Modified Zhibai Dihuang pill alleviated urinary tract infection induced by extended-spectrum β-lactamase Escherichia coli in rats by regulating biofilm formation

Abstract

Context

Zhibai Dihuang pill (ZD), a traditional Chinese medicine nourishes Yin and reduces internal heat, is believed to have therapeutic effects on urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Objective

To explore the effects and mechanism of modified ZD (MZD) on UTI induced by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBLs) Escherichia coli.

Materials and methods

Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model (0.5 mL 1.5 × 10⁸ CFU/mL ESBLs E. coli), MZD (20 g/kg MZD), LVFX (0.025 g/kg LVFX), and MZD + LVFX groups (20 g/kg MZD + 0.025 g/kg LVFX), n = 6. After 14 days of treatment, serum biochemical indicators, renal function indicators, bladder and renal histopathology, and urine bacterial counts in rats were determined. Additionally, the effects of MZD on ESBLs E. coli biofilm formation and related gene expression were analyzed.

Results

MZD significantly decreased the count of white blood cells (from 13.12 to 9.13), the proportion of neutrophils (from 43.53 to 23.18), C-reactive protein (from 13.21 to 9.71), serum creatinine (from 35.78 to 30.15), and urea nitrogen (from 12.56 to 10.15), relieved the inflammation and fibrosis of bladder and kidney tissues, and reduced the number of bacteria in urine (from 2174 to 559). In addition, MZD inhibited the formation of ESBLs E. coli biofilms (2.04-fold) and decreased the gene expressions of luxS, pfS and ompA (1.41–1.62-fold).

Discussion and conclusion

MZD treated ESBLs E. coli-induced UTI inhibited biofilm formation, providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of MZD. Further study on the clinical effect of MZD may provide a novel therapy option for UTI.

Keywords:

• Traditional Chinese medicine
• antibacterial
• bacteria biofilm
• quorum sensing

Author contributions

Kaifa Chen and Xin Liu conceived and designed the experiments, Kaifa Chen, Yongsheng Zhu and Hongwei Su performed the experiments, Kaifa Chen and Xin Liu analyzed the data, Hao Jiang contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools. Kaifa Chen and Xin Liu wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability Statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Scientific research Fund of Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau under Grant [No. 2019-JYJ-67].