The Protection of Beech Wood (”Fagus Sylvatic”a) against the brown Rot ”Postia Placenta” using Clove (”Eugenia Caryophyllata”) Essential Oil in a Linseed Oil Medium

The present research investigates the antifungal efficiency of clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) essential oil (C-EO) combined with linseed oil (LO) at different concentrations (1%, 5%, 10%) using two types of mycological tests: a qualitative screening test by agar diffusion method and a quantitative mini-block test on treated beech (Fagus sylvatica) wood.The agar diffusion test indicated improved protection of wood should be possible with a mixture of C-EO and LO from a concentration of 5%. In contrast, the mini-block test indicated that wood is partially protect by LO alone and that adding increasing quantities of C-EO gradually reduces this protection.One possible explanation of this unexpected result could be the antioxidant effect of C-EO which could negatively interfere in the oxidative curing process of LO. ESEM investigation revealed the penetration of LO and C-EO/LO mixtures into the wood structure and non-uniform fungal colonization of all the samples exposed to Postia placenta, as well as some characteristic features of consequent wood structure degradation, which was found more advanced for the untreated beech wood samples.

Suitability System of Microbiological Method for Nystatin Potency Determination in the Routine Analysis Using Agar Diffusion Method

Nystatin is a polyene macrolide antifungal active which is used for the treatment of candidiasis and obtained from some species of Streptomycesbacteria. The present work describes the statistical suitability analysis for regular monitoring of the agar diffusion bioassay in a simple, inexpensive and time-saving process before potency determination. A balanced (symmetrical) two-dose parallel line assay model was applied using the agar well diffusion method for quantification of Nystatin in raw material and finished medicinal dosage form. The routine inspection methodology yielded good results and included calculations by the linear parallel model and by means of regression analysis and verified using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The assay is based on the inhibitory effect of Nystatin upon a standard strain as described in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). The results of the post validation regular assays were treated statistically by ANOVA and the deviations (expressed as average ± standard deviation) from both raw and column totals were 0.702 ± 0.476 and 0.865 ± 0.468, respectively. The mean value of the variance ratio for regression and parallelism squares were 534.349 ± 212.546 and 0.596 ± 0.345, respectively. The study of Nystatin's ongoing analysis showed that the microbiological assay design is satisfactory with respect to the limiting values for the determination of the potency. The established balanced parallel line assay is reasonably stable and suitable and can be used for the regular drug analysis in routine quality control testing and the quantitation of Nystatin in pharmaceutical dosage form and raw material. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0304-2 Full Text: PDF

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of A Fast-Setting Bioceramic Endodontic Material

Background: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the fast-setting bioceramic iRoot Fast Set Root Repair Material (iRoot FS) and two other calcium silicate cements. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of iRoot FS, ProRoot MTA and Biodentine against E. faecalis and P. gingivalis were evaluated in this study. The materials were freshly mixed or set for 1 and 7 days on 5mm diameter sterile filter papers. The agar diffusion test, direct contact test and carry-over effect test were conducted, and the pH values (using a digital pH meter) were also evaluated. The data were analyzed by an analysis of variance and two-way ANOVA (α=0.05).Results: In the agar diffusion experiment, no obvious inhibition zone was observed for iRoot FS, ProRootMTA or Biodentine at any time interval. In the direct contact test, all three materials showed good antibacterial activity after setting for 20 minutes. The antibacterial properties of the three materials decreased with the increase of setting time. None of the three materials showed carry-over antibacterial effect. The pH measurement showed that the suspension of all the three materials showed high pH values (11-12). With the extension of setting time, the pH of iRoot FS and Biodentine slightly decreased.Conclusions: Fresh iRoot FS, Biodentine, and MTA killed E. faecalis and P. gingivalis effectively, and the antimicrobial effect of all the three materials decreased over 1 and 7 days after mixing. All three materials showed a tendency of alkalinity which last for at least 7 days after setting.

Comparison of antifungal activity of essential oils of clove, lemongrass and thyme for natural preservation of dried apricots

Currently, the majority of fresh apricots destined for the production of dried apricots undergo sulphur oxide fumigation before drying to protect the fruit against fungal spoilage. To eliminate the use of sulphite, packaging assisted with essential oil is a promising strategy to increase shelf-life of dried apricots since it does not impact its flavor characteristics. In this study, three essential oils were selected: clove, lemongrass and thyme. They were screened for antifungal activity against Eurotium spp. with different methods: micro- and macro-dilution and agar-diffusion. Growth/no-growth data were used to develop models for all three methods. Clove exerted the strongest antifungal activity with an inhibitory concentration of 0.075%, 0.035% and 0.05% through respectively micro-dilution, macro-dilution and agar diffusion. For thyme the following values were obtained: 0.775%, 0.070% and 0.100%. This means that the antifungal activity of thyme is 10 times lower in micro-dilution and 2 times lower in macro-dilution and agar diffusion compared to clove. Through micro-dilution, lemongrass was found to have the second highest antifungal activity (0.25%). When used in the volatile atmosphere of dried apricots and in macro-dilution, the antifungal activity of lemongrass was the lowest, with respective values of > 0.200% and 0.105% for G/NG prediction.

