THE EFFECT OF CHLOROFORM EXTRACT OF GERMAN CHAMOMILE (MATRICARIA RECUTITA) ON ESCHERICHIA COLI INFECTED MICE
HTML Full TextTHE EFFECT OF CHLOROFORM EXTRACT OF GERMAN CHAMOMILE (MATRICARIA RECUTITA) ON ESCHERICHIA COLI INFECTED MICE
Mohammad Motamedifar 1, 2, Hadi Sedigh * 1, 3, Davood Mansury 1 and Abdolhalim Rajabi 4
Department of Bacteriology & Virology, School of Medicine 1, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz, Iran.
Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center 2, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.
Student Research Committee 3, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Department of Epidemiology 4, Faculty of public health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz, Iran.
ABSTRACT: Emergence of new strains of Escherichia coli with the ability of resistance to a wide range of antibiotics necessitates the efforts to search alternatives for better treatments to deal with these infections. Chamomile is one of the most widely used herbs in the world. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of chamomile chloroform extract on E. coli intraperitoneal (IP) infection of BALB/c mice. Female BALB/c with an average weight of 20 to 25 g, were divided into 8 groups. The lethal dose of the E. coli for mice has injected IP in test groups and treated with 5.25, 10.5 and 21 mg/mL of chamomile chloroform extract. The combined effect of the extract (50 µg/mg) with amikacin and amikacin alone were also examined. The highest number of survived mice at the dose of 10.5 mg/mL of extract and the highest death rate with 5.25 mg/mL of extract was observed. In the amikacin group, all infected animals were survived. The mortality rate in chamomile extract combination with amikacin is almost the same as amikacin alone. The significant lowest mortality rate was observed in some group which had been treated with a combination of extract and amikacin. The result of this study does not recommend in-vivo using of chloroform extracts of chamomile for E. coli infection via IP administration. In vivo chloroform extracts of chamomile, it seems not to have a strong antibacterial effect on E. coli IP infection of BALB/c mice.
Keywords: |
Chamomile, BALB/c mice, Escherichia coli, In-vivo
INTRODUCTION: Escherichia coli were first isolated in 1885 by Theodor Escherich and are now one of the most widely studied bacteria in the world 1.
Some strains of E. coli are considered the main pathogens of humans and animals 2. Infections caused by pathogenic strains of E. coli can limit the colonization of the mucosa or spread throughout the body and cause urinary tract infections, sepsis, meningitis, and infections of the gastrointestinal tract indicate the importance of treating these infections 1, 3. Also, the emergence of new strains of this organism with the ability to resist a wide range of antibiotics, especially beta-lactamase family (by producing ESBL or Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase) and increasing of these strains in several reports requires serious efforts to search for better treatments and alternatives to deal with the related infections 4-6.
Since, the previous few decades, there has been much attention on searching and providing herbal extracts as an alternative or adjunctive therapy to enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics 7, 8. Chamomile plant is one of the most widely used herbs in the world. The ancient Egyptians considered it as the holy gift from the sun god and used it for fever and sunstroke. In Europe, due to various medical applications, this plant is known as treating all (Cure-all) 9. Its antimicrobial properties on a range of different organisms are well known in-vitro 10-13.
So, in this study, we used BALB/c mice model to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of chamomile extract on E. coli infections via intraperitoneal (IP) injection.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antibiotic used in this study was amikacin (EXIR - Iran) which was IP injected into laboratory animals. Also, the culture media used in this study was Muller Hinton broth (Oxoid - UK)
The bacterial strain used in this study was a confirmed isolated E. coli with some TCC.1789 that was isolated from a patient in Namazi Hospital in Shiraz, Iran.
Laboratory animals used were female BALB/c mice with an average weight of 20 to 25 grams; they were placed in individual cages with controlled temperature, humidity and light, and all experiments were performed by supervision and approval of the animal experimentation ethics committee of the Shiraz University of Medical Science.
The MIC and MBC of chamomile chloroformic extract were determined in-vitro in a separate study to be 2.63 and 5.25, respectively 14.
Chamomile chloroformic extract was prepared by a soaking method in Department of Pharmacology, Shiraz University of Medical Science.
The lethal dose of the bacteria was calculated 5x108 CFU/mL through IP injection for mice which has been previously tested through a series of experiments (data not shown). Before the injection, E. coli was cultured for 24 h at 37 °C in Mueller Hinton broth, then centrifuged at 1,800 × g for 10 min, and washed with normal saline. The number of bacteria was adjusted at 109 CFU/mL in normal saline. 0.2 mL of this concentration was injected IP in the animals.
