Moringa oleifera is known to possess wound healing activity. The present study evaluated the healing properties of methanolic extract of M. oleifera leaves in excision wounds infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or P. aeruginosa in diabetic rats. An in vitro study was also carried out to determine the gene expression of VEGF and TGF-β1. Preliminary phytochemical and GC-MS analyses were carried out to determine different chemical constituents present in the extract. M. oleifera was applied locally as an ointment at two different concentrations. Wound contraction, period of epithelization, antioxidant enzyme activities and histological changes were determined. For the gene expression study, HaCaT cell lines were used. The formulation of M. oleifera extract improved wound contraction and decreased the period of epithelization, which was associated with an increase in antioxidant enzyme activities, epithelization, capillary density and collagen formation in MRSA-infected diabetic rats. However, this effect was reduced in diabetic animals infected with P. aeruginosa. An increase in the expression of VEGF and TGF-β1 was observed in HaCaT cell lines. M. oleifera extract promotes the healing of infected wounds in MRSA-infected diabetic rats but is less effective in the healing of wounds infected with P. aeruginosa in diabetic rats.

The present study investigated the wound healing activity of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on an infected excision wound model in rats. Infection was induced using methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An investigation was also done to study the effect of Moringa extract on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) gene expression in vitro using human keratinocytes (HaCaT). The methanol extract of M. oleifera leaves was analyzed for the presence of phytochemicals by LCMS. The antimicrobial activity of the extract was also determined. Wound contraction, days for epithelization, antioxidant enzyme activities, epidermal height, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition were studied. M. oleifera showed an antimicrobial effect and significantly improved wound contraction, reduced epithelization period, increased antioxidant enzymes activity, and reduced capillary density. Effect of the extract was less in wounds infected with P. aeruginosa when compared to MRSA. The VEGF and TGF-β1 gene expression was increased by M. oleifera.

The oleo gum resin of Boswellia sacra Fleuck. (Burseraceae) is widely consumed for treatment of several diseases and disorders. To determine the effect of repeated administration of this resin on liver and kidney functions, three different doses of standardized methanolic extract were administered orally to rats for 28 days. Apart from histological studies and determination of biomarkers of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, other parameters of sub-chronic toxicity such as behavioral change, food consumption and change in body weight were assessed. The extract contained about 36.91% of total boswellic acids; of which 11-keto beta boswellic acid, acetyl-11-keto beta boswellic acid, boswellic acids (α and β) and acetyl boswellic acid (α and β) were found to be 5.81%, 1.91%, 21.92% and 7.27% respectively. Oral administration of the extract for 28 consecutive days did not show any sign of behavioral toxicity and did not affect food consumption or weight gain significantly. Determination of biomarkers of hepatic and nephrotoxicity revealed that extract was safe at the tested doses as it did not produce any significant change in the studied biomarkers except producing a dose dependent increase in serum total protein levels. The histological examination supported biochemical findings. To conclude, methanolic extract of Boswellia sacra doen not produce any significant toxicity to liver and kidney up to doses of 100 mg/kg body weight. The results contradict earlier reports that members of boswellia species produce organ toxicity in rats.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria remain a global public health issue due to the barrier imposed by their outer membrane and their propensity to form biofilms. It is becoming imperative to develop new antibacterial strategies. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of Origanum vulgare essential oil (OEO), alone and in combination with antibiotics, as well as its antibiofilm action against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative strains. OEO components were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar diffusion test and the microdilution method. Interactions between OEO and antibiotics were examined using the checkerboard method, while antibiofilm activity was analyzed using the crystal violet assay. Chemical analysis revealed that carvacrol was the major compound in OEO (61.51%). This essential oil demonstrated activity against all the tested strains, with inhibition zone diameters (IZDs) reaching 32.3 ± 1.5 mm. The combination of OEO with different antibiotics produced synergistic and additive effects, leading to a reduction of up to 98.44% in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). In addition, this essential oil demonstrated an ability to inhibit and even eradicate biofilm formation. These results suggest that OEO could be exploited in the development of new molecules, combining its metabolites with antibiotics.

The investigation of novel phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens is gaining attention. The current study evaluated the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of kaempferol against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Its in-vivo efficacy in inhibiting these pathogens was determined using an excision wound model in nicotinamide-streptozocin- -induced diabetic rats. Kaempferol displayed an inhibitory effect against the tested bacteria both in vitro and in vivo. It also healed excision wounds at a 1% (w/w) concentration. An increase in antioxidant enzymes in wounded tissue was observed on kaempferol treatment. A reduction in the MRSA and P. aeruginosa counts in wounded tissue together with a reduced epithelization period was observed when compared to the infected control. A thicker epithelium, new capillaries, and a decrease in inflammatory cells were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Furthermore, an increase in collagen fibers and their deposition was observed by Masson’s trichrome staining. Kaempferol at 40 µM did not display any toxicity for human keratinocytes grown in media containing high glucose and it did not affect the expression of the pro-healing cytokines genes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-b-1 (TGFβ1). Kaempferol displayed antibacterial and antioxidant actions but did not increase the expression of proliferative genes.