In Vitro Inhibitory Assay of an Isolated Indoor Airborne Fungus from an Institutional Building of Computer Education by Using Potassium Sorbate

Currently, one of the main aspects of health and safety concern to facility owners and supervisors is indoor air quality. Meanwhile, pollution by airborne fungi in these facilities are acquiring more and more consideration due to its possible harmful side effects such as threats to occupiers’ health and damage to building parts and furniture. One of the recommendations to solve these indoor fungi pollution is bioactive compound which can act as a biocide. However, assessment of this compound in the real environment is often time-consuming and impractical. In this study, a bioactive compound, potassium sorbate which is commonly applied in food manufacturing was assessed for its efficiency as a biocide to restrict the growth of an isolated airborne fungus using an in vitro inhibition assay. The fungus was isolated from a new building of tertiary education of computer studies. It was grown on both biocide-incorporated MEA and untreated MEA. The diameter of the fungal colonies was noted time to time. The diameter of the colony of the treated fungus was downsized by 41.25% averagely in comparison with the untreated fungus. It was shown that potassium sorbate can restrict the growth rate of the isolated airborne fungus.

Download Full-text

Toxicological Studies of a Representative Xerox Reprographic Toner

International Journal of Toxicology ◽

10.1080/109158199225774 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 23-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

George H. Y. Lin ◽

Joseph C. Wilson

Keyword(s):

Safety Concern ◽

Safety Issue ◽

Chinese Hamster ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Consumer Products ◽

Worst Case ◽

Inhalation Study ◽

Charge Control ◽

Toxicological Studies

Typical Xerox reprographic toners consist of a thermoplastic polymer as the major component, a colorant (carbon black or color pigment), and low quantities of additives such as charge control and/or lubricating agents. Another type of Xerox toner contains iron oxides and a polymer as the major components. Among all toners marketed by Xerox Corporation, the original 1075 toner (being discontinued and reformulated) was a major safety concern, because it contained approximately 2% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a charge control agent. CPC by itself is very toxic and causes severe irritation to the eye and skin. Although CPC has been used in very low concentrations in consumer products such as mouthwash, it was unknown whether a 50-fold dilution of CPC in the toner formulation would represent any safety issue. Therefore, a series of toxicological testing on the original 1075 toner was conducted. The test results indicate that the original Xerox 1075 toner was practically nontoxic following acute oral, dermal, and inhalation exposures; nonirritating to the eye; nonir-ritating/nonsensitizing to the skin; nonmutagenic in a battery of short-term assays (Ames Salmnonella/microsome assay, mouse lym-phoma assay, in vitro sister chromatid exchange assay in Chinese hamster ovarian cells, and in vitro BALB/3T3 cell transformation assay); and nonteratogenic in rats when inhaling the toner dust up to 1.2 g/m3. In addition, no mutagenic responses were observed from testing the urine or feces (by Ames test) and bone marrow (by examining micronucleus formation) of rats exposed to the toner dust at 1.3 g/m3 at the end of a subchronic inhalation study. Because all Xerox toners are alike, the toxicology of the original Xerox 1075 toner was considered a “worst-case” situation, relative to health and safety. However, it did not appear to represent any health and safety issue. The results of this study, together with the fact that no evidence of carcinogenicity was found in the Xerox chronic inhalation study on toner, indicate that Xerox toners are not safety hazards, with respect to the end points indicated in this report.

Download Full-text

Olive Fruit and Leaf Wastes as Bioactive Ingredients for Cosmetics—A Preliminary Study

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10020245 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 245

Author(s):

María de la Luz Cádiz-Gurrea ◽

Diana Pinto ◽

Cristina Delerue-Matos ◽

Francisca Rodrigues

Keyword(s):

Olive Oil ◽

High Performance ◽

Value Added ◽

Bioactive Compound ◽

In Vitro Assays ◽

Oil Consumption ◽

Cosmetic Ingredients ◽

Bioactive Ingredients ◽

Olive Industry

Olea europaea cultivar, native in the Mediterranean basin, has expanded worldwide, mainly due to the olive oil industry. This expansion is attributed to the benefits of olive oil consumption, since this product is rich in nutritional and bioactive compounds. However, the olive industry generates high amounts of wastes, which could be related to polluting effects on soil and water. To minimize the environmental impact, different strategies of revalorization have been proposed. In this sense, the aim of this work was to develop high cosmetic value added oleuropein-enriched extracts (O20 and O30), a bioactive compound from olive byproducts, performing a comprehensive characterization using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and evaluate their bioactivity by in vitro assays. A total of 49 compounds were detected, with oleuropein and its derivatives widely found in O30 extract, whereas iridoids were mainly detected in O20 extract. Moreover, 10 compounds were detected for the first time in olive leaves. Both extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant and antiradical activities, although O30 showed higher values. In addition, radical oxygen and nitrogen species scavenging and enzyme inhibition values were higher in O30, with the exception of HOCl and hyaluronidase inhibition assays. Regarding cell viability, olive byproduct extracts did not lead to a decrease in keratinocytes viability until 100 µg/mL. All data reported by the present study reflect the potential of industrial byproducts as cosmetic ingredients.

