title: Artemisia princeps Pamp. Essential oil and its constituents eucalyptol and α-terpineol ameliorate bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis in mice by inhibiting bacterial growth and NF-κB activation.
abstract: To investigate the inhibitory effects of Artemisia princeps Pamp. (family Asteraceae) essential oil (APEO) and its main constituents against bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis, their antimicrobial activities against Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida albicans in vitro and their anti-inflammatory effects against G. vaginalis-induced vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis were examined in mice. APEO and its constituents eucalyptol and α-terpineol were found to inhibit microbe growths. α-Terpineol most potently inhibited the growths of G. vaginalis and C. albicans with MIC values of 0.06 and 0.125 % (v/v), respectively. The antimicrobial activity of α-terpineol was found to be comparable to that of clotrimazole. Intravaginal treatment with APEO, eucalyptol, or α-terpineol significantly decreased viable G. vaginalis and C. albicans numbers in the vaginal cavity and myeloperoxidase activity in mouse vaginal tissues compared with controls. These agents also inhibited the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1 β, IL-6, TNF- α), COX-2, iNOS, and the activation of NF- κB and increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In addition, they inhibited the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and the activation of NF- κB in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peritoneal macrophages, and α-terpineol most potently inhibited the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and NF- κB activation. Based on these findings, APEO and its constituents, particularly α-terpineol, ameliorate bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis by inhibiting the growths of vaginal pathogens and the activation of NF- κB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hien-Trung
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Trinh
authors.forename: In-Ah
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yang-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Dong-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D003022:Clotrimazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000737:chemistry; D000077591:Eucalyptol; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D039821:Monoterpenes; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C016775:alpha-terpineol; D009195:Peroxidase; D003022:Clotrimazole; D000077591:Eucalyptol