scholarly journals Antibacterial Effects of New Zealand Plant  Extracts against Mycobacteria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Emma Anne Earl
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Antimycobacterial Activity ◽  
World Population ◽  
Bacteriostatic Activity ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Plant Samples ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Drug Resistant Strains

<p>Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) has infected approximately 1/3 of the world population, with 9.4 million new TB cases in 2008. In addition to increased cases of drug-resistant strains it is vital that novel antitubercular compounds are discovered in order to treat infections and reduce the time of current TB therapy courses. Natural resources such as plants are now being considered as the focus for discovering new compounds. Plants have long been investigated as a source of antibiotics for the treatment of human disease. New Zealand (NZ) contains a unique and diverse flora; however, to current knowledge no native plants have been examined for antimycobacterial activity. Using ethnobotany as a basis for selection, a total of 58 native plant samples were collected and tested for direct antimycobacterial activity. Samples were extracted with sterile distilled water (SDW), ethanol (EtOH) or methanol (MeOH) and screened for inhibition against the surrogate species, Mycobacterium smegmatis. Active plant samples were then validated for bacteriostatic activity towards M. bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis H37Ra as well as other clinically-important species. Nine extracts from the species Laurelia novae-zelandiae, Lophomyrtus bullata, Metrosideros excelsa, Myoporum laetum, Pittosporum tenuifolium, Pseudopanax crassifolius and Pseudowintera colorata were found to be active against M. smegmatis. Two active extracts were the bark and cambium extracts of Laurelia novae-zelandiae (Pukatea), which were reportedly used by indigenous Māori for the treatment of tubercular lesions. Upon further investigation these extracts also demonstrated bactericidal activity towards M. smegmatis as well as bacteriostatic activity towards the slow-growing species M. bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis. Purification techniques were then performed to improve the efficiency of activity and initial exploration of delivery systems was also examined. The bioactive extracts determined in this research offer a starting point for identifying their chemical basis of antimycobacterial activity with the objective of potentially discovering new anti-tubercular drugs.</p>

scholarly journals Antibacterial Effects of New Zealand Plant  Extracts against Mycobacteria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Emma Anne Earl
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Antimycobacterial Activity ◽  
World Population ◽  
Bacteriostatic Activity ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Plant Samples ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Drug Resistant Strains

<p>Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) has infected approximately 1/3 of the world population, with 9.4 million new TB cases in 2008. In addition to increased cases of drug-resistant strains it is vital that novel antitubercular compounds are discovered in order to treat infections and reduce the time of current TB therapy courses. Natural resources such as plants are now being considered as the focus for discovering new compounds. Plants have long been investigated as a source of antibiotics for the treatment of human disease. New Zealand (NZ) contains a unique and diverse flora; however, to current knowledge no native plants have been examined for antimycobacterial activity. Using ethnobotany as a basis for selection, a total of 58 native plant samples were collected and tested for direct antimycobacterial activity. Samples were extracted with sterile distilled water (SDW), ethanol (EtOH) or methanol (MeOH) and screened for inhibition against the surrogate species, Mycobacterium smegmatis. Active plant samples were then validated for bacteriostatic activity towards M. bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis H37Ra as well as other clinically-important species. Nine extracts from the species Laurelia novae-zelandiae, Lophomyrtus bullata, Metrosideros excelsa, Myoporum laetum, Pittosporum tenuifolium, Pseudopanax crassifolius and Pseudowintera colorata were found to be active against M. smegmatis. Two active extracts were the bark and cambium extracts of Laurelia novae-zelandiae (Pukatea), which were reportedly used by indigenous Māori for the treatment of tubercular lesions. Upon further investigation these extracts also demonstrated bactericidal activity towards M. smegmatis as well as bacteriostatic activity towards the slow-growing species M. bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis. Purification techniques were then performed to improve the efficiency of activity and initial exploration of delivery systems was also examined. The bioactive extracts determined in this research offer a starting point for identifying their chemical basis of antimycobacterial activity with the objective of potentially discovering new anti-tubercular drugs.</p>

Modelling transport of larval New Zealand abalone (Haliotis iris) along an open coast

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 519 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Stephens ◽  
N. Broekhuizen ◽  
A. B. Macdiarmid ◽  
C. J. Lundquist ◽  
L. McLeod ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Larval Dispersal ◽  
Release Site ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Conditions ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Open Coast ◽  
Successful Recruitment ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Near Shore

