Why asthma weeds, others increase efficacy of urinary tract infection treatment —Study

Antibiotics can be lifesaving, but using them over a long period might raise the odds of drug failure in individuals with many bacteria-causing infections, including respiratory infections and urinary tract infections (UTI).

Recently, there has been growing interest in identifying and developing novel antimicrobial compounds from a variety of sources to tackle UTIs. In a new study, researchers said Terminalia avicennioides leaves could be recommended as an herbal drug formulation for urinary infection management.

A UTI is an infection in any part of the urinary system—the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract—the bladder and the urethra.

The extracts of Terminalia avicennioides were effective against 16 causative pathogens of urinary tract infections. Also, acting together with some antibiotics, Terminalia avicennioides provides greater efficacy against some disease-causing germs that cause UTIs, like Staphylococcus aureus.

The best improvement in diameter was obtained with penicillin and tetracycline, followed by cefoxitin.

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities of extracts from Euphorbia hirta L. and Terminalia avicennioides in the 2022 edition of the journal Advances in Microbiology.

Euphorbia hirta and Terminalia avicennioides are two plants frequently used in the management of UTIs in the Hauts-Bassins areas of Burkina Faso.

Antibiotics kill the infection-causing bacteria and are the most common treatment for UTIs. Usually, the UTI is gone by the time a person is at or near the end of the course of antibiotics. However, it is important to finish the entire course of antibiotics, even if the symptoms ease and the person starts to feel better.

Terminalia avicennioides is locally referred to as “baushe” among the Hausa, ‘Kpace” in Nupe, “Kpayi” in Gwari, and “Idi” among the Yoruba.

Traditional medical practitioners use this medicinal plant to treat wounds and skin infections, including stubborn sores, furuncles, impetigo, athletic foot, burns, bruises, toothache, conjunctivitis, leprosy, venereal diseases, and respiratory tract infections, including cough, pneumonia, and tonsillitis.

In addition, it is commonly used as chewing sticks in Ibadan and Northern Nigeria, and the decoction from its root is used as a worm expeller.

Commonly called the asthma weed, asin uloko (Edo), Nonon kurciya  (Hausa), ba ala (Igbo), and akun esan (Yoruba), Euphorbia hirta is a very popular herb among practitioners of traditional medicine used to treat a variety of disease conditions, including asthma, cough, boils, oral thrush, diarrhoea, and dysentery.

In almost all parts of Nigeria, it is used to treat ‘Jedi Jedi’ infection, while in south India, it is used as ear drops in the treatment of boils, sores, and wounds. A decoction of leaves induces milk flow, and the leaf is chewed with palm kernels for the restoration of virility. It is also effective in treating ulcers.

For the study, the researchers evaluated the effectiveness of crude aqueous and aqueous acetone extracts of E. hirta and T. avicennioides against 32 germs that cause urinary tract infections.

The extracts of T. avicennioides were effective against 16 strains, including 13 bacteria (8 Grammeme-negative and 5 Gram-positive) and 3 yeasts that cause UTI. The diameters of inhibition zones varied between 7 mm and 16 mm according to the type of plant, organs, extract, and microbial strains tested.

Water extracts of different parts of T. avicennioides and aqueous acetone extracts of leaves and roots also demonstrated the best results against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Candida albicans strains.  Of all these extracts, the water extract of T. avicennioides leaves was identified as the most effective.

Numerous surveys carried out worldwide have revealed that various medicinal plants are commonly used to treat UTIs. Herbal medicines such as turmeric and its bioactive molecule curcumin, hyssop, tiger nut, cashew leaf, and corn silk tea have been shown to improve the symptoms of chronic UTIs, protect kidney function, and reduce inflammatory responses.

In a study, researchers found hyssop contains chemical substances that can be developed into conventional drugs to kill germs that cause urinary tract infections, like Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Overall results suggest that oroxindin, a chemical substance extracted from hyssop, can effectively kill off K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis. Additionally, its safety has been established, indicating its potential for future drug discovery and development in the treatment of UTIs.

The 2022 study, a collaborative work by Rajan Rolta (lead researcher), Dr Deeksha Salaria from Shoolini University Solan, India, Dr Oladoja Awofisayo (University of Uyo), and Dr Olatomide Fadare (Obafemi Awolowo University) from Nigeria, was published in the journal Molecules.

The researchers suggested that hyssop was able to kill the germs that cause UTIs through two basic pathways: directly killing the germ or preventing the germs from adhering to the cells that form the walls of the urinary tract.

Researchers said in the Journal of Agroalimentary Processes and Technologies that tiger nuts should be consumed more to prevent and treat UTIs. The susceptibility of these disease-causing germs to the tiger nut extract was comparable to that of gentamicin, a common antibiotic.

In addition, researchers found extracts of cashew leaves are able to kill germs that cause urinary tract infections, like Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The 2019 study was in the Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research.

Moreover, diet is important in treating UTIs. It supports the body’s immune system, reduces irritation in the healing process, and helps the body shed bacteria.

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

• Tinubu approves N35,000 provisional wage award for all FG workers

• Organised Labour may suspend indefinite nationwide strike

• 10 quick facts about Big Brother Naija All Stars season winner, Ilebaye