Download Full-text

Effect of Hydrolysable Tannins and Anthocyanins on Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Nephropathic Patients: Preliminary Data

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13020591 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 591 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Annalisa Noce ◽

Francesca Di Daniele ◽

Margherita Campo ◽

Manuela Di Lauro ◽

Anna Pietroboni Zaitseva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urinary Tract ◽

Urinary Tract Infections ◽

Bacterial Flora ◽

Bioactive Compound ◽

In Vitro Tests ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Quercetin Derivatives ◽

Hydrolysable Tannins ◽

Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by uropathogenic microorganism colonization. UTIs often require an antibiotic therapy that can cause the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. A natural bioactive compound may represent a valid therapeutic adjuvant approach, in combination with drug therapy. In this paper, we present a pilot study, based on the administration of an oral food supplement (OFS), containing chestnut tannins and anthocyanins, to nephropathic patients suffering from recurrent UTIs (16 treated patients with 1 cp/day and 10 untreated patients). We performed laboratory tests and quality of life and body composition assessments, at T0 (baseline) and T1 (after 6 weeks OFS assumption). The analysis of OFS was performed by HPLC-DAD-MS for its content in polyphenols and by in vitro tests for its antioxidative and anti-free radical activities. In each capsule, polyphenol content was 6.21 mg (4.57 mg hydrolysable tannins, 0.94 mg anthocyanosides, 0.51 mg proanthocyanidins, 0.18 mg quercetin derivatives). A significant reduction of erythrocyte sedimentation rate was observed only in male patients. Urinalysis showed a significant reduction of leukocytes in both genders, whereas urinary bacterial flora at T1 significantly decreased only in male subjects. Tannins seem to exert an antimicrobial action according to gender, useful to counteract the recurrence of UTIs.

Download Full-text

Laboratory Safety, Biosecurity, and Responsible Animal Use

ILAR Journal ◽

10.1093/ilar/ilz012 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessica McCormick-Ell ◽

Nancy Connell

Keyword(s):

Health And Safety ◽

Chemical Exposure ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Worker Safety ◽

Environmental Health And Safety ◽

Safety Research ◽

Education Levels ◽

Animal Safety ◽

Animal Care

AbstractResearch with animals presents a wide array of hazards, some of which overlap those in the in vitro research laboratory. The challenge for environmental health and safety professionals when making their recommendations and performing the risk assessment is to balance worker safety with animal safety/welfare. The care and husbandry of animals require procedures and tasks that create aerosols and involve metabolized chemicals and a variety of physical hazards that must be assessed in addition to the research related risks, all while balancing the biosecurity of the facility and NIH animal care requirements. Detailed communication between health and safety, research, and animal care teams is essential to understand how to mitigate the risks that are present and if modifications need to be made as the experiments and processes progress and change over time. Additionally, the backgrounds and education levels of the persons involved in animal research and husbandry can be quite broad; the training programs created need to reflect this. Active learning and hands-on training are extremely beneficial for all staff involved in this field. Certain areas of research, such as infectious disease research in high- and maximum-containment (biosafety level 3 and 4) facilities, present challenges that are not seen in lower containment or chemical exposure experiments. This paper reviews potential hazards and mitigation strategies and discusses unique challenges for safety at all biosafety levels.

Download Full-text

A Novel In Vitro Approach for Simultaneous Evaluation of CYP3A4 Inhibition and Kinetic Aqueous Solubility

CrossRef Listing of Deleted DOIs ◽

10.1177/1087057114552796 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 254-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

José Pérez ◽

Caridad Díaz ◽

Francisco Asensio ◽

Alexandra Palafox ◽

Olga Genilloud ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Discovery ◽

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Safety Concern ◽

Aqueous Solubility ◽

Cyp3a4 Inhibition ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Simultaneous Evaluation ◽

New Chemical Entities ◽

Further Development

In the early stages of the drug discovery process, evaluation of the drug metabolism and physicochemical properties of new chemical entities is crucial to prioritize those candidates displaying a better profile for further development. In terms of metabolism, drug–drug interactions mediated through CYP450 inhibition are a significant safety concern, and therefore the effect of new candidate drugs on CYP450 activity should be screened early. In the initial stages of drug discovery, when physicochemical properties such as aqueous solubility have not been optimized yet, there might be a large number of candidate compounds showing artificially low CYP450 inhibition, and consequently potential drug–drug interaction toxicity might be overlooked. In this work, we present a novel in vitro approach for simultaneous evaluation of CYP3A4 inhibition potential and kinetic aqueous solubility (NIVA-CYPI-KS). This new methodology is based on fluorogenic CYP450 activities and turbidimetric measurements for compound solubility, and it provides a significant improvement in the use of resources and a better understanding of CYP450 inhibition data.