UJI AKTIVITAS ANTIBAKTERI EKSTRAK ETANOL BAWANG DAYAK (Eleutherine polmifolia (L.) Merr) TERHADAP Salmonella typhi dan Escherichia coli

Dayak onion (Eleutherine polmifolia (L.) Merr) was a typical plant of Kalimantan. Empirically dayak onion (Eleutherine polmifolia (L.) Merr) used by the comunity to treat skin infections. The purpose of this study was to determine the antibacterial activity of ethanol extract of dayak onion power against Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli bacteria. The highest concentration used was 100%, and the lowest concentration was 0,5%. As a control of cloramfenikol for Salmonella typhi and ciprofloxacin for Escherichia coli bacteria. This research method used agar diffusion. The results showed the ethanol extract of dayak onion (Eleutherine polmifolia (L.) Merr) contained flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and phenols with the highest levels was by tannins at 7,45%. Dayak onion (Eleutherine polmifolia (L.) Merr) are inhibiting the growth of Salmonella typhi bacteria at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)of 1% with a inhibition zone diameter of 6,24 mm and 0,9% with a inhibition zone diameter of 6,20 mm at Escherichia coli bacteria.Keywords : Eleutherine polmifolia (L.) Merr, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Agar diffusion, MIC

Efek Sinergis Kombinasi Ekstrak Rimpang Kunyit (Curcuma domestica Val.) dan Ampisilin terhadap Escherichia coli secara in vitro

Escherichia coli (E.coli) pada kondisi tertentu dapat diobati dengan ampisilin. Namun ampisilin saat ini mulai ditinggalkan karena tingginya kasus E.coli yang resisten ampisilin. Salah satu cara untuk mengatasi masalah resistensi ini adalah dengan mengkombinasi ekstrak rimpang kunyit (ERK) dan ampisilin. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui efek antimikroba dan efek sinergis kombinasi ERK (Curcuma domestica Val.) dan ampisilin terhadap E.coli secara in vitro. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain uji esksperimental laboratorik sungguhan secara in vitro dengan metode agar diffusion. Data yang diperoleh disajikan dalam bentuk tabel dan dinalisis secara deskriptif. Dari hasil penelitian didapatkan bahwa ERK (Curcuma domestica Val.) konsentrasi 165, 330, 660 µg/ml tidak didapatkan zona inhibisi terhadap E.coli. Persentasi peningkatan zona inhibisi pada MHA-ERK-ampisilin 165, 330, 660 µg/ml : 24,11%; 38,79% ; 47,39% lebih besar dibanding ampisilin tunggal. Simpulan dari penelitian ini adalah ekstrak rimpang kunyit (Curcuma domestica Val.) 165 µg/ml, 330 µg/ml, dan 660 µg/ml tidak memiliki efek antimikroba terhadap Escherichia coli secara in vitro sedangkan kombinasi ekstrak rimpang kunyit (Curcuma domestica Val.) dan ampisilin memiliki efek sinergis terhadap Escherichia coli secara in vitro.

In vitro evaluation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs against rheumatoid arthritis associated pathogens of the oral microflora

ObjectivesIn the past, the human microbiome has consistently been associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and disease activity. Here, we investigate the antimicrobial activity of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) against typical representatives of the oral microflora that have been associated with RA.MethodsDMARDs were screened for antimicrobial activity against bacteria that are associated with the pathogenesis of the disease and/or frequently isolated from the oral microflora of patients with RA. Screening was done by an agar diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antimicrobial active substances were then determined by broth dilution.ResultsAurothiomalate and sulfasalazine demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, but with MICs ranging from 18 to >280 µg/mL and 150 to >600 µg/mL, respectively, only at supratherapeutic concentrations. Methotrexate showed antimicrobial activity only against Fusobacterium nucleatum and Viridans streptococci. The corresponding MICs were 3.75 to >30 µg/mL and 0.5–15 µg/mL, respectively, thus at least for streptococci, within the therapeutically achievable range. No other DMARD tested showed antimicrobial activity in the agar diffusion screening assay.ConclusionMethotrexate, sulfasalazine and aurothiomalate showed antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of RA associated pathogens of the oral microflora. While methotrexate showed relevant antimicrobial activity, and to a more limited extent aurothiomalate, sulfasalazine was active only at far supratherapeutic systemic concentrations. Nevertheless, given the highly species-dependent antimicrobial activity and the multiple ways it can affect the human microbiome, our results suggest a link between antimicrobially active antirheumatic drugs and their potential effect in the treatment of RA.

Antibacterial activity of endosymbiotic bacterial compound from Pheretima sp. earthworms inhibit the growth of Salmonella Typhi and Staphylococcus aureus: in vitro and in silico approach

Background and Objectives: Earthworms coexist with various pathogenic microorganisms; thus, their immunity mecha- nisms have developed through a long process of adaptation, including through endogenous bacterial symbionts. This study aims to identify earthworm endosymbiont bacteria compounds and their antibacterial activity through an in vitro approach supported by an in silico approach. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted using the in vitro inhibition test through agar diffusion and the in silico test using molecular docking applications, namely, PyRx and Way2Drugs Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS). Results: The in vitro results showed a potent inhibition activity with a clear zone diameter of 21.75 and 15.5 mm for Staph- ylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhi, respectively. These results are supported by chromatography and in silico tests, which showed that several compounds in endosymbiotic bacteria, cyclo (phenylalanyl-prolyl) and sedanolide, have high binding affinity values with several antibiotic-related target proteins in both pathogenic bacteria. Cyclo (phenylalanyl-prolyl) has the highest binding affinity of -6.0 to dihydropteroate synthase, -8.2 to topoisomerase, and -8.2 to the outer membrane, whereas sedanolide has the highest binding affinity to DNA gyrase with approximately -7.3. This antibiotic activity was also clarified through the Way2Drugs PASS application. Conclusion: Ten active compounds of endosymbiont bacteria, Cyclo (phenylalanyl-prolyl) and sedanolide were potential candidates for antibacterial compounds based on the inhibition test of the agar diffusion method and the results of reverse docking and Way2Drugs PASS.

Ação dos extratