PMID: 

Mymensingh Med J. 2019 Oct ;28(4):779-791. PMID: 31599241

Abstract Title: 

Antibacterial Activities of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) Extracts Against Three Food Borne Pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract: 

Evaluation of the in vitro antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts isolated from Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) buds against three food borne pathogens, gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli&Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This interventional study was carried out during the period of July 2018 to June 2019 in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics with the collaboration of Department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The antibacterial activity was tested at different concentrations of both extracts of spice by using disc diffusion&broth dilution method. The extracts were prepared by using solvents aqueous&ethanol. The test microorganisms were also tested for their activity against a standard antibiotic Gentamicin (80mg) by broth dilution method and the result was compared with that of Aqueous and Ethanolic extracts. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of clove had inhibitory activity against the test bacteria. Among different concentrations of the ACE, 500μg/ml&above concentration showed inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus&Escherichia coli and 700μg/ml&above concentration showed inhibitory effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In case of ECE, 500μg/ml&above concentration showed inhibitory effect against aforesaid bacteria. In disc diffusion method, S. aureus was found to be most susceptible to ACE (30.5mm)&Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be most susceptible to ECE (38mm). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of ECE were lower than ACE for the test bacteria except Staphylococcus aureus where MICs of ACE&ECE were the same. This result was also compared against a standard antibiotic Gentamicin where the MICs of Gentamicin were lower in comparison to MICs of ACE&ECE. The present study showed that aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Clove demonstrated antibacterial effects against food borne pathogens.

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PMID: 

Saudi Med J. 2011 Aug ;32(8):797-805. PMID: 21858388

Abstract Title: 

Effects of Origanum majorana L. on cadmium induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in albino rats.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Origanum majorana L. (OM) against cadmium (Cd)-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.METHODS: This study was performed at King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from September to December 2010. Thirty-six male albino rats were divided into 6 groups: control, Cd, OM, OM+Cd, OM pre-treated (received OM extract for 14 days followed by Cd for 14 days), OM post-treated (received Cd for 14 days followed by OM extract for 14 days). All treatments were orally administered once a day (Cd: 5 mg/kg by weight [b.w] and OM: 1 g/kg b.w) for 28 days. Changes in liver biochemical markers namely, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and levels of total protein, urea, and creatinine in the serum were determined. Levels of liver and kidney antioxidants namely, glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were estimated. Differential display using 3 primers: chi 25, 5.8S and NS3 was performed for liver homogenates.RESULTS: Exposure to Cd increased the levels of liver biochemical markers, urea, and creatinine, and lowered total protein levels. Exposure to Cd lowered activities of liver and kidney antioxidants, while it increased LPO levels. Levels of all disrupted parameters were alleviated by co-administration and post-administration of OM extract. The NS3 primer was able to show genetic variability in livers of all experimental groups.CONCLUSION: The OM showed apparent protective and curative effect on Cd-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

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PMID: 

J Med Food. 2014 Oct ;17(10):1129-33. Epub 2014 Sep 17. PMID: 25230257

Abstract Title: 

Composition and antiproliferative effect of essential oil of Origanum vulgare against tumor cell lines.

Abstract: 

Cancer is a leading cause of death and is responsible for one in eight deaths worldwide. The use of herbs as complementary medicine for cancer, especially advanced cancer, has recently increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro, the antiproliferative effect of Origanum vulgare against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), and human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29). The essential oil (EO) was extracted from a bought amount of O. vulgare dried leaves and analyzed in a gas chromatograph interfaced with a mass selective detector. The cytotoxicity test was performed by sulforhodamine B assay. The results show that the EO is composed mostly of 4-terpineol and induces a high cytotoxicity effect in HT-29. In the MCF-7 cell line the EO was less effective. In conclusion, this study showed that O. vulgare main component is 4-terpineol and was effective in inducing cancer cell growth inhibition.

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PMID: 

Protoplasma. 2013 Apr ;250(2):483-93. Epub 2012 Jul 7. PMID: 22772591

Abstract Title: 

Hepatoprotective effect of Origanum vulgare in Wistar rats against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity.