Download Full-text

Thymol and its Derivatives for Management of Phytopathogenic fungi of maize

Current Bioactive Compounds ◽

10.2174/1573407218666211230142546 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

Author(s):

Jyoti Gaba ◽

Sunita Sharma ◽

Harleen Kaur ◽

Pardeep Kaur

Keyword(s):

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Bioactive Compound ◽

Mannich Bases ◽

Phytopathogenic Fungi ◽

Leaf Blight ◽

Significant Control ◽

Thymol Derivatives ◽

Potential Alternative ◽

Blight Disease

Background: Thymol is a bioactive compound having many pharmacological activities. Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate the fungi toxic effects of thymol and derivatives against phytopathogenic fungi of maize. Method: Thymol was derivatized to get formylated thymol, Mannich bases, and imine derivatives. All the synthesized thymol derivatives were characterized by their physical and spectral properties. Synthesized thymol derivatives were screened for their in vitro antifungal effects using poisoned food technique against three maize pathogenic fungi namely Fusarium moniliforme, Rhizoctonia solani and Dreschlera maydis. Results: Thymol and formylated thymol showed promising results for control of D. maydis with ED50 values less than standard carbendazim and comparable to standard mancozeb. These two compounds were further evaluated for control of D. maydis causative maydis leaf blight disease on maize plants grown in the field during the Kharif season (June to October) 2018. Conclusion: Thymol exhibited significant control of maydis leaf blight disease of maize and emerged as a potential alternative to synthetic fungicides used in cereal crops.

Download Full-text

Toxicological Implications of Platinum Nanoparticle Exposure: Stimulation of Intracellular Stress, Inflammatory Response, and Akt Signaling In Vitro

Journal of Toxicology ◽

10.1155/2018/1367801 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Claudia J. Labrador-Rached ◽

Rebecca T. Browning ◽

Laura K. Braydich-Stolle ◽

Kristen K. Comfort

Keyword(s):

Stress Responses ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Cellular Responses ◽

Cellular Interactions ◽

Platinum Nanoparticle ◽

Liver Model ◽

Dependent Signal ◽

Cell Functionality

Due to their distinctive physicochemical properties, platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) have emerged as a material of interest for a number of biomedical therapeutics. However, in some instances NP exposure has been correlated to health and safety concerns, including cytotoxicity, activation of cellular stress, and modification to normal cell functionality. As PtNPs have induced differential cellular responses in vitro, the goal of this study was to further characterize the behavior and toxicological potential of PtNPs within a HepG2 liver model. This study identified that a high PtNP dosage induced HepG2 cytotoxicity. However, lower, subtoxic PtNP concentrations were able to elicit multiple stress responses, secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, and modulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 dependent signal transduction. Taken together, this work suggests that PtNPs would not be overtly toxic for acute exposures, but sustained cellular interactions might produce long term health consequences.

Download Full-text

Determination of in Vivo Biological Activities of Dodonaea Viscosa Flowers Against CCL4 Toxicity in Albino Mice With Bioactive Compound Detection

10.21203/rs.3.rs-275991/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hina Gul ◽

Muhammad Awais ◽

Salina Saddick ◽

Falak Sher Khan ◽

Muhammad Gulfraz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protective Effect ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Hematological Parameters ◽

Octadecenoic Acid ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Herbal Medicines ◽

Bioactive Compound ◽

Dodonaea Viscosa

Abstract Dodonaea viscosa L. Jacq. is an evergreen shrub and native to Asia, Africa and Australia. It has been used as traditional medicine in different countries. The foremost objective of the current study was to discover protective potential of D. Viscosa flowers Methanol (DVM) and Chloroform (DVC) extracts against CCL4 induced toxicity in mice. This study was intended to identify phytochemicals through HPLC, GCMS and FT-IR as well as in vitro antioxidant and in vitro antituberculosis activity. Our comprehensive findings indicate that Dodonaea viscosa is valuable and widespread herbal medicines through therapeutic potentials for curing various ailments. Dodonaea viscosa flowers are found to have protective effect against oxidative stress produced by CCL4 in liver, kidney and spleen. The level of hepatic enzymes (ALP, AST ALT and Direct bilirubin), hematological parameters (RBCs, WBCs and Platelets), total protein and liver antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx and CAT) were restored by the intake of DV extracts after decline in levels by CCL4. Histopathological results discovered the defensive effect of 300mg/kg of DVM extract against CCL4 induced damage, thus having improved protective effect as compared to DVC and control. As a result of analysis total flavonoids and total phenolics were also revealed. Phytochemical investigation by HPLC identified gallic acid, epicatechin, cumeric acid, flavonoids while Oleic acid (Octadecenoic acid) (C18H34O2), Stearic acid (C18H36O2), Ricinoleic acid (C18H34O3) and Cedrol (C15H26O) was estimated by GCMS. DVM extract exhibited resistance against in vitro Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. This study proposed that protective effect of DV against oxidative damage induced in Liver, Kidney and Spleen can possibly be correlated to their antioxidant as well as free radical scavenging property.

