Atopic dermatitis (AD) or eczema is an important inflammatory chronic skin disease that brings many complications in its management and treatment. Although several chemical agents are used for treatment, the search for better anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents of plant origin has been ongoing, since natural compounds, it is commonly believed, are less dangerous than synthetic ones. Therefore, the present study explored a medicinal plant—Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.—for its anti-inflammatory activity alone and in combination with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), diclofenac. The plant extract was used to make a cream formulation for treating atopic dermatitis and as an antibacterial agent against Staphylococcus aures, the major infectious agent associated with AD. The phytochemical analysis of the E. prostrata extract showed the presence of various phytochemicals, including flavonoids, Tannin, saponin, terpenoids, glycosides, phenol, alkaloids, quinone, and protein. The GC-MS profiling of methanolic E. prostrata extract was performed predicted the presence of twenty important phytochemicals, including 2-[5-(2-Hydroxypropyl) oxolan-2-yl]propanoic acid, dl-Menthol, dodecane, undecane, 4,7-dimethyl-, dodecane, 2,6,10-trimethyl-, decane, 2,3,5,8-tetramethyl-, cholest-5-en-3-ol, (3.alpha.)-, TMS derivative, cyclopropane carboxylic acid, 1-hydroxy-, (2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenyl) ester, alpha.-farnesene, propanoic acid, 2-methyl-, 2-ethyl-1-propyl-1,3-propanediyl ester, diethyl phthalate, corticosterone, 2-methylpropionate, hentriacontan-13-ol, O-TMS, phthalic acid, 2,4-dimethylpent-3-yl dodecyl ester, hexasiloxane, 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7,9,9,11,11-dodecamethyl-, acetic acid, 4-t-butyl-4-hydroxy-1,5-dimethyl-hex-2-ynyl ester, octadecane, 2-methyl- octacosane, 1-iodo-, nonacosane, and eicosyl isopropyl ether. Using an egg albumin denaturation inhibition assay, the anti-inflammatory activities of E. prostrata alone and in combination with diclofenac were investigated, and they showed 93% and 99% denaturation inhibition at 5 mg concentration of E. prostrata in alone and combination with diclofenac, respectively. Heat-induced haemolysis showed 2.5% and 2.4% of haemolysis at 5 mg of E. prostrata alone and in combination with diclofenac, respectively. An MTT assay performed using L₉₂₉ cells proved that the extract has no cytotoxic effect. The plant extract displayed potential antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus; the growth was inhibited at 1 mg/mL of E. prostrata extract. Thus, based on this evidence, the authors suggest that E. prostrata extract should be studied further for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities and topical application in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite whose life cycle is completed in felids especially cats, the definitive host. Humans and many other animals can also be infected and serve as intermediate hosts. This study aimed to assess the role of chronic toxoplasmosis in changes of neurotransmitters levels in human serum. Methods: This case control study was conducted on 41 patients by examining the serofrequency of T. gondii among IgG and IgM antibodies patients with neuropsychiatric disorders and cross-matched 41 healthy individuals without any known neuropsychiatric disorders were included as a control group. All patients were subjected to full history taking, general examination, laboratory investigation, renal function test analysis, Psychiatric diagnosis and measurement of serum concentrations of three neurotransmitters (dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline). Results: T. gondii IgG was significantly higher in group A compared to group B (58.5% vs. 31.7%, P=0.026). The mean dopamine level was significantly higher in group A compared to group B (92.7 ± 17.94 pg/ml vs. 45.4 ± 22.48 pg/ml, P<0.001). The mean adrenaline level was significantly higher in group A compared to group B (272.5 ± 135.04 pg/ml vs. 147.4 ± 71.44 pg/ml, P<0.001).

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) cause serious complications among hospitalized patients due to biofilm-forming microorganisms which make treatment ineffective by forming antibiotic-resistant strains. As most CAUTI-causing bacterial pathogens have already developed multidrug resistance, there is an urgent need for alternative antibacterial agents to prevent biofilms on catheter surfaces. As a trial to find out such a potential agent of natural origin, the bark of Tamarix ericoides Rottl., a little-known plant from the Tamaricaceae family, was examined for its antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against one of the major, virulent, CAUTI-causing bacterial pathogens: Enterococcus faecalis. The methanolic T. ericoides bark extract was analyzed for its antibacterial activity using the well diffusion method and microdilution method. Killing kinetics were calculated using time–kill assay, and the ability of biofilm formation and its eradication upon treatment with the T. ericoides bark extract was studied by crystal violet assay. GC-MS analysis was performed to understand the phytochemical presence in the extract. A in vitro bladder model study was performed using extract-coated catheters against E. faecalis, and the effect was visualized using CLSM. The changes in the cell morphology of the bacterium after treatment with the T. ericoides bark extract were observed using SEM. The biocompatibility of the extract towards L₉₂₉ cells was studied by MTT assay. The anti-E. faecalis activity of the extract-coated catheter tube was quantified by viable cell count method, which exposed 20% of growth after five days of contact with E. faecalis. The anti-adhesive property of the T. ericoides bark extract was studied using CLSM. The extract showed potential antibacterial activity, and the lowest inhibitory concentration needed to inhibit the growth of E. faecalis was found to be 2 mg/mL. The GC-MS analysis of the methanolic fractions of the T. ericoides bark extract revealed the presence of major phytochemicals, such as diethyl phthalate, pentadecanoic acid, methyl 6,11-octadecadienoate, cyclopropaneoctanoic acid, 2-[(2-pentylcyclopropyl) methyl]-, methyl ester, erythro-7,8-bromochlorodisparlure, etc., that could be responsible for the antibacterial activity against E. faecalis. The killing kinetics of the extract against E. faecalis was calculated and the extract showed promising antibiofilm activity on polystyrene surfaces. The T. ericoides bark extract effectively reduced the E. faecalis mature biofilms by 75%, 82%, and 83% after treatment with 1X MIC (2 mg/mL), 2X MIC (4 mg/mL), and 3X MIC (6 mg/mL) concentrations, respectively, which was further confirmed by SEM analysis. The anti-adhesive property of the T. ericoides bark extract studied using CLSM revealed a reduction in the biofilm thickness, and the FDA and PI combination revealed the death of 80% of the cells on the extract-coated catheter tube. In addition, SEM analysis showed extensive damage to the E. faecalis cells after the T. ericoides bark extract treatment, and it was not cytotoxic. Hence, after further studies, T. ericoides bark extract with potential antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-adhesive activities can be developed as an alternative agent for treating CAUTIs.