• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-140
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial effects of Astringent medicinals against vaginal microbe. Methods : Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis were used for vaginitis-induced microbe. Lactobacillus gasseri, Streptococcus spp. and Escherichia coli HB101 were used for normal vaginal florae. And Astringent medicinals (Rubi Fructus, Tritici Immatri Semen, Corni Fructus, Nelumbinis Semen, Mume Fructus, Schizandrae Fructus, Ailanthi Radicis Cortex, Galla Rhois, Myristicae Semen, Terminariae Fructus, Rosae laevigatae Fructus, Ephedrae Radix) were used in this study. Antimicrobial activities were tested by optical density and colony test in vitro. And then wee valuated the antimicrobial effects in comparison with optical density and colony test. Results : The optical density and colony test showed that Terminariae Fructus and Galla Rhois among Astringent medicinals had the antimicrobial effects. Teminariae Fructus had the antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity against Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis of vaginitis-induced microbe. Galla Rhois had the antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity against Staphylococus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococus aureus, Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis of vaginitis-induced microbe. Conclusion : According to these results, we can suggest that Terminariae Fructus and Galla Rhois among Astringent medicinals be available to the antimicrobial agent of vaginitis-induced microbe in vitro.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.248-258
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• 2020

The vaginal microbiota may be important for pregnancy prognosis because vaginal dysbiosis during pregnancy appears to be related to preterm birth (PTB) or pregnancy loss. Previous reports have indicated that a Lactobacillus-poor microbial flora in the vagina and intrauterine infection by diverse anaerobes ascending from the vagina are associated with undesirable delivery outcomes. However, no research has involved the use of pyrosequencing analysis to examine vaginal microbiota profiles or their potential associations with high-risk pregnancy in Korean women. Vaginal swabs were collected from 500 Korean women for the identification of community state types (CSTs). Of these, 137 samples were further analyzed using a Roche/454 GS Junior pyrosequencer. Three distinct CSTs were identified based on the dominant vaginal microbes: CST I (Lactobacillus crispatus dominated), CST III (Lactobacillus iners dominated), and CST IV (with diverse species of anaerobes). Twelve of the 67 pregnant women had undesirable pregnancy outcomes (four miscarriages and eight PTBs). The dominant microbe in the vaginal microbiota of women who gave birth at full-term was L. crispatus. In contrast, L. iners was the dominant vaginal microbe in women who miscarried. Most (n = 6/8) vaginal microbiota profiles of women who experienced PTB could be classified as CST IV, with diverse bacteria, including anaerobic vaginal species. The present study provides valuable information regarding the characteristics of the vaginal microbiota of Korean women related to high-risk pregnancy. Investigation of the vaginal microbiotic structure in pregnant Korean women is necessary to enable better prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.124-138
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial effects of the interior warming herbs on vaginal microbes. Methods: Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis were used for vaginitis-induced microbes. Lactobacillus gasseri, Streptococcus spp. and Escherichia coli HB101 were used for normal vaginal florae. And herbs for warming the interior (Zingiberis Rhizoma, Alpiniae Officinari Rhizoma, Aconiti Tuber, Anethi Fructus, Evodiae Fructus, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus, Caryophylli Flos, Aconiti Tube, Zanthoxyli Pericarpium, Piperis Longi Fructus, Piperis Nigri Fructus) were used in this study. Antimicrobial activities were tested by the change of optical densities (OD) and colony test in vitro. Results: In the results of vaginitis-induced microbes, Anethi Fructus was decreased the OD values on MRSA and Gardnerella vaginalis and Aconiti Tuber was decreased on MRSA. There were no viable MRSA and Gardnerella vaginalis colony forming against Evodiae Fructus, Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA colony forming against Piperis Longi Fructus, Staphylococcus aureus colony forming against Piperis Nigri Fructus and MRSA colony forming against Zanthoxyli Pericarpium. In the results of normal vaginal florae, Zingiberis Rhizoma was decreased the OD values on Streptococcus spp. and all normal vaginal florae were showed viable colony forming against all experimental herbs. Conclusion: According to these results, we can suggest that some kinds of interior warming herbs have antimicrobial effects on vaginal microbes. So there might be needed to make furthermore studies to seek the herbs which have selective antimicrobial effect on pathologic vaginal microbes.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2007

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial effects of herb for removing dampness and promoting urination against vaginal microbes. Methods : Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA), Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis were used for vaginitis-induced microbes. Lactobacillus gasseri, Streptococcus spp. and Escherichia coil HB101 were used for normal vaginal florae. And herbs for removing dampness and promoting urination(Dianthi herbs. Tokoro Rhizoma, Saururi Herbs, Pyrrosiae Folium, Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba, Plantaginis Semen, Tetrapanacis Medulla, Polygoni Avicularis Herba, Malvae Semen, Akebiae Caulis, Kochiae Fructus, Lygodii Spora) were used. Antimicrobial activities were estimated by the change of optical densities and colony test in vitro. Results : Plantaginis Semen, Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba and Lygodii Spora had the antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity against MRSA and Gardnerella vaginalis. Polygoni Avicularis Herba had the antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity against Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA and Gardnerella vaginalis. Malvae Semen and Kochiae Fructus had the antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity against MRSA. Dianthi Herba had the antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity against Gardnerella vaginalis. Conclusion : According to these results, we can suggest that Plantaginis Semen, Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba, Lygodii Spora, Polygoni Avicularis Herba, Malvae Semen, Kochiae Fructus and Dianthi Herba would be available to the antimicrobial agent for vaginitis-induced microbe in vitro.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.109-123
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• 2023

Preterm birth (PTB) is defined as giving birth prior to the 37th week of pregnancy and is a major cause of infant mortality. Studies have indicated that the vaginal microbiota's composition and its dysbiosis, particularly during pregnancy, may play a major role in PTB. While previous research work concentrated on well-studied microorganisms such as Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Gardnerella, various other microbes, and their significance in the vaginal microbiota's stability remain unknown. Moreover, current studies have focused primarily on the relative abundances of the microbes found, without considering their interactions with other members of the vaginal microbiota. In this work, we developed a novel computational approach and performed taxonomic classification of vaginal microbiota samples stratified longitudinally (Term/PTB) to observe compositional disparities and find underexamined microbes that may be contributing to PTB. Furthermore, we carried out a correlational analysis to build a microbial co-interaction network and investigated the functional implications of the genes present in both Term and PTB samples. The co-occurrence network revealed that Lactobacillus acts in solidarity to maintain the stability of the vaginal microbiota and did not have strong co-interactions with any of the other microbes. Similarly, microbes with strong interactions with Atopobium, a well-known marker microbe of PTB, were also observed. Additionally, several genes such as PTXA, FANCM, GPX, and DUSP were found to be playing an important role in the occurrence of PTB. This study provides a novel conceptual framework revealing distinct vaginal microbiota signatures that could be potential therapeutic targets for the prevention of PTB.