plant has the potential to generate herbal metabolites. The crude extracts demonstrating anti-dental caries activity could result in the discovery of new chemical classes of antibiotics. These chemical classes of antibiotics could serve as selective agents for the maintenance of human health and provide bio-chemical tools for the study of infectious diseases.

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PMID: 

Chem Biol Interact. 2008 Feb 15 ;171(3):272-82. Epub 2007 Oct 22. PMID: 18076871

Abstract Title: 

Quercus infectoria galls possess antioxidant activity and abrogates oxidative stress-induced functional alterations in murine macrophages.

Abstract: 

The present study reports the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of Quercus infectoria galls. The antioxidant potency of galls was investigated employing several established in vitro model systems. Their protective efficacy on oxidative modulation of murine macrophages was also explored. Gall extract was found to contain a large amount of polyphenols and possess a potent reducing power. HPTLC analysis of the extract suggested it to contain 19.925% tannic acid (TA) and 8.75% gallic acid (GA). The extract potently scavenged free radicals including DPPH (IC(50)~0.5 microg/ml), ABTS (IC(50)~1 microg/ml), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) (IC(50)~2.6 microg/ml) and hydroxyl (*OH) radicals (IC(50)~6 microg/ml). Gall extract also chelated metal ions and inhibited Fe(3+) -ascorbate-induced oxidation of protein and peroxidation of lipids. Exposure of rat peritoneal macrophages to tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH) induced oxidative stress in them and altered their phagocytic functions. These macrophages showed elevated secretion of lysosomal hydrolases, and attenuated phagocytosis and respiratory burst. Activity of macrophage mannose receptor (MR) also diminished following oxidant exposure. Pretreatment of macrophages with gall extract preserved antioxidant armory near to control values and significantly protected against all the investigated functional mutilations. MTT assay revealed gall extract to enhance percent survival of tBOOH exposed macrophages. These results indicate that Q. infectoria galls possess potent antioxidant activity, when tested both in chemical as well as biological models.

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PMID: 

Lett Appl Microbiol. 2011 Jun ;52(6):565-72. Epub 2011 Mar 24. PMID: 21375550

Abstract Title: 

Damage of staphylococcal cytoplasmic membrane by Quercus infectoria G. Olivier and its components.

Abstract: 

AIMS: In traditional Thai medicine, nutgall of Quercus infectoria G. Olivier is well-documented as an effective agent for wound and skin infections. The present study was aimed to establish modes of action of the ethanol extract of the plant as well as its main constituents to induce anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity.METHODS AND RESULTS: The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)/minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of ethyl acetate I, ethyl acetate II, 95% ethanol and 30% ethanol fractions against MRSA were 0.06/0.25, 0.13/0.25, 0.25/0.5 and 0.5/1.00 mg ml(-1), respectively. Ellagic acid, gallic acid, syringic acid and tannic acid as major components of Q. infectoria nutgall extract were included in this study. Among these, gallic acid and tannic acid demonstrated good MIC/MBC values at 0.06/0.06 and 0.13/0.25 mg ml(-1), respectively. A lysis experiment demonstrated that the ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction I and all of the main components failed to lyse MRSA cells. In contrast, both MRSA and Staph. aureus ATCC 25923 treated with the ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction I, gallic acid and tannic acid displayed significant loss of tolerance to low osmotic pressure and high salt concentration.CONCLUSIONS: The results documented the effect of different fractions of Q. infectoria and purified compounds on MRSA and Staph. aureus. In addition, the study demonstrated that treatment with Q. infectoria extract and the purified compounds results in hypersensitivity to low and high osmotic pressure.SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides scientific information to support the traditional uses of the nutgall extract and suggesting its anti-MRSA mechanisms.

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PMID: 

Phytother Res. 2008 Apr ;22(4):560-2. PMID: 18338770

Abstract Title: 

Quercus infectoria: a candidate for the control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Abstract: 

Acetone, ethyl acetate, 95% ethanol and aqueous extracts of Quercus infectoria (Q. infectoria) demonstrated significant antibacterial activities against all strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Inhibition zones were in the range 11.75-16.82 mm. Both MRSA and MSSA strains exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values at 0.13 and 0.13-1.00 mg/mL, respectively. At 2 MIC, the growth of two representative MRSA strains was continually inhibited for at least 20 h. Surviving MRSA cells were not detected within 12-14 h after treatment with the extract at 4 MIC concentration. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 demonstrated similar results.

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PMID: 

Trop Biomed. 2014 Dec ;31(4):680-8. PMID: 25776593

Abstract Title: 

In vitro antibacterial activity of Quercus infectoria gall extracts against multidrug resistant bacteria.

