Inhibitory effects of Euphorbia supina on Propionibacterium acnes-induced skin inflammation in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

BackgroundEuphorbia supina (ES) plant has been used as treatment for inflammatory conditions. The antibacterial effect and the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ES for Propionibacterium (P.) acnes-induced inflammation in THP-1 cells and acne animal model remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of ES against P. acnes, the etiologic agent of skin inflammation.MethodThe antibacterial activities of ES were tested with disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. Cytotoxicity of ES at different doses was evaluated by the MTT assay. THP-1 cells were stimulated by heat-killed P. acnes in the presence of ES. The pro-inflammatory cytokines and mRNA levels were measured by ELISA and real-time-PCR. MAPK expression was analyzed by Western blot. The living P. acnes was intradermally injected into the ear of BLBC/c mice. Subsequently, chemical composition of ES was analyzed by liquids chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).ResultES had stronger antibacterial activity against P. acnes and inhibitory activity on lipase. ES had no significant cytotoxicity on THP-1 cells. ES suppressed the mRNA levels and production of IL-8, TNF-a, IL-1β in vitro. ES inhibited the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the MAPK signaling pathway. Ear thickness and inflammatory cells were markedly reduced by ES treatment. Protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol were detected by LC-MS analysis in ES.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of ES extract against P. acnes. It is suggested that ES extract might be used to treatment anti-inflammatory skin disease.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-018-2320-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Protocatechuic Acid as a Topical Antimicrobial for Surgical Skin Antisepsis

“…However, the effect was only observed at the highest dose tested. These results agree with previous findings 13 , 18 , as the in vivo skin-penetration properties and activity of PCA against C. acnes were dose-dependent, suggesting that higher concentrations of topical PCA may be required to achieve antimicrobial activity against this organism in living skin.…”

“…Liu et al demonstrated the efficacy of PCA derived from Roselle calyx against the drug-resistant organisms MRSA, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa 26 . Lim et al demonstrated the antibacterial activity of PCA in Euphorbia supina against C. acnes 18 . Our findings agree, as saturation with PCA resulted in clear zones of inhibition against C. acnes (22 mm), S. aureus (8 mm), MRSA (9 mm), and P. aeruginosa (10 mm).…”

“…Vanillic acid, hippuric acid, delphinidin, pelargonidin, cyanidin chloride, 28% cyanidin-3-glucoside, and 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid were also tested (at the same concentration), as they are plant secondary metabolites related to PCA. The testing of related compounds was performed to determine which compound was the likely plant secondary metabolite responsible for the antibacterial effect demonstrated in previous plant-based therapies and studies 18 , 19 . Amoxicillin served as a positive control.…”

“…In vitro studies of natural compounds containing PCA have demonstrated its dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against several pathogens implicated in SSI, including Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium Acnes) 18 , a gram-positive anaerobe responsible for infections following shoulder surgery 20 , 21 . In vivo, plant extracts containing PCA were shown to inhibit C. acnes -induced inflammation in mouse skin through the inhibition of lipase activity and the suppression of proinflammatory cytokines 18 . No study, to our knowledge, has examined the efficacy of topical PCA in reducing C. acnes bacterial loads in living skin, a particularly noteworthy consideration when evaluating its potential to prevent SSI with this pathogen.…”

Caenorhabditis elegansmounts a p38MAPKpathway‐mediated defence toCutibacterium acnesinfection

“…In humans, the conditional pathogen C. acnes generally cause a self‐limiting infection, which is not easy to mimic (Lim et al, 2018; Sivasankar et al, 2016). In 2013, a mouse model of chronic prostatic inflammation induced by C. acnes was developed using C57BL/6J mice, but it was preclinical and took 8 weeks for the entire observation (Shinohara et al, 2013).…”