The dispersal and transport of larval New Zealand abalone Haliotis iris was simulated using coupled two-dimensional hydrodynamic and Lagrangian particle-trajectory models. The aim was to estimate pelagic larval dispersal potential along the open coast, as a starting point from which basic management questions can be made for this recreationally and commercially important species. Larval dispersal was simulated from representative spawning sites under a range of representative hydrodynamic conditions, including wave-induced circulation cells. Larval presence over near-shore reef habitat declined as the energy of the flow field and corresponding larval dispersal and transport increased. Thus, spawning during high-energy conditions will promote dispersal and transport but reduce successful recruitment on near-shore reefs. This indicates that seeding of the adjacent coast is likely to be sporadic, with existing populations necessarily being somewhat self-recruiting. Results suggest that an ideal management system would ensure that adult populations were maintained at intervals of 10–30 km along the coast to maintain larval supply to areas in between. Dispersal characteristics were specific to the release site, and the simulations suggest that marine reserves can be positioned to accordingly achieve desired functions: for example, optimal choices can be made for seeding areas, recruitment or self-maintaining areas.

Plant Compounds for the Treatment of Diabetes, a Metabolic Disorder: NF-κB as a Therapeutic Target

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (39) ◽  
pp. 4955-4969
Author(s):  
Ravi Sahukari ◽  
Jyothi Punabaka ◽  
Shanmugam Bhasha ◽  
Venkata S. Ganjikunta ◽  
Shanmugam K. Ramudu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Complications ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
World Population ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Treatment Of Diabetes ◽  
Online Library ◽  
And Oxidative Stress ◽  
Stress Activation ◽  
Plant Compounds

Background: The prevalence of diabetes in the world population hás reached 8.8 % and is expected to rise to 10.4% by 2040. Hence, there is an urgent need for the discovery of drugs against therapeutic targets to sojourn its prevalence. Previous studies proved that NF-κB serves as a central agent in the development of diabetic complications. Objectives: This review intended to list the natural plant compounds that would act as inhibitors of NF-κB signalling in different organs under the diabetic condition with their possible mechanism of action. Methods: Information on NF-κB, diabetes, natural products, and relation in between them, was gathered from scientific literature databases such as Pubmed, Medline, Google scholar, Science Direct, Springer, Wiley online library. Results and Conclusion: NF-κB plays a crucial role in the development of diabetic complications because of its link in the expression of genes that are responsible for organs damage such as kidney, brain, eye, liver, heart, muscle, endothelium, adipose tissue and pancreas by inflammation, apoptosis and oxidative stress. Activation of PPAR-α, SIRT3/1, and FXR through many cascades by plant compounds such as terpenoids, iridoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, tannins, carbohydrates, and phytocannabinoids recovers diabetic complications. These compounds also exhibit the prevention of NF-κB translocation into the nucleus by inhibiting NF-κB activators, such as VEGFR, RAGE and TLR4 receptors, which in turn, prevent the activation of many genes involved in tissue damage. Current knowledge on the treatment of diabetes by targeting NF-κB is limited, so future studies would enlighten accordingly.

Development of 'S', 'N’ Heterocycles as Antimycobacterials Targeting Fatty Acid Biosynthesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. K. Dahiwade ◽  
S. R. Rochlani ◽  
P. B. Choudhari ◽  
R. P. Dhavale ◽  
H. N. Moreira
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Antimycobacterial Activity ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Causative Organism ◽  
Present Communication ◽  
Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Rational Development ◽  
After Cancer ◽  
Drug Resistant Strains

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a causative organism of tuberculosis, which is most deadly disease after cancer in a current decade. The development of multidrug and broadly drug- resistant strains making the tuberculosis problem more and more critical. In last 40 years, only one molecule is added to the treatment regimen. Generally, drug design and development programs are targeted proteins whose function is known to be essential to the bacterial cell. Objectives: Reported here are the development of 'S', 'N’ heterocycles as antimycobacterials targeting fatty acid biosynthesis. Material and Methods: In the present communication, rational development of anti-mycobacterial agent's targeting fatty acid biosynthesis has been done by integrating the pocket modelling and virtual analysis. Results: The identified potential 33 lead compounds were synthesized, characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods like IR, NMR spectroscopy and further screened for antimycobacterial activity using isoniazid as standard. All the designed compounds have shown profound antimycobacterial activity. Conclusion: In this present communication, we found that 3c, 3f, 3l and 4k molecules had expressive desirable biological activity and specific interactions with fatty acids. Further optimization of these leads is necessary for the development of potential antimycobacterial drug candidate having less side effects.

