Essential Oil from Origanum vulgare Completely Inhibits the Growth of Multidrug-Resistant Cystic Fibrosis Pathogens.

Essential oils (EOs) are known to inhibit the growth of a wide range of microorganisms. Particularly interesting is the possible use of EOs to treat multidrug-resistant cystic fibrosis (CF) pathogens. We tested the essential oil (EO) from Origanum vulgare for in vitro antimicrobial activity, against three of the major human opportunistic pathogens responsible for respiratory infections in CF patients; these are methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Achromobacter xylosoxidans. Antibiotic susceptibility of each strain was previously tested by the standard disk diffusion method. Most strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics and could be defined as multi-drug-resistant (MDR). The antibacterial activity of O. vulgare EO (OEO) against a panel of 59 bacterial strains was evaluated, with MIC and MBC determined at 24, 48 and 72 hours by a microdilution method. The OEO was effective against all tested strains, although to a different extent. The MBC and MIC of OEO for S. aureus strains were either lower or equal to 0.50%, v/v, for A. xylosoxidans strains were lower or equal to 1% and 0.50%, v/v, respectively; and for S. maltophilia strains were lower or equal to 0.25%, v/v. The results from this study suggest that OEO might exert a role as an antimicrobial in the treatment of CF infections

Exploring the Anti-Burkholderia cepacia Complex Activity of Essential Oils: A Preliminary Analysis

In this work we have checked the ability of the essential oils extracted from six different medicinal plants (Eugenia caryophyllata, Origanum vulgare, Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia, and Thymus vulgaris) to inhibit the growth of 18 bacterial type strains belonging to the 18 known species of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc). These bacteria are opportunistic human pathogens that can cause severe infection in immunocompromised patients, especially those affected by cystic fibrosis (CF), and are often resistant to multiple antibiotics. The analysis of the aromatograms produced by the six oils revealed that, in spite of their different chemical composition, all of them were able to contrast the growth of Bcc members. However, three of them (i.e., Eugenia caryophyllata, Origanum vulgare, and Thymus vulgaris) were particularly active versus the Bcc strains, including those exhibiting a high degree or resistance to ciprofloxacin, one of the most used antibiotics to treat Bcc infections. These three oils are also active toward both environmental and clinical strains (isolated from CF patients), suggesting that they might be used in the future to fight B. cepacia complex infections

Occurrence of mycotic and aflatoxin contamination in Myristica fragrans seeds (nutmeg) and Capsicum annum (chili) packed in Italy and commercialized worldwide

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of moulds known to be carcinogenic for humans, and therefore should not be ingested in high doses. This study aimed to determine the level of mould and aflatoxin contamination in dehydrated chili and nutmeg imported from India and Indonesia, respectively, packed in Italy, and commercialized worldwide.63 samples of chili (22 sanitized through heat treatment, and 41 not heat treated) and 52 samples of nutmeg (22 sanitized through heat treatment, and 30 not heat treated) were tested for aflatoxin, moulds and moisture content.Heat-treated samples were less contaminated than those not treated. Spices in powder (both chili and nutmeg) were more contaminated than whole ones. In untreated spices, we observed a positive correlation between mould and moisture content. Of the nutmeg and chili powder samples, 72.5% and 50% tested positive for aflatoxin contamination with a range of 0 â 17.2 μg kg-1 and 0 - 10.3 μg kg-1, respectively.The steam treatment of spices would be useful in reducing the initial amount of moulds. Despite the fact that risk from the consumption of spices contaminated with aflatoxins is minimal, due to the small amount used in food, preventive screening actions of the whole food chain are very important, especially because the most frequently identified toxin was B1 which is the most dangerous of the four toxins (B1, B2, G1, G2).Â

New materials for laser welding of connective tissue and controlled release of antimicrobial principles

Stitches or adhesive patches still represent the gold standard for the closure of wounds. However, inspite of their long history and widespread implementation, these solutions remain problematic in different respects, due to the combination of factors that complicate the healing process, such as foreign body reactions, antimicrobial infections, or the permeability of the repair. Our work consists of the pursuit of an alternative technological platform to seal wounds in different clinical contexts, by the use of laser welding in combination with biocompatible scaffolds made of electrospun fibers containing polysaccharidic components and hosting a variety of dyes, such as FDA-approved indocyanine green or more durable plasmonic nanoparticles. We illustrate the use of these materials in different regimes of optical irradiation, where cw light activates a cascade of photo-thermal and biochemical processes that result into a strong adhesion at the boundary with a connective tissue. We suggest the incorporation of multishell Au@Ag core@shell nanoparticles as a tool serving both as a photothermal transducer and a source of silver cations, which may migrate through the microporous scaffold and exert an antimicrobial function. While the versatility of our materials and methods still leaves substantial room for optimization and even more functionalization, we are confident that our work will make an impact and inspire new synergistic solutions at the crossroads between tissue engineering and biomedical optics