An-Najah Staff

Objective To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Ecballium elaterium (E. elaterium) fruits alone against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains and Candida albicans (C. albicans) strains, or in combination with penicillin against Staphylococcus areus strains.
Methods Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity or synergy interaction was carried out using microdilution method.
Results The results showed that ethanolic extract of E. elaterium fruits has antimicrobial activity against methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and C. albicans. This extract showed a significant decrease in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of penicillin against both MRSA and MSSA strains. Fractional inhibitory concentration index (FIC) between penicillin and ethanolic extract of E. elaterium fruits against these test strains was less than 0.5.
Conclusions This study suggests that ethanolic extract of E. elaterium fruits has antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and C. albicans and there is a possibility of concurrent use of penicillin and E. elaterium extract in combination in the treatment of infections caused by MRSA and MSSA strains. A wider study is needed to identify the effective components, the mode of action and the possible toxic effect in vivo of these ingredients.

Purpose: this study aims to approve the folk uses for Ecballium elaterium [(L.) A. Rich.] for treatment of hemorrhoids, varicose veins also for nose bleeding in the West Bank-Palestine. We search about phytochemicals, which improve elasticity of blood vessels. One of the most famous compounds with that effect is phytomelin. Method: a qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytomelin from leaves, fruits, and flowers of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich (exploding cucumber) in Palestine. After drying the sample for 30 days at 60 ºC, phytomelin was extracted using methanol. The methanol extracts of these parts were quantified using reversed phase liquid chromatographic method. Isocratic elution was employed using a mixture of methanol, acetonitrile and a 0.28% (v/v) of acetic acid (5:10:35). The flow rate was 1 ml/min. Results: calibration of the overall analytical procedure gave a linear signal(r>0.998) over a concentration range of 0.1 -0.6 mg/mL of phytomelin. The proposed method was successfully applied for quantitative determination of phytomelin in leaves, fruits, and flowers of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich Keywords: Exploding cucumber, Ecballium elaterium, HPLC analysis, glycoside, Phytomelin content.

Purpose: this study aims to approve the folk uses for Ecballium elaterium [(L.) A. Rich.] for treatment of hemorrhoids, varicose veins also for nose bleeding in the West Bank-Palestine. We search about phytochemicals, which improve elasticity of blood vessels. One of the most famous compounds with that effect is phytomelin. Method: a qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytomelin from leaves, fruits, and flowers of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich (exploding cucumber) in Palestine. After drying the sample for 30 days at 60 ºC, phytomelin was extracted using methanol. The methanol extracts of these parts were quantified using reversed phase liquid chromatographic method. Isocratic elution was employed using a mixture of methanol, acetonitrile and a 0.28% (v/v) of acetic acid (5:10:35). The flow rate was 1 ml/min. Results: calibration of the overall analytical procedure gave a linear signal(r>0.998) over a concentration range of 0.1 -0.6 mg/mL of phytomelin. The proposed method was successfully applied for quantitative determination of phytomelin in leaves, fruits, and flowers of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich Keywords: Exploding cucumber, Ecballium elaterium, HPLC analysis, glycoside, Phytomelin content.

Objective  To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Ecballium elaterium (E. elaterium) fruits alone against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains and Candida albicans (C. albicans) strains, or in combination with penicillin against Staphylococcus areus strains. Methods  Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity or synergy interaction was carried out using microdilution method.
Results  The results showed that ethanolic extract of E. elaterium fruits has antimicrobial activity against methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and C. albicans. This extract showed a significant decrease in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of penicillin against both MRSA and MSSA strains. Fractional inhibitory concentration index (FIC) between penicillin and ethanolic extract of E. elaterium fruits against these test strains was less than 0.5.
Conclusions  This study suggests that ethanolic extract of E. elaterium fruits has antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and C. albicans and there is a possibility of concurrent use of penicillin and E. elaterium extract in combination in the treatment of infections caused by MRSA and MSSA strains. A wider study is needed to identify the effective components, the mode of action and the possible toxic effect in vivo of these ingredients.