From the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Military Medicine Institute, Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah (a.s.) University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , ataee@bmsu.ac.ir
Abstract: (4618 Views)
It is known that the major etiologic agent of pseudomembranous colitis in
man is Clostridium difficile. With respect to traditional use of almond paste in the
treatment of infantile diarrhea, we studied the effects of the aqueous extract of
Amygdalus communis (AEAC) on the growth and toxin production of Clostridium
difficile in culture medium and the rabbit ligated ileal loop.
Three groups of male New Zealand white rabbits (1.5 -2 kg) were used in this
study and ligated segments of the small intestine (4 -5cm) were prepared and injected
with 1 mL of 24 hour extract culture filtrate, a mixture of vegetative cells of Clostridium
difficile and different concentrations of AEAC, 1 mL mixture of purified toxins (A and
B) and AEAC, and 1mL suspension of bacterium (10000 CFU/mL) alone.
The results of this study revealed that AEAC at a concentration above 80 mg/mL
completely inhibited the growth of Clostridium difficile. Although concentrations below
80 mg/mL of AEAC did not inhibit bacterial growth, synthesis or excretion of
toxins A and B were inhibited. Injection of the mixture of AEAC and toxins A and B into
the ligated segments of the small intestine yielded a positive result with no fluid accumulation
at a level acceptable for diarrhea in comparison with positive controls (p<0.0 1).
In conclusion, although inoculation of bacterial suspension plus AEAC into the
ileum of the animal model prevented colonization, growth, and toxin production, the
results varied according to the concentration of both AEAC and number of viable
bacteria. Thus, the significance of these results relative to the use of almond paste in
prevention of gastrointestinal disease due to Clostridium difficile, requires further study