• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2007

Culture broth of a streptomycete isolate, Streptomyces sp. CS684 showed antibacterial activity on methicilin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE). Among purified substances from the organism, CSU-1, which is active against MRSA and VRE, is a $C_{37}H_{62}O_{12}Na\;(M^+,721.3875)$, and identified as laidlomycin. The anti-MRSA and anti-VRE activity of CSU-1 was stronger than oxacillin and vancomycin. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain CS684 is very similar to Streptomyces ardus NRRL $2817^T$, whereas the ability of Streptomyces sp. CS684 to produce laidlomycin was shown to be unique.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.145-170
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the anti inflammatory and anti allergy effects of Vitex rotundifolia Linne fil. extract(VRE). Results : 1. In vitro test, VRE was used to determine the modulation of cytokine secretion, the activation of inflammatory and allergic factor and the inhibition of gene expression. The cell survival rate of Raw 264.7 and Jurkat T cells didn't decrease and accordingly cytotoxicity wasn't observed. In anti-allergic assay, the secretion of IL-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-${\gamma}$ were suppressed on Jurkat T cells induced by dust mites. And the gene expression of COX-2 was suppressed in HMC-1 stimulated by calcium ionophore A23187. In anti-inflammatory assay, the gene expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, COX-2 were suppressed on LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells. And the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 were suppressed on EoL-1 cells induced by dust mites. P38 and ERK activation of MAPK decreased generally. VRE showed potent inhibitory activity of NO production. 2. In vivo test, we used NC/Nga mouse induced by atopic dermatitis to observe the effects of VRE on the weight, water and feed, blood test, weight of organs, total IgE and histological change of main organs. Quantity of water and feed were not changed, therefore it didn't affect the weight directly, and no change was observed in related main organs, thus maybe there is no organ toxicity by test substances. And the symptoms were decreased significantly, and the thickness of epithelial cell layer and the number of mast cells were inhibited significantly by the difference of dosage. The number of total complete blood cells and IgE in serum were not changed significantly. Conclusion : These results suggest that VRE has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. Therefore VRE could be used effectively on improvement or treatment of atopic dermatitis. However, further study is needed to prove which component of VRE indicates effective pharmacological action.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2006

VISA and VRE are the main causes of surgical infection, urinary tract infections and bacteremia in hospitals. In this study; we selected VISA (Vancomycin Intermediate resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus) isolated from the clinical isolates. One of the isolated strains indicated the high resistance to severel anti-biotics (Vancomycin, Teicoplanin, Mupirocin, Synercid, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, Lincomycin, Cefotaxim, Meropenem). Antimicrobial activity of Bifidobacterium spp. against VISA and VRE were measured. About $10^4$ cells of VISA or VRE were mixed with 1,5 and 9 ml of Bifidobacterium and the final volume was adjusted to 10 ml with brain heart infusion (BHI) broth. The cell suspension was incubated for 3, 6, 9, and 24 hr, serially diluted and then plated on BHI agar plate. As numbers of Bifidobacterium were increased viable cell count of VISA and VRE decreased. The strongest antimicrobial activity of the Bifidobacterium was observed after 9hr incubation in any mixture, almost completely inhibiting the growth of VISA and VRE.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2014

Shepherd's purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik., has been considered a health food for centuries in Asia and is known to contain the isothiocyanate compound sulforaphane. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of a sulforaphane-containing solution (SCS) isolated from shepherd's purse. SCS had significant anti-inflammatory activity indicated by the decreased levels of nitric oxide (NO), cytokines (interleukin $1{\beta}$ [IL-$1{\beta}$], IL-6, and IL-10), and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. In addition, SCS decreased the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) levels, which confirmed the anti- inflammatory activity of SCS. Further, SCS inhibited vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and Bacillus anthracis. The minimal inhibitory concentration was $250{\mu}g/ml$ for VRE and $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ for B. anthracis. Taken together, these data indicate that SCS has potential anti-inflammatory and anti-superbacterial properties, and thus it can be used as a functional food or pharmaceutical.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.704-709
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• 2009

The emergence of methicillin-resistant of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) has led to an urgent need for the discovery and development of new antibacterial agents. As part of an ongoing investigation into the antibacterial properties of the natural products, (2S)-7,4'-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-8-(${\gamma}$, ${\gamma}$-dimethylally)-f1avanone (2S-DMDF), isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens, was found to be antibacterial active MRSA and VRE. Sophora flavescens has been used as antibacterial, antiviral, antiprotozoal, anti-inflammatory. Therefore, this study investigated the antibacterial activity of 2S-DMDF against all the bacterial strains tested. In this result, at the end point of an optically clear well, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 0.97 to 15.6 mg/ml for 2S-DMDF, from 125 to 256 mg/ml for ampicillin, and from 64 to 512 mg/ml for gentamicin with MRSA, also, 7.8 to 15.6 mg/ml for 2S-DMDF, from 125 to 256 mg/ml for ampicillin, and from 512 to 1024< mg/ml for vacomicin with VRE. These findings indicated that the application of the tested 2S-DMDF alone might prove useful in the control and treatment of MRSA and VRE infections.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.160-164
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• 2011