Abstract: 

The effect of an aqueous extract of Origanum vulgare (OV) leaves extract on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was investigated in normal and hepatotoxic rats. To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of OV, rats were divided into six groups: control group, O. vulgare group, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 2 ml/kg body weight) group, and three treatment groups that received CCl4 and OV at doses of 50, 100, 150 mg/kg body weight orally for 15 days. Alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate amino transferase (AST) in serum, lipid peroxide (LPO), GST, CAT, SOD, GPx, GR,and GSH in liver tissue were estimated to assess liver function. CCl4 administration led to pathological and biochemical evidence of liver injury as compared to controls. OV administration led to significant protection against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in dose-dependent manner, maximum activity was found in CCl4 + OV3 (150 mg/kg body weight) groups and changes in the hepatocytes were confirmed through histopathological analysis of liver tissues. It was also associated with significantly lower serum ALT, ALP, and AST levels, higher GST, CAT, SOD, GPx, GR, and GSH level in liver tissue.The level of LPO also decreases significantly after the administration of OV leaves extract. The biochemical observations were supplemented with histopathological examination of rat liver sections. Thus, the study suggests O. vulgare showed protective activity against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity inWistar rats and might be beneficial for the liver toxicity.

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PMID: 

Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 2013 Apr ;28(3):201-6. Epub 2013 Feb 15. PMID: 23413802

Abstract Title: 

The radioprotective effects of Origanum vulgare extract against genotoxicity induced by (131)I in human blood lymphocyte.

Abstract: 

Radioiodine ((131)I) has been widely used for the treatment of patients with thyroid diseases. However, there is a persisting concern about the induction of second tumor and genetic damage after (131)I therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the radioprotective effects of Origanum vulgare extract against genotoxicity induced by (131)I in human lymphocytes. Whole blood samples from human volunteers were incubated with origanum extract at doses of 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 μg/mL. After 1 hour of incubation, the lymphocytes were incubated with (131)I (20 μCi/mL) for 1 hour. The lymphocytes were then cultured with a mitogenic stimulant to evaluate micronucleus formation in cytokinesis-blocked binucleated cells. Incubation of lymphocytes with (131)I induced additional genotoxicity and shown by increases in micronuclei (MN) frequency in human lymphocytes. Origanum at three last doses significantly reduced the MN frequency in cultured lymphocytes. The maximum protective effect and the maximum decrease in the frequency of MN were observed at 100 μg/mL of origanum, which caused a reduction of 70% (p

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PMID: 

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018 Jan ;31(1):63-69. Epub 2017 Feb 23. PMID: 28027682

Abstract Title: 

The effect of Achillea millefolium and Hypericum perforatum ointments on episiotomy wound healing in primiparous women.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of Achillea millefolium and Hypericum perforatum ointments on episiotomy wound healing in primiparous women.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a double-blind clinical trial study performed on 140 primiparous women. They were randomly divided into four groups, each group containing 35 women: 2control groups including nonintervention and placebo ointment; and 2 case groups including Hypericum perforatum ointment and Achillea millefolium ointment. Healing process was assessed by five specifications: redness, ecchymosis, edema, discharge and wound dehiscence on 7th, 10th, and 14th days after delivery; pain level was assessed by means of visual analog scale.RESULTS: There was significant difference between groups in perineal pain level at 7th, 10th and 14th days postpartum, redness and edema at 7th and 10th days postpartum and ecchymosis at 7th day postpartum; the pain level, redness, edema and ecchymosis in groups who consume Hypericum perforatum and Achillea millefolium ointments were less than the control groups (p  0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Achillea millefolium and Hypericum perforatum ointments reduce perineal pain level, redness, edema and ecchymosis of episiotomy wound, so it seems that consuming them was useful for episiotomy treatment.

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PMID: 

Food Chem. 2014 ;152:300-6. Epub 2013 Dec 1. PMID: 24444941

Abstract Title: 

Phenolic compounds from Origanum vulgare and their antioxidant and antiviral activities.

Abstract: 

In the present study, six new phenolic compounds (1-6) along with five known ones were isolated from the ethanol extract of the whole plants of Origanum vulgare. The structures of the new compounds were identified on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses (UV, IR, NMR, and HRESIMS) and acid hydrolysis. Twenty-one phenolic compounds isolated from O. vulgare in our previous and present studies were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays; twelve of them including two new compounds exhibited significant antioxidant activity comparable to that of ascorbic acid. In addition, the antiviral effects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were tested by cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay.