Determination of the toxic effect of the extract was performed by an IP injection of 0.3 mL of chamomile extract with the concentrations of 5.25 and 21 mg/mL to two groups of the mice and observation of injected animals for 48 hours to see if they show any sign of acute toxicity. At the first phase of this study, the mice were divided into 8 groups of 10. The amount of ip injection for each group is listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1: GROUPING OF THE ANIMALS AND INJECTIONS IN EACH GROUP
Groups | No. of mice | First injection | Second injection* |
1 | 10 | IP injection of E. coli | IP injection of 21 mg/ml extract |
2 | 10 | IP injection of E. coli | IP injection of 10.5 mg/ml extract |
3 | 10 | IP injection of E. coli | IP injection of 5.25 mg/ml extract |
4 | 10 | IP injection of 21 mg/ml extract | IP injection of E. coli |
5 | 10 | IP injection of 10.5 mg/ml extract | IP injection of E. coli |
6 | 10 | IP injection of 5.25 mg/ml extract | IP injection of E. coli |
7 | 10 | IP injection of E. coli | IP injection of normal saline |
8 | 10 | IP injection of E. coli | IP injection of Amikacin 500mg/ml |
* Second injection after the half minute break
In the first three groups, injection of E. coli was done half an hour before extraction, and in the three next groups, it was reversed. After injections, the animals were returned to cages and monitored for 2 h by a trained expert. At the second phase, after the death of all the mice in the control group (group 7), that only had IP injection of bacteria with normal saline, a total count of the number of live mice at other groups was done. At the next step, the combined effect of chamomile extract (the highest dose of the extract had shown an antibacterial effect in the previous phase); the amikacin was examined at doses of 100, 50 and 25 and 12.5 mg/mL. For this purpose, the mice were divided into 9 groups of 10, and the amount of IP injection for each group is listed in Table 3. After injection, the mortality rate of mice was observed every 12 h.
Statistical Analysis: was performed using SPSS19.0 statistical software. Fisher's exact test was conducted to analyze survival rates in tested groups’. Values of p<0.05 were regarded as statistical significance.
RESULTS: As can be seen in the results shown in Table 2, the highest number of surviving mice at the targeted groups that had received chloroform chamomile extract was related to group 5 (60% survivor), and the highest death rate was observed in group 3 (no survivor). Also, a significant difference was seen in the survival rate of the three-second groups that received the extract before E. coli injection (p<0.03).
All mice at two separate group as well as considered individually for determining the potential of chamomile extract toxicities after 48 h had remained alive and no signs of acute toxicity were observed. Also, the groups with 8 mice that were treated with an injection of 500 mg/mL of amikacin stayed alive. The results of the extract injected combinations with amikacin to the animals are shown in Table 3. As can be seen, the mortality rate in chamomile extract combined with amikacin is almost the same when amikacin was administered alone. However, a significantly lower mortality rate was observed in group 3, which had experienced an injection of combined extract and amikacin with a dose of 50 mg/mL, than other groups receiving amikacin combined with the extract.
TABLE 2: SURVIVAL RATES IN DIFFERENT GROUPS OF BALB/c MICE AFTER THE DEATH OF ENTIRE CONTROL GROUP
Groups | No. of mice | No. of mice survival | p-value compared to the control group | p-value* | p-value** |
1 | 10 | 1 | > 1.00 | ||
2 | 10 | 3 | > 0.21 | > 0.50 | |
3 | 10 | 0 | NS | < 0.03 | |
4 | 10 | 3 | > 0.21 | < 0.01 | |
5 | 10 | 6 | < 0.01 | ||
6 | 10 | 3 | > 0.21 | ||
7 | 10 | 0 | |||
8 | 10 | 10 |
* P-value when compared each 3 first and second groups with the control group
** P-value when 3 first and second groups compared with each other
*** Control group
NS; not significant
TABLE 3: GROUPING OF THE ANIMALS AND EFFECT OF EXTRACT IN COMBINATION WITH AMIKACIN
Group | Injection | Dose
(mg/g) |
No. of mice | No.
after 12 h** |
No.
after 24 h |
No.
after 36 h |
No.
