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*****JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY*****
Homer KA  Manji F  Beighton D  
Inhibition of peptidase and glycosidase activities of Porphyromonas gingivalis,
Bacteroides intermedius and Treponema denticola by plant extracts.
In: J Clin Periodontol (1992 May) 19(5):305-10
ISSN: 0303-6979

Aqueous extracts from 5 plants used widely in Kenya as chewing sticks (mswaki)
for the control of oral hygiene were tested for their ability to inhibit
extracellular peptidase and glycosidase enzyme activities produced by the
periodontopathic bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis (formerly Bacteroides
gingivalis), Bacteroides intermedius and Treponema denticola. The plants studied
were Rhus natalensis, Cupressus hisitanica, Sida cordifolia, Olea africana and
Euclea divinorum. Protease activities, including glycylprolyl dipeptidase and
trypsin-like activities of P. gingivalis, chymotrypsin-like and glycylprolyl
dipeptidase activities of B. intermedius and the trypsin- like activity of T.
denticola, were particularly affected by extracts from Rhus natalensis and
Euclea divinorum. Glycosidase activities were generally less affected with the
notable exceptions of the inhibition of beta-mannosidase activity of P.
gingivalis by all extracts and the inhibition of neuraminidase activity of T.
denticola by Rhus natalensis and Euclea divinorum. Generally, these same
proteolytic and glycosidic activities were inhibited by tannic acid and to
lesser extents by gallic acid and gallic acid methyl ester. An inhibitory
component, present in all extracts, exhibited physical and chemical properties
identical to those of tannic acid. The inhibition of these enzyme activities is
likely to reduce the virulence of these periodontophathic bacteria and to reduce
the rate of dental plaque formation.

Registry Numbers:
EC 3.2.1. (Glycoside Hydrolases)
EC 3.4.21 (Serine Proteinases)
149-91-7 (Gallic Acid)

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*****JOURNAL DE PHARMACIE DE BELGIQUE*****
Meunier MT  Villie F  Bastide P  
[The interaction of Cupressus sempervirens L. proanthocyanidolic oligomers with
elastase and elastins]
Etude de l'interaction des oligomeres proanthocyanidoliques de Cupressus
sempervirens L. sur l'elastase et les elastines.
In: J Pharm Belg (1994 Nov-Dec) 49(6):453-61
ISSN: 0047-2166  (Published in French)

Cupressus sempervirens L. proanthocyanidolic (O.P.C.) oligomers inhibited the
esterolytic activity of pancreatic elastase with a Cl50 of 0.0075 mg/ml when a
sap substrate suc(Al)3NA was used in a Tris- HCl 0.05 M buffer with a pH of 7.5.
Inhibition was slightly lower when the ionic strength of the buffer was
increased. Elastolytic activity was inhibited using an elastinorcein substrate
with a Cl50 of 0.05 mg/ml, whatever the pH or the ionic strength of the buffer.
The oligomers bound with the elastase to form a precipitant complex where a 2
mg/ml concentration of oligomers precipitated the elastase at 1 mg/ml. Insoluble
elastin fixed few 150 micrograms oligomers for 1 mg of elastin but the latter
was partly protected by the subsequent action of the elastase. Soluble elastin
fixed a greater number of oligomers but it was the peptids of elastin enzyme
hydrolysis which fixed the largest amount: around 1500 micrograms per mg. The
oligomers-elastin complex seems to be more stable than that of
oligomers-elastase which regains part of its esterase activity. The elastic
fibers seem to be protected by the O.P.C.

Registry Numbers:
EC 3.4.21.36 (Pancreatopeptidase)
9007-58-3 (Elastin)

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*****REVISTA DE INVESTIGACION CLINICA*****
Ponce-Macotela M  Navarro-Alegria I  Martinez-Gordillo MN   Alvarez-Chacon R  
[In vitro effect against Giardia of 14 plant extracts]
Efecto antigiardiasico in vitro de 14 extractos de plantas.
In: Rev Invest Clin (1994 Sep-Oct) 46(5):343-7
ISSN: 0034-8376  (Published in Spanish)

OBJECTIVE. To investigate antigiardiasic activity in plants used in Mexico as
antidiarrheics and/or antiparasitics. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS. Fourteen species were evaluated. The antigiardiasic
activity was measured in vitro in a blinded fashion using trophozoites of
Giardia duodenalis incubated with plant extracts. The viability of trophozoites
was ascertained using MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-il]- 2, 5-diphenyl
tetrazolium bromide) which is reduced to MTT-formazan by the activity of live
trophozoites. The reduced MTT was extracted with an acidified alcohol
(2-propanol with HCI 0.04 M) and measured in a spectrophotometer at 570 nm.
Negative (trophozoites without extract) and positive controls (incubated with
tinadazol) were included. 
RESULTS. The scientific and trivial names of the plants are given (trivials in
Spanish marked by an asterisk). They had the following trophozoite mortality
(mean +/- SD in percent): Justicia spicigera (muicle*) = 91 +/- 0.5; Lipia
beriandieri (oregano) = 90 +/- 0.6; Psidium guajava (guava) = 87 +/- 1.0;
positive control of tinidazol = 79 +/- 1.9; Punica granutus (granado*) = 78 +/-
1.3; Magnifera indica (mango) = 77 +/- 1.0; Plantago major (lante*) = 76 +/-
1.2; Cupressus semperbirens (cipres) = 73 +/- 1.2; Castella tormentosa (chaparro
amargoso*) = 70 +/- 0.7; Hematoxilon campechanum (palo de Campeche*) = 67 +/-
1.2. Without or with a low mean activity were Prosopis juliflora (mesquite*) and
Rizophora mangle (mangle*) with 0%, Oriza sativa (rice) with 5%, Capsicum annum
(pimiento*) with 21% and Persea americana (avocado) with 23%. There were no
associations of the antigiardiasic effect with concentration or osmolality of
the extracts. 
CONCLUSIONS. A clear in vitro antigiardiasic effects was seen in nine species.
Three of them were superior to tinidazol which is a drug of common use in the
treatment of giardiasis.

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