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PMID: 

Phytomedicine. 2018 Apr 1 ;43:158-163. Epub 2018 Apr 10. PMID: 29747749

Abstract Title: 

Chemical analysis of aqueous extracts of Origanum majorana and Foeniculum vulgare and their efficacy on Blastocystis spp. cysts.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Origanum majorana (O. majorana) and Foeniculum vulgare (F. vulgare) are traditionally used herbs in Egypt for treatment of several diseases including parasitic diseases. The Purpose was to determine the efficacy of O. majorana and F. vulgare aqueous extracts (AEs) on Blastocystis spp. in vitro, and to reveal their phenolic, flavonoids components and antioxidant activities through chemical analysis.METHODS: The Efficacy of both plant AEs on human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) viability was assessed using MTT assay. Isolated Blastocystis spp. cysts from patients' diarrhea samples were incubated with different concentrations of O. majorana and F. vulgare AEs for different incubation periods (24, 48 and 72 h) in comparison with nitazoxanide (NTZ) as a drug control. The total contents of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the AEs and their ability to reduce DPPH were assessed. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis for quantitative and qualitative determination of the phenolic and flavonoid contents was performed.RESULTS: O. majorana AE at a dose of 400 µg /ml showed efficacy rates of 96% and 100% against Blastocystis parasite after 48 and 72 h, respectively, which nearly equivalent to NTZ at a dose of 500 µg/ml. F. vulgare at a dose of 250 µg/ml showed less efficacy rate of 56.4% after 48 h and increased to 70.7% after 72 h. Both extracts contain high phenolic and flavonoid compounds that possess antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities.CONCLUSION: O. majorana and F. vulgare AEs showed dose and time dependent anti-Blastocystis activity.

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PMID: 

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2015 Jan ;28(1 Suppl):363-9. PMID: 25631514

Abstract Title: 

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and chemical characterization of essential oils of Thymusvulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Origanum majorana from northeastern México.

Abstract: 

There have been no reports of antifungal activity and composition of extracts from Thymus vulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis or Origanum majorana from northeastern México. Antifungal activity of these oils against Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum was measured by diffusion assay. Additionally, antibacterial and antioxidant activities were evaluated. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes was examined by microdilution. Antioxidant activity was assessed by 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidracil reduction test. The plant oils were characterized by both GC/MS and GC/FID. Oils of T. vulgaris and O. majorana showed growth inhibition activity against dermatophytes, especially T. vulgaris oil, which completely inhibited growth of all tested dermatophytes. The oils also showed bioactivity against bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values between 62.5 and 500 μg/mL. The antioxidant activity of the oilswas low, with effective concentration (EC50) values

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PMID: 

Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 Dec ;108:1835-1844. Epub 2018 Oct 19. PMID: 30372889

Abstract Title: 

Anti-proliferative activity of Origanum vulgare inhibited lipogenesis and induced mitochondrial mediated apoptosis in human stomach cancer cell lines.

Abstract: 

Origanum vulgare commonly known as oregano belongs to mint family (Laminaceae), and native to temperate western and mediterranean region. In our present study, we have identified the bio-active principles of oregano essential oil (EO) and evaluated its apoptotic effects against human stomach cancer cell lines (AGS). The EO altered colony forming characteristics of cancer cell, migration ability of cancer cell and thus prevented cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, to evaluate the molecular mechanism involved in cancer cell death, we studied the genes that are involved in fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis pathway including 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), Acetyl CoA synthase (ACC), sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SPREPB1) and fatty acid synthase (FASN) respectively. The pathway genes such as HMGCR, ACC, SPREPB1 and FASN decreased in transcript profile and protein accumulation resulting in the inhibition of cell growth. The increase of BAX expression and downregulation of BCL2 expression indicated that oregano EO induced mitochondrial mediated apoptosis. In addition, the cancer cell undergone apoptosis was also confirmed by Hoechst, PI staining and DNA fragmentation. The present study finds rationale to use the oregano EO for stomach cancer treatments in traditional medicinal practice.

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