after 48 h |
1 | Amikacin + Chamomile extract (10.5 mg/mL) | 100 | 10 | 10* | 6* | 4 | 2 |
2 | # | 50 | 10 | 10* | 8* | 5* | 3 |
3 | # | 25 | 10 | 10* | 6* | 3 | 2 |
4 | # | 12.5 | 10 | 8* | 4 | 2 | 0 |
5 | Amikacin | 100 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
6 | # | 50 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
7 | # | 25 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
8 | # | 12.5 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
9 | E. coli + normal saline | - | 10 | 0 | - | - | - |
* P-value were significant (p>0.05) compared to control group
**No. of survival mice 12 h after each injection
DISCUSSION: To our knowledge in this study, the antibacterial effect of German chamomile chloroform extract on E. coli infection in laboratory BALB/c mice for the first time was examined. Numerous studies exhibited the antibacterial effect of essential oil extracted from chamomile on several ranges of bacteria at in-vitro condition 10, 12, 15. Also, the effect of the esters and lactones compounds from chamomile on Mycobacteria has been seen 16. Compounds in chamomile are thought to have antimicrobial properties including alpha-bisabolol, luteolin, quercetin, and apigenin. Herniarin may have anti-bacterial properties in the presence of UV light 17. The high alpha-bisabolol content in chamomile oil is credited for providing main anti-bacterial properties by antiseptic action against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria 18.
As can be inferred from the results the most antibacterial effect of chloroform extract has been seen in the injection dose of 10.5 mg/mL (p<0.01). Also; it was observed that the antibacterial effect of the chloroform extract as the preventative, when that injected before bacteria inoculation would be better effective (p<0.03). As can be seen in Table 2 that total surviving rats at groups 4-6 is more than the other groups that experienced chamomile chloroform extract (p<0.01).
According to the results shown in Table 3, the best combination effect of chamomile extract with amikacin can be seen at a dose of 50 mg/mL. A mortality rate at this dose is significantly (p<0.05) lower than other injections. As observed in Table 3; antibacterial effect of chamomile extracts in some groups, when administered with amikacin, is less than when amikacin is injected alone. This has also been observed in some studies that combinations of antibiotic-extract could not control the induced infection in the tested animals, also increasing the concentration of the extract in the combination led to only a reduction of its efficacy 19.
However, as can be seen in Table 2, chloroform extracts of chamomile itself do not infer a strong antibacterial power, and it has only been able to delay the proliferation of E. coli and reach death time in laboratory animals. Probably may due to the inhibitory effect of flavonoid compounds of chamomile extract on mice immunity; especially apigenin on COX-2 and iNOS activities in LPS activated macrophages through suppressing the activation of NF-kB 20. Also, it may occur because the low absorption of the extract is via the IP injection. It could also be due to the lower effect of plant compounds on Gram-negative bacteria, which has been shown at previous studies 17.
Anyway, although chamomile extract’s antibacterial effect shown on different bacteria in-vitro 10, 15, the results of this study do not recommend its therapeutic effect at in-vivo conditions for E. coli infection via IP administration, of course, the antibacterial effect of the chamomile extracts might be found in other research through the absorption of other pathways investigated on laboratory animals or via IP administration with a higher dose of the extract.
Since, that has been reported particular toxicity study using rabbit models determined the acute oral LD50 and acute dermal LD50 to be more than 5 g/kg body weight 21. Chamomile extract is mentioned on the FDA's as (generally recognized as safe) GRAS 22.
CONCLUSION: Despite the mild effect of chamomile chloroform extract in a finding of the current study, potential therapeutic effects of chamomile for gram-negative infection suggest future studies. According to the various properties of chamomile, compounds are recommended in future effect of these compounds on gram-negative infection studied individually to find the best treatment option. As well as finding the best way to absorb the extract must be a priority.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The authors would like to thank Ms. S. Gorji, Ms. N. Pirbonyeh, Mr. P. Talezadeh and Mr. M. Hosseini Farzad for their technical assistance. This study was supported by Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran with grant No. 5580.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Nil
REFERENCES:
- De Sousa CP: Escherichia coli as a specialized bacterial pathogen. Rev biol cienc Terra 2006; 2(2): 341-352.
- Kaper JB, Nataro JP and Mobley HL: Pathogenic Escherichia coli. Nat Rev Microbiol 2004; 2(2): 123-40.
