Research - Fennel / Foeniculum vulgare
Fennel oil: A promising antifungal agent against biofilm forming fluconazole resistant Candida albicans causing vulvovaginal candidiasis
Rasha H.BassyouniaIman E.Walib Zeinat Kamelc Mai Fareg Kassim
Abstract
Aim
To screen the antimicrobial activities of some plant essential oils against clinical isolates of C. albicans causing vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and to investigate the antifungal effect of the most active one against planktonic and sessile cells compared to fluconazole.
Methods
Screening of biofilm production by C. albicans causing VVC was performed by tissue culture plate method. The antifungal susceptibility of fluconazole was performed by disk diffusion method. Antifungal activities of nine essential oils were screened against strong biofilm-producer, fluconazole-resistant or dose-dependently susceptible clinical isolates and Candida albicans ATCC10,231 by well diffusion method. Determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fennel essential oil and fluconazole against planktonic and sessile cells were performed by microdilution methods. Determination of the combined antimicrobial activity of fennel oil and fluconazole was evaluated by checkerboard microdilution assay.
Results
From 19 C. albicans strains, 10/19 showed strong ability to form biofilms. None of the tested clinical isolates was sensitive to fluconazole. Fennel oil had significantly higher antifungal activities against tested C. albicanscompared with other tested oils (P = 0.000). The MICs of fennel oil for planktonic cells ranged from 0.78% to 6.25% with MIC50 of 3.12% and MIC90 of 6.25%, while concentrations ranging between 6.25% and 25% resulted in 50% biofilm reduction. Synergy or addition between fennel oil and fluconazole were detected against 7/11 strains, while no antagonism was detected.
Conclusion
Fennel oil alone or in combination with fluconazole could provide a promising approach to the management of VVC caused by drug-resistant strains.
Source : Journal Herbal Medicine
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Dietary Foeniculum vulgare Mill extract attenuated UVB irradiation-induced skin photoaging by activating of Nrf2 and inhibiting MAPK pathways
- Zhengwang Sun1,
- Sang Yong Park1,
- Eunson Hwang,
- Bom Park,
- Seul A Seo,
- Jin-Gyeong Cho,
- Mengyang Zhang,
- Tae-Hoo Yi
Abstract
Background Foeniculum vulgare Mill (FV) has long been prescribed in traditional medicine due to its antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties. However, little research has been done on the use of FV to alleviate changes in UVB-induced photoaging
Purpose This study was to investigate the photoprotective effects and mechanism of FV in vitro and in vivo.
Methods The anti-photoaging effect of FV was assessed in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) in vitro. The secretion of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), GSH, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), procollagen type I, IL-6 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were measured by kits. Additionally, the level of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), p-ERK and p38 were evaluated by western blotting. In vivo, H&E and Masson's trichrome staining were employed. The expression of MMP-1, procollagen type I, TGF-β1 and elastin were measured by western blot.
Results FV significantly increased the production of collagen, elastin and TGF-β1 levels, while blocked matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production in UVB irradiation induced hairless mice, which were consistent with the result in NHDFs. Furthermore, FV dose-dependently decreased the production of ROS and LDH by promoting the nuclear amount of Nrf2 and enhancing the expression of cytoprotective antioxidants such as GSH. FV also significantly quenched UVB-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38 in NHDFs.
Conclusion Our results indicate that FV is a potential botanical agent for the treatment of skin damage induced by UV irradiation.
Source : Journal Phytomedicine
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A review of chemistry and bioactivities of a medicinal spice: Foeniculum vulgare
Fennel has been used as food and medicine with long history in central Europe and Mediterranean region as well as in China. It is also a flavor food with health value. Numerous compounds including trans-anethole, estragole, fenchone, sesquiterpenoids, coumarins and polyphenolics were isolated from this plant, most of which exhibited significant bioactivities. The fennel has potential beneficial therapeutic actions in the management of bacterial and fungal infections and colic pain. Both the fruit and whole plant of this plant might be the source of chemical and biological materials in future. For further utilization of this plant, systematic phytochemical and biological mechanic studies are needed.
Source : Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(16), pp. 3595-3600, 18 August, 2011
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