Download Full-text

A novel nano-sulphur and essential oil-based room freshener

Revista de la Asociación Colombiana de Ciencias Biológicas ◽

10.47499/revistaaccb.v1i33.236 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 75-82

Author(s):

Ashwini S. Kaware ◽

Pramod U Ingle ◽

Aniket K. Gade ◽

Mahendra Rai

Keyword(s):

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Indoor Environment ◽

Toxic Substances ◽

Significant Activity ◽

Face Centered Cubic ◽

Candida Spp ◽

Indoor Fungi ◽

The Face ◽

Average Size

Introduction: Alternaria spp. and Candida spp. are the main fungal pathogen of indoor environment like house, office, classroom, etc. These may cause various diseases and infections like systemic infections, or chronic asthma in immunocompromised individuals through secretion of various toxic substances. Chemical-based commercially available room fresheners used to control the fungal load of indoor environment are not beneficial to human health. Objective: was to provide viable alternative in the form of nanoparticle-based approach for the management of air-borne fungi. Methodology: The present study primarily focuses on the isolation, microscopic and biochemical identification of indoor fungi; Azadirachta indica-mediated sulphur nanoparticles (SNPs) synthesis, their detection and characterization; and in vitro assessment of SNPs against isolated fungi present in indoor environment. Result: The isolated fungi were identified as Alternaria spp and Candida spp. The SNPs showed absorbance maxima at 291 nm. NTA analysis showed average size of 188.4 nm, and zeta potential of -4.94 mV which represented synthesis of stable SNPs. XRD pattern confirmed the face centered cubic, crystalline nature of SNPs. FTIR spectrum depicted the presence of polyhydroxyl, nitrile, keto, aromatic and carboxylic compounds which stabilized the SNPs. The antifungal assays demonstrated the significant activity of the formulated SNPs and eucalyptus oil infused air freshener. Conclusion: It can be concluded that A. indica-mediated SNPs can be applied in the formulation and manufacture of an ecofriendly air freshener for the management of indoor fungal pathogens like Alternaria spp. and Candida spp.

Download Full-text

Effects of some organic acids and salts on microbial fermentation in the digestive tract of piglets estimated using an in vitro gas production technique

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.2137/145960605775897687 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 311 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

K. PARTANEN ◽

T. JALAVA

Keyword(s):

Organic Acids ◽

Formic Acid ◽

Digestive Tract ◽

Sodium Benzoate ◽

Gas Production ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Potassium Sorbate ◽

Microbial Fermentation ◽

Calcium Formate

An in vitro gas production technique was used to screen different organic acids (formic, propionic, lactic, citric, and fumaric acid), organic salts (calcium formate, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate), and inorganic phosphoric acid for their ability to modulate microbial fermentation in the digestive tract of piglets. For the incubation, 40 ml of culture medium (53% buffer, 45% frozen ileal digesta, and 2% fresh faeces) was dispensed in vessels containing 5 ml of buffer, 0.5 g of feed, and 20 ìl of liquid or 20 mg of solid acidifiers. Gas production was measured every 15 min during the 24 h incubation at 39°C, and a Gompertz bacterial growth model was applied to the gas production data. Formic acid was the only acid that reduced the maximum rate of gas production (ìm) compared to that in the control treatment (P < 0.05). The ìm was slower in vessels with formic acid than in those with calcium formate, citric acid, and potassium sorbate (P < 0.05) Calcium formate increased the ìm compared to the control treatment (P < 0.05). The maximum volume of gas produced and the lag time did not differ between different acidifiers (P > 0.05). When investigating formic-acid-based mixtures that contained 15% of potassium sorbate and/or sodium benzoate, the estimated parameters for the Gompertz growth model did not differ from those for treatments with plain formic acid (P > 0.05). However, concentrations of total volatile fatty acids, acetic acid, propionic acid, and n-butyric acid were reduced by all the mixtures (P < 0.05), but not by plain formic acid (P > 0.05). In conclusion, organic acids and salts were found to differ in their ability to modulate microbial fermentation in the digestive tract of piglets. Mixing formic acid with potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate changed fermentation patterns, and the possibility to use them to enhance the antimicrobial effect of formic acid should be investigated further in vivo.;

Download Full-text