The purpose of this investigation was to extract the bioactive agents from Alpinia officinarum Hance. The methanol with ethylacetate extracts alone and combined were examined for their activities against VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci) and pathogenic yeast in vitro. The incidence of infections caused by VRE and other pathogenic microorganisms and the importance of using novel synergistic drug combinations has become important. Previously, we reported the antimicrobial effects of the butanol extract from Lonicera japonica and have evaluated combinations of solvent extracts, with a focus on the MeOH and EtOAc extracts from A. officinarum. In the present study, enhanced inhibitory effects were achieved by employing a combination of the two solvent extracts. The MeOH and EtOAc combination was especially effective against four VRE strains: E. faecalis (K-10-22), E. faecaium (K-11-212), E. faecalis (K-10-57) and E. faecalis (K-10-361) with MIC values of 12.5, 12.5, 6.25 and 25 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Thus, the combination was more effective than other antibiotics such as kanamycin, gentamicin or tetracycline against bacteria including E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Micrococcus luteus. In addition, the combination was effective against yeasts such as Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.140-146
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• 2015

The increase in resistance by pathogenic bacteria to multiple antimicrobial agents has become a significant treat, as the effective antimicrobial agents available for the patients infected by such resistant bacteria are reduced, or even eliminated. Several natural plant extracts have exhibited antibacterial and synergistic activity against various resistant microorganisms. Houttuynia cordata is frequently used by many traditional medicine practicioners for its antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the antibacterial effects of H. cordata extract against clinical multi-resistant bacteria, and compared the two methods used for the antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Thirty isolates of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 10), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE, 10), Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB, 10) were included in this study. The antibacterial effect of H. cordata was tested by disk diffusion and microbroth dilution methods as per CLSI guidelines. In disk diffusion, all isolates (30) showed no inhibition to 30,000 ug/mL of H. cordata. But in the microbroth dilution method, $MIC_{90}$ of H. cordata was 4,096 ug/mL, 8,192 ug/mL and 4,096 ug/mL in MRSA, VRE and CRAB, respectively. These results demonstrate that H. cordata exhibits antibacterial activity against MRSA, VRE and CRAB. Moreover, the microbroth dilution method is a more effective method than disk diffusion to evaluate the antibacterial activity of natural products. The Disk diffusion method used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of natural products required new standard guidelines including inoculum concentration of bacteria.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2011

Zabofloxacin is a novel broad spectrum fluoroquinolone with excellent anti-pneumococcal activity. We investigated the in vitro activity of zabofloxacin against clinical isolates of gram-positive bacteria and the in vivo activity against systemic infection in mice. Zabofloxacin was very active against gram-positive bacteria except QRSA (Quinolone-resistant S. aureus) and VRE(Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci). Especially, zabofloxacin was extremely potent against clinical isolates of Streptococci. Zabofloxacin was as active as gemifloxacin against systemic infection in mice. In view of its improved antibacterial activities against gram-positive bacteria and good pharmacokinetic profiles in animals, the clinical usefulness of zabofloxacin should be established by further studies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.9 s.89
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• pp.1278-1283
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• 2007

The 30% resistant frequencies of pathogenic bacteria were identified against generally utilizing disinfectants. Among the used disinfectants, foodsef, Taego, and Iodo 175 were dictated by lower sensitivities against pathogenic bacteria, as well as higher resistant frequencies when compared with other disinfectants. The resistant frequencies against antibiotics were also dictated by 30% through MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) and paper disc methods. Especially, the used bacteria exhibited resistances against gentamycin, kanamycin, and streptomycin, which included in all aminoglycoside group. The MBT-01108 material, which extracted and purified from a powder obtained by processing of Opunita ficus-indica var. saboten Makino trunk, did not develop or grow resistant bacteria. Interestingly, the multi-drug resistant bacteria such as MRSA, resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, VRE, and E. coli 0157 did not resistant against MBT-01108 material. These results suggest that MBT-01108 material uses as an anti-microbial agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.2 s.69
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• pp.279-286
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• 2005

The Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino (Cactus) is a tropical or subtropical plant, which is cultivated or grows naturally in Jeju island. It has been widely used as folk medicine for burned wound, edema and indigestion. In addition, its extract has been claimed to have several biological activities including anti-inflammation in oriental medicine. In this study, we examined the antimicrobial activities of the methanol extract of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino. The extract showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, including antibiotics resistant bacteria (MRSA, R-P. aeruginosa, VRE) and Propionibacterium acnes, yeast, and fungi. The extract retained the activity after heat treatment for 15 min at $100^{\circ}C$ and $121^{\circ}C$ and after extended storage, up to 10 weeks storage period at $4^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$, also stably retained its activity. It showed a better inhibitoring effect to the growth of E. coli than sodium benzoate did it at the same concentration. Addition of various salts or metal ions did not affect on its antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the antimicrobial characteristics of the extract can be applicable as a natural preservative and an antimicrobial agent for bacterial disease.