Phytochemicals and antimicrobial properties of Thai edible plant extracts and their prebiotic-like effects

In this study, the phytochemicals and antimicrobial activities of ethanolic extracts of Thai edible plants, green tea, red cotton tree flower, fingerroot and ginger were evaluated. The plant extracts were taken for evaluation of antimicrobial activities against Cutibacterium acnes DMST 14916, Staphylococcus epidermidis TISTR 518, and Staphylococcus aureus TISTR 746. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of green tea, fingerroot, and ginger extracts against C. acnes DMST 14916 were 3.92, 0.49, and 7.85 mg cm-3, respectively and the minimum bacteriostatic concentrations (MBCs) were 3.92, 0.49, and 7.85 mg cm-3, respectively. The MICs and MBCs of fingerroot extract against S. epidermidis TISTR 518 were 0.12 and 0.49 mg cm-3, respectively, while those against S. aureus TISTR 746 were 0.12 and 0.98 mg cm-3, respectively. Red cotton tree flower extract showed no antimicrobial activity against the acne-causing bacteria. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluation, the bacterial cells treated with the plant extracts revealed visible shrinkages compared to the smooth cell surfaces of the controls. The phytochemicals in the plant extracts were analysed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Well-known antimicrobial compounds like azelaic acid, embelin and kaempferol 3-rutinoside-4’-glucoside were identified in all extracts. The cytotoxic effects of the plant extracts on human cell lines were further investigated. The green tea extract was slightly toxic to HaCaT cells found at the initial concentration of 62.5 mg cm-3, but not toxic to MRC-5 cells. The fingerroot and ginger extracts had no cytotoxicity on HaCaT cells, but promoted the MRC-5 cell proliferation. The combination effects of the plant extracts were prebiotic-like and indifferent effects. Regarding all results, the ethanolic extracts of green tea, fingerroot, and ginger could be used individually as natural anti-acne ingredients capable of further product development to improve human skin health

Evaluation of tuberculosis surveillance in Satun Province, Thailand, July 2011

Three main tuberculosis (TB) reporting systems were operating in Thailand: notifiable disease surveillance (R506), TB registration and control in Bureau of Tuberculosis (BTB) and TB report for reimbursement in National Health Security Office (NHSO). A cross-sectional study was conducted in Satun Province in July 2011 to determine whether the three systems responded well to the objectives of TB surveillance. Patients diagnosed with TB and received anti-TB drugs at least once in 2010 from three hospitals were compared with TB cases reported in three systems. In the hospitals, 170 TB cases, including 95 new smear positive pulmonary TB cases, were reviewed. Coverage and positive predictive value were 73% and 83% for R506, 87% and 100% for BTB, and 79% and 99% for NHSO respectively. Success rate (82%) of all cases was lower than that was reported in BTB (96%). Median duration from diagnosis to reporting in R506, BTB and NHSO were six, 61 and two days respectively. All systems had sufficient budget, human resources and regular training. In addition, all systems had good capacity to achieve the major objectives of TB surveillance and their specific objectives. However, the systems had total 295 variables which resulted in high workload for reporting. Integrating three systems as one national TB reporting system was recommended to improve coverage, timeliness and success rate