In vitro evaluation of the anti-mycobacterial properties of the extracts of Momordica Charantia

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
Paul Giftson ◽  
Jerrine Joseph ◽  
Revathy Kalyanasundaram ◽  
V. Ramesh Kumar ◽  
Wilson Aruni
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Antimycobacterial Activity ◽  
Bitter Gourd ◽  
World Population ◽  
Methanol Extracts ◽  
Crude Extracts ◽  
The World

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease and remains one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. One fourth of the world population is infected with TB at a risk of developing disease. The increase in the incidence of drug resistant TB around the world urges the need to develop a new candidate to fight against the disease. Plants were considered as the rich source of bioactive components to be used as potential drugs. Medicinal plants are used in pure as well as crude materials for their medicinal properties. Our research aims in identifying the phyto-molecules which have anti- tuberculosis property. Four medicinal plants namely, Acalyphaciliata (Kuppaimeni), Solanumtrilobatum (Thuthuvalai), Momordicacharantia (Bitter Gourd) and Sennaauriculata (Avaram) were chosen to evaluate their antimicrobial activity focusing on anti-tubercular activity. The methanol extracts of the medicinal plants showed significant inhibitory activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Sennaauriculata methanol extracts showed activity against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. In the screening of antimycobacterial activity done by LRP assay, among the plant extracts tested, the hexane crude extracts of Momordicacharantia (Bitter Gourd) showed 82.2% and 81.03% of inhibition against M. tuberculosis H37Rv at 500µg/ml and 250µg/ml concentration respectively. Similarly, the methanol crude extracts of Momordicacharantia showed 87.14% and 63.55% of inhibition at 500µg/ml and 250µg/ml concentration respectively.

scholarly journals TOWARDS A PANEVOLUTIONARY THEORY (PANEVO THEORY), FOLLOWING THE ACADEMIC OF FISIOCRITICI ENZO TIEZZI

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1-IT) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Tanga ◽  
Giacomo Gelati ◽  
Marco Casazza
Keyword(s):  
Charles Darwin ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Rachel Carson ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Science And Culture ◽  
History Of ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Scientific Fields

6Contemporary science and culture show more and more extended and meaningful signs about the increasing explaining power of evolutionary paradigm. This power overcomes the field of the history of living species. We consider “On the Origin of Species” of 1859 by Charles Darwin as the establishment of this paradigm, but this original and fruitful idea has received the several and different contributions from near and (seemingly) far scientific fields. This process happened according distinguishable waves and leaded the evolutionary theory very far from its starting point, making it something wider and different. The current knowledge of this theory involves many kinds of scholars: biologists, zoologists, botanists, development biologists, genetics/genomics scholars and also scholars of many other disciplines, as statistics, mathematics, ecology, environmental sciences, physics, chemistry, linguistics, sociology, neuro-sciences, epidemiology, informatics, immunology. During the end of XX Century, the study of complexity, of self-organization and of emerging properties has been a decisive factor to extend evolution until beyond the boundaries of Biology. These phenomena, or properties, or features, that are shown by “living” and “not-living” systems (so called basing ourselves on traditional definitions), have deeply modified even the “properly” biologic evolution itself and besides this has demonstrated that, mutatis mutandis, evolutionary processes or phenomena happen also out of biologic dominion, referring “biologic” to “wet-ware world”. This is to say the class of evolutionary phenomena is more widely and more inclusively extended than our opinion. We can mean this as a revolution (according to Kuhn’s definition) that imposes us to restructure the definition of evolution itself and even to redraw the boundaries and the map of Biology itself. Aiming to establish a name of this field of study we propose “PanEvolutionary Theory” (PanEvo Theory). No doubt Prigogine offered an important contribution to this area. The thinking and the work of Enzo Tiezzi can be placed seen in the same perspective. Disregarding direct connections and contacts with the Nobel Prize Prigogine, however the studies of Enzo Tiezzi are neither a fully unexpected work nor a theory lacking of important potentialities: it is not a strange or eccentric academic exercise. Except the close contact and the dense exchanges with Prigogine, we collocate Enzo Tiezzi in the same context of Gregory Chaitin, of Rachel Carson, of John Harte and Robert H. Socolow, of James Paul Wesley, of Sertorio, of Oort and Peixoto, just to cite the most strictly related. Our Academy had the privilege and the honor of having Enzo Tiezzi in its ranks. We think that merits and developments of the thinking of this scholar have to produce important and lasting fruits in the future.