- Nataro JP and Kaper JB: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. Clin Microbiol Rev 1998; 11(1): 142-201.
- Lautenbach E, Patel JB, Bilker WB, Edelstein PH and Fishman NO: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia: risk factors for infection and impact of resistance on outcomes. Clin Infect Dis 2001; 32(8): 1162-71.
- Lee J, Pai H, Kim YK, Kim NH, Eun BW and Kang HJ: Control of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia in a children's hospital by changing antimicrobial agent usage policy. J Antimicrob Chemother 2007; 60(3): 629-37.
- Rizvi M, Khan F, Shukla I, Malik and Shaheen: Rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in urinary tract infections during pregnancy: the necessity for exploring newer treatment options. J Lab Physicians 2011; 3(2): 98-103.
- Lee MH, Kwon HA, Kwon DY, Park H, Sohn DH and Kim YC: Antibacterial activity of medicinal herb extracts against Salmonella. Int J Food Microbiol 2006; 111(3): 270-5.
- Ravi U and Neha M: Antimicrobial activity of flower extracts of coliforms Sphaeranthus indicus on coliforms. Asian J Exp Biol Sci 2011; 2(3): 513-16.
- Matricaria chamomilla (German chamomile). Monograph. Altern Med Rev 2008; 13(1): 58-62.
- Chung KH, Yang KS, Kim J, Kim JC and Lee KY: Antibacterial activity of essential oils on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and measurement of their binding interaction using optical biosensor. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2007; 17(11): 1848-55.
- Cinco M, Banfi E, Tubaro A and Della-Loggia R: A microbiological survey on the activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of camomile. Int J Drug Res 1983; 21(4): 145-151.
- Annuk H, Hirmo S, Turi E, Mikelsaar M, Arak and Wadstrom T: Effect on cell surface hydrophobicity and susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to medicinal plant extracts. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1999; 172(1): 41-5.
- Aggag ME and Yousef RT: Study of antimicrobial activity of chamomile oil. Planta Med 1972; 22(2): 140-4.
- Motamedifar M and Darbari MH: Effect of aqueous, alcoholic and chloroform extracts of germen chamomile (Matricaria recutita) on some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Shiraz Journal of Medical Research (JMR) 2005; 3(2): 39-46
- Turi M, Turi E, Koljalg S and Mikelsaar M: Influence of aqueous extracts of medicinal plants on surface hydrophobicity of Escherichia coli strains of different origin. Apmis. 1997; 105(12): 956-62.
- Lu T, Cantrell CL, Robbs SL, Franzblau SG and Fischer NH: Antimycobacterial matricaria esters and lactones from Asteraceae Planta Med. 1998; 64(7): 665-7.
- Kedzia B: Antimicroorganisms activity of Chamomillae and its components. Herba Polonica. 1991; 37(1): 29-38.
- Isaac O and Thiemer K: Biochemical studies on camomile components/III. In-vitro studies about the antiseptic activity of (--)-alpha-bisabolol (author's transl). Arzneimittelforschung. 1975; 25(9): 1352-4.
- Peng Q, Huang Y, Hou B, Hua D, Yao F and Qian Y: Green tea extract weakens the antibacterial effect of amoxicillin in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-infected mice. Phytother Res 2010; 24(1): 141-5.
- Liang YC, Huang YT, Tsai SH, Lin-Shiau SY, Chen CF and Lin JK: Suppression of inducible cyclooxygenase and inducible nitric oxide synthase by apigenin and related flavonoids in mouse macrophages. Carcinogenesis 1999; 20(10): 1945-52.21.
- Opdyke DJL: Monographs on fragrance raw materials: Chamomile oil German and Roman. Food Cosmet Toxicol 1974; 12(7-8): 851-852.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/crrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm? Fr=182.20 Accessed December 5, 20.
How to cite this article:
Motamedifar M, Sedigh H, Mansury D and Rajabi A: The effect of chloroform extract of german chamomile (Matricaria recutita) on Escherichia coli infected mice. Int J Pharmacognosy, 2014; 1(1): 39-44. doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.1(1).39-44.
This Journal licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Article Information
4
39-44
561
1529
English
IJP
M. Motamedifar, H. Sedigh*, D. Mansury and A. Rajabi
Department of Bacteriology & Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz, Iran.
Seddigh.hadi@gmail.com
13 October 2013
24 November 2013
27 December 2013
http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.1(1).39-44
01 January 2014