In Vitro Antioxidant and Bactericidal Efficacy of 15 Common Spices: Novel Therapeutics for Urinary Tract Infections?

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common ailment affecting all age groups in males and females. The commercial antibiotics usage augments antibiotics resistance and creates higher recurrence rates of such communal infections. Hence, this study is aimed at investigating the antibacterial and antioxidant potentials of 15 common spices against 11 UTI-causing bacterial pathogens. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant potential of the methanolic extracts was analyzed as contents of total phenols and flavonoids; radical scavenging, total reducing power, the ferric reducing power assay. Urinary pathogens were subjected to spice extracts to investigate antibacterial assays. Results: Preliminary phytochemical study of spices was performed to find those containing alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and steroids that can be recognized for their noteworthy bactericidal effects. The outcome of the antioxidative potential from the four methods demonstrated the sequence of potent antioxidant activity: Acorus calamus > Alpinia galanga > Armoracia rusticana > Capparis spinosa > Aframomum melegueta. The total polyphenols and flavonoids in the studied species positively correlated with their antioxidant properties. The four most effective spices (A. calamus, A. galanga, A. rusticana, and C. spinosa) had a zone of inhibition of at least 22 mm. A. calamus, A. melegueta, and C. spinosa had the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value against Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis. All 15 spices had the lowest minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value against most of the pathogenic bacteria. Conclusion: The four highly potent and unique spices noted for the in vitro control of UTI-causing pathogens could be pursued further in the development of complementary and alternative medicine against UTI-causing pathogens.

Efficacy and Mechanism of Traditional Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds against Clinically Important Pathogens

“…Bioactive compounds have mediated the dysfunction of DNA gyrase functions in a dose-dependent manner that leads to the impairment of cell division and/or completion of chromosome replication, resulting in the inhibition of bacterial growth [149]. Luteolin (45), morin (9), and myricetin (43) have been demonstrated to inhibit the helicases of E. coli [152]. Helicases consititute another significant replicative enzyme responsible for separating and/or rearranging DNA double-strands [153].…”

“…Furthermore, myricetin (43) and baicalein (44) have been proposed as potent inhibitors of numerous DNA and RNA polymerases, as well as viral reverse transcriptase, resulting in the inhibition of bacterial growth [154]. EGCG (20), myricetin (43), and robinetin (53) have been demonstrated as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase in Streptomonas maltophilia, P.vulgaris, S. aureus, M. tuberculosis, and E. coli [43,155,156]. Dihydrofolate reductase is key enzyme for the synthesis of the purine and pyrimidine rings of nucleic acid, resulting in reduced DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis [156].…”

“…Bacterial hyaluronidases are enzymes formed by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and directly interact with host tissues, causing the permeability of connective tissues and reducing the viscosity of body fluids due to hyaluronidase-mediated degradation [166]. Flavonoids such as myricetin (43) and quercetin (1) have been identified as hyaluronic acid lyase inhibitors in Streptococcus equisimilis and Streptococcus agalactiae [167].…”

Clinical Pharmacists in Chronic Care

“…Several other risk factors are associated with cystitis, a prior UTI, vaginal infection, diabetes, and genetic susceptibility [306]. Pathogens responsible most commonly are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus [293], [306][307][308][309][310]. The role of dietary patternin RUTI is also not clear.…”

“…The role of dietary patternin RUTI is also not clear. Increasing fluid consumption is often recommended for patients with UTI [301], [307][308][309][310][311][312][313][314] but there has been no clear clinical evidence to support this recommendation [315]. After a first episode of a UTI, 27% of women have a confirmed recurrence within the next 6 months [292].…”