In vitro synergistic interactions of oleanolic acid in combination with isoniazid, rifampicin or ethambutol against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2010 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 567-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fa Ge ◽  
Fanli Zeng ◽  
Siguo Liu ◽  
Na Guo ◽  
Haiqing Ye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Oleanolic Acid ◽  
Antimycobacterial Activity ◽  
Vero Cells ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Synergistic Interactions ◽  
Combination Treatments ◽  
Low Cytotoxicity ◽  
Drug Resistant Strains

Reports have shown that oleanolic acid (OA), a triterpenoid, exists widely in food, medicinal herbs and other plants, and that it has antimycobacterial activity against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv (ATCC 27294). In this study it was found that OA had antimycobacterial properties against eight clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis and that the MICs of OA against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant isolates were 50–100 and 100–200 μg ml−1, respectively. The combination of OA with isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP) or ethambutol (EMB) showed favourable synergistic antimycobacterial effects against six drug-resistant strains, with fractional inhibitory concentration indices of 0.121–0.347, 0.113–0.168 and 0.093–0.266, respectively. The combination treatments of OA/INH, OA/RMP and OA/EMB displayed either a synergistic interaction or did not show any interaction against two drug-sensitive strains. No antagonism resulting from the OA/INH, OA/RMP or OA/EMB combination was observed for any of the strains tested. OA exhibited a relatively low cytotoxicity in Vero cells. These results indicate that OA may serve as a promising lead compound for future antimycobacterial drug development.

Stigma, decriminalisation, and violence against street-based sex workers: Changing the narrative

Sexualities ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1288-1308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynzi Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Sex Work ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Worker Safety ◽  
Worker Rights ◽  
Sex Worker ◽  
Multiple Risks ◽  
Ongoing Work ◽  
Starting Point

It is well documented that sex workers manage risks in their work – such as the potential for violence and the multiple risks associated with stigma. While sex workers are commonly understood to be a stigmatised population, few studies have considered in depth how stigma operates in different legislative contexts, how it relates to sex-worker safety, and how it may be reduced. Stigma is understood to be exacerbated by the criminalisation of sex work, which defines sex workers as deviant others and consequently renders them more vulnerable to violence. However, as full decriminalisation of sex work is still relatively rare, there has been little in-depth exploration into the relationship between this legislative approach, risks of violence, and stigma. Drawing on the findings of in-depth interviews with street-based sex workers and sex-worker rights advocates, in this article I explore the links between stigma and violence, and discuss the challenges of reducing stigma associated with sex work in New Zealand, post-decriminalisation. I argue that while decriminalisation has undoubtedly benefited sex workers in New Zealand, stigma continues to have a negative impact – particularly for street-based sex workers. Decriminalisation should therefore be considered an essential starting point. However, ongoing work must focus on countering stigmatising narratives, to enable a safer society for all sex workers.

scholarly journals In Support of a 'Living Wage': Research on International and Danish Trends and Issues of 'Working Poor'.

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erling Rasmussen ◽  
Jens Lind
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Minimum Wage ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Limit State ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
Working Poor ◽  
Living Wage ◽  
Paid Work ◽  
Starting Point

In May 2012, a campaign started in support of a New Zealand ‘living wage’. This happened in light of many New Zealand workers receiving wages at or just above the statutory minimum wage and that several fast-growing sectors continue to establish many low paid jobs. While the paper’s starting point is the New Zealand ‘living wage’ debate, the issues discussed have been part of international debates about the existence and consequences of low paid work. These debates have highlighted that some countries have been better at containing low paid work. On this background, this paper focuses on the trends and issues surrounding ‘working poor’ in Denmark. As detailed, the Danish labour market has succeeded in having a relatively low level of ‘working poor’. This has even happened in several service sector industries renowned for their propensity to create low paying jobs. However, the paper also questions the stability of the so-called Danish Model based on an open labour market with large in- and outflows of migrants and with a reliance on collective bargaining/agreements, with limit state regulation and, in particular, no statutory minimum wage.

scholarly journals A Conceptual Framework for the New Zealand Tort of Intrusion

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole A Moreham
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Starting Point

This article examines the desirable scope of the New Zealand tort of intrusion into seclusion. It begins by developing a six-part taxonomy of common law privacy interests and then, using that taxonomy as its starting point, asks which privacy interests the New Zealand intrusion tort should cover. It argues that although the intrusion tort is a very welcome addition to New Zealand common law, it is important that its parameters are clearly delineated. The best way to achieve that, it is suggested, is by recognising that unwarranted listening, watching or recording of private activities is the gravamen of the new tort. 

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