Urease Inhibitors from Nasturtium officinale Extract for the Treatment of Urease Expressing Bacterial Infections

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Urease is a key virulence factor in various infections, including H. pylori and UTIs.
• Current treatments for urease-positive infections are limited, with acetohydroxamic acid being the only licensed urease inhibitor.
• Nasturtium officinale (watercress) possesses potential medicinal properties that are largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of Nasturtium officinale extract as a treatment for urease-positive infections.
• To identify the therapeutic mechanisms of N. officinale extract against urease activity.
• To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of N. officinale extract in a human model.

Main Methods:

• In vitro studies on Proteus mirabilis cultures to assess ammonia accumulation inhibition.
• In vivo human model to evaluate skin barrier protection against ammonia irritation.
• In silico molecular docking experiments with H. pylori urease.

Main Results:

• N. officinale extract demonstrated the ability to prevent ammonia accumulation in bacterial cultures.
• Two therapeutic mechanisms were identified: urease enzyme inhibition and ammonia sequestration by isothiocyanates.
• In vivo studies suggested potential protection of skin barrier function against ammonia-induced erythema.

Conclusions:

• Nasturtium officinale extract exhibits antiureolytic and anti-inflammatory properties.
• The extract's compounds, particularly isothiocyanates, show promise in combating urease-positive infections.
• N. officinale represents a potential natural therapeutic agent for urease-associated conditions.