Eradication regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection have some side effects, compliance problems, relapses, and antibiotic resistance. Therefore, alternative anti-H. pylori or supportive antimicrobial agents with fewer disadvantages are necessary for the treatment of H. pylori. We investigated the pH-(5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0) and concentration (0.032, 0.064, 0.128, 0.256, 0.514, and 1.024 mg/mL)-dependent antibacterial activity of crude urushiol extract from the sap of the Korean lacquer tree (Rhus vernicifera Stokes) against 3 strains (NCTC11637, 69, and 219) of H. pylori by the agar dilution method. In addition, the serial (before incubation, 3, 6, and 10 min after incubation) morphological effects of urushiol on H. pylori were examined by electron microscopy. All strains survived only within pH 6.0-9.0. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the extract against strains ranged from 0.064 mg/mL to 0.256 mg/mL. Urushiol caused mainly separation of the membrane, vacuolization, and lysis of H. pylori. Interestingly, these changes were observed within 10 min following incubation with the 1 x minimal inhibitory concentrations of urushiol. The results of this work suggest that urushiol has potential as a rapid therapeutic against H. pylori infection by disrupting the bacterial cell membrane.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Catechols/chemistry/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Cell Membrane/drug effects/ultrastructure ; Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori/*drug effects/ultrastructure ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; Molecular Structure ; Rhus/*chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Gingerol on endotoxemia mouse induced by heatstroke.

METHODSForty mice were randomly divided into five groups, the endotoxemia model group (A), the normal temperature group (B), the Gingerol treated group (C), the solvent control group (D), and the saline control group (E), 8 mice in each group. Group B to E was administered with saline, Gingerol, solvent and saline respectively. Mice in group B were placed at room temperature 25 +/- 0.5 degrees C , relative humidity 43 +/- 5 % for 2 hrs, while mice in the other groups were exposed under 35 +/- 0.5 degrees C and relative humidity 65 +/- 5 % for 2 hrs in an artificial hot-climate mimic cabin to establish heatstroke endotoxemia model. The energy metabolic level of celiomacrophage was detected with MTT; the phagocytic ability was examined with neutral red chromometry; the hepatocyte ultrastructure was observed with transmission electron microscopy, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma was tested.

RESULTSAs compared with Group A, D and E, in Group C, energy metabolic levels of macrophage, phagocytic ability, and activity of SOD were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the level of MDA was significantly lower respectively (P < 0.01), with the levels of SOD and MDA approaching to those in Group B (P >0.05). The pathologic changes of hepatocyte ultrastructure in group C were less than those in the other three endotoxemia groups.

CONCLUSIONGingerol could raise the energy metabolic level of celio-macrophage to enhance its phagocytic ability, increase the activity of SOD and reduce the production of MDA in mouse with heatstroke endotoxemia, so as to alleviate the liver damage.

Animals ; Catechols ; Endotoxemia ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Fatty Alcohols ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Heat Stroke ; complications ; Macrophages ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation