New insight into the chemical composition, antimicrobial and synergistic effects of the Moroccan endemic Thymus atlanticus (Ball) roussine essential oil in combination with conventional antibiotics

This study reported the volatile profile, the antimicrobial activity and the synergistic potential of essential oil (EO) from the Moroccan endemic Thymus atlanticus (Ball) Roussine, in combination with the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and fluconazole for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The EO chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and the antimicrobial activity assessed by the disc diffusion method against three Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus) and three Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and one clinical isolate, Klebsiella pneumonia). The antifungal activity was evaluated in four pathogenic yeasts (Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. parapsilosis). The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and the synergistic effect with ciprofloxacin and fluconazole were determined by the two-fold dilution technique and checkerboard test, respectively. Twenty-one constituents were identified by GC-MS in the EO, including carvacrol (21.62%) and borneol (21.13%) as the major components. The EO exhibited a significant antimicrobial activity with inhibition zones ranging from 0.7 mm to 22 mm for P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis, respectively, and MIC values varying from 0.56 mg/mL to 4.47 mg/mL. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) values ranged from 0.25 to 0.50 for bacteria and from 0.25 to 0.28 for yeasts. The maximum synergistic effect was observed for K. pneumonia with a 256-fold gain of antibiotic MIC. Our results have suggested that EO from T. atlanticus may be used alone or in association with antibiotics as a new potential alternative to prevent and control the emergence of resistant microbial strains both in the medical field and in the food industry.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Uxi (Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrec) bark extract mitigates HFD-induced adiposity in rats via targeting oxidative stress, and lipogenic genes expression

Here, we compared the modulatory effects of different dose levels of Uxi (Endopleura uchi aqueous bark extract, EUAE) vs simvastatin (SIM) on hyperlipidemia, metabolic stress, and liver dysfunction in HFD-induced obese rats. HFD significantly increased BMI, lee index, body adipose index, atherogenic indices, cellular toxicity markers, blood glucose level, adipokines, pro-inflammatory mediators, lipid peroxidation and promoted lipid accumulation and HMGCR and ACC. Furthermore, it significantly decreased antioxidants, ghrelin, and AG/UAG ratio as well as hepatic glycogen content, while these changes were mitigated by either SIM or EUAE treatment. The expression of FASN & SREBP1c genes were elevated in the HFD group, with downregulation of PPARα expression. These alterations were ameliorated by SIM or EUAE treatment. The beneficial effects of EUAE may be attributed to its phenolic compounds and their derivatives. This study supports the hypothesis that Uxi may have antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties in rat model of obesity