Abstract: 

Antimicrobial activities of plants have long been evaluated for their promising use as antimicrobial agent and in minimizing the unwanted resistance effects of microorganisms. The study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Quercus infectoria gall crude extracts against multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria in vitro. The screening test was determined by disc diffusion technique using sterile filter paper discs impregnated with 1 mg/ disc (50 mg/ml) aqueous and ethanol extracts of Q. infectoria galls tested on five selected MDR bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the twofold serial micro dilution technique at concentration ranging from 5.00 mg/ml to 0.01 mg/ml. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined by sub culturing the microtitre wells showing no turbidity on the agar plate to obtain the MBC value. Both extracts showed substantial inhibitory effects against methicillin resistant coagulase negative Staphylococcus (MRCoNS) and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A slightly reduced inhibitory zone diameter was observed with MDR Acinetobacter sp. while no inhibitory effect was displayed among the extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) K. pneumoniae and ESBL E. coli isolates. A significant difference in the zone sizes between both extracts was only observed in MRSA (p

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PMID: 

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Jul 18 ;19(1):177. Epub 2019 Jul 18. PMID: 31319827

Abstract Title: 

Quercus infectoria gall extracts reduce quorum sensing-controlled virulence factors production and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa recovered from burn wounds.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Quercus gall extracts' ability to kill pathogens in vitro and even removal of chronic drug-resistant infections has been reported by several studies. The current investigation is focused on the action of extracts of Quercus infectoria gall in their sub-inhibitory concentrations on the corresponding bacterial behaviours instead of killing them.METHODS: The effect of gall extracts on the quorum sensing (QS) associated virulence of multiple drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa recovered from burns wounds was studied. The influence of different extracts on the production of bacterial virulence and biofilm, and expression of the genes encoding quorum sensing and exotoxin A were investigated. Quorum sensing is a crucial regulator of virulence and biofilm development in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other medical related microbes.RESULTS: Experiments to characterise and quantify Q. infectoria gall extracts impact on the quorum sensing networks of P.aeruginosa revealed that the expression of las, rhl, and exotoxin A (ETA) genes levels including the associated virulence were reduced by the extracts at their subinhibitory concentrations.CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results indicated that extracts of Q. infectoria galls fight infections either by their inhibitory constituents, which vigorously eradicate cells or by disruption of the pathogens quorum sensing system through weakening the virulence and bacterial coordination.

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PMID: 

Cytokine. 2017 06 ;94:29-36. Epub 2017 Apr 11. PMID: 28408068

Abstract Title: 

Quercus infectoria inhibits Set7/NF-κB inflammatory pathway in macrophages exposed to a diabetic environment.

Abstract: 

Chronic inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of myriad complications associated with diabetes and thus anti-inflammatory therapies may ameliorate these complications. Quercus infectoria (Qi) extract has been shown to downregulate inflammatory processes; however, the molecular mechanisms of this anti-inflammatory activity remain unclear. The hypothesis of our study was that Qi extract exerts its anti-inflammatory effect by downregulating the Set7/NF-κB pathway. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) were treated with high glucose plus palmitate medium (HG/Pa) to simulate the diabetic environment. Compared with control conditions, HG/Pa elevated expression Set7, expression and activity of NF-κB along with expression of several inflammatory cytokines. These changes were associated with increased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, similar alterations were demonstrated in BMM derived from mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) compared to those from lean mice, suggesting that HFD-induced changes in BM progenitors persist throughout differentiation and culture. Importantly, Qi extract dose-dependently reduced Set7, p65 and inflammatory cytokine expression relative to vehicle controls in both HG/Pa-and HFD-treated BMM. Finally, macrophages/monocytes isolated from wounds of diabetic mice that were treated with Qi solution exhibited lower expression of the inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and TNF-α, compared with vehicle treated wounds, demonstrating translation to the in vivo diabetic environment. Taken together, data from this study suggests that Qi downregulates diabetes-induced activity of the Set7/NF-kB pathway.

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PMID: 

Antioxidants (Basel). 2019 Sep 5 ;8(9). Epub 2019 Sep 5. PMID: 31491997

Abstract Title: 

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Properties ofLFruit Juice.

Abstract: 

L. (Cornelian cherry) is a flowering plant indigenous to Europe and parts of Asia, mostly studied for the antimicrobial activity of its juice. In this report, we investigated the composition and the in vitro antioxidant capacity ofL. fruit juice from Greece, as well as its antiproliferative properties in vitro and in vivo. The fruits showed a high content of citric, malic, and succinic acid, in contrast to their juice, which had a low concentration of organic acids. The juice demonstrated significant antioxidant activity against the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and modest antiproliferative potential against four human cancer cells lines and one murine: mammary adenocarcinoma MCF-7, hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and colon adenocarcinomas Caco2, HT-29, as well as murine colon carcinoma CT26. Cell viability was reduced by 40-50% following incubation of the cells with the highest concentration of the juice. Although Cornelian cherry juice exhibited in vitro growth inhibitory effects against colon carcinoma cells, no tumor growth inhibition was observed in an in vivo experimental colon carcinoma model in mice following prophylactic oral administration of a daily dose of 100L juice for a period of 10 days. Thus, our findings raise interesting questions for further research onL. fruit juice, and in parallel, the strong antioxidant potential implies that the plant could be further explored and exploited for its protective effect against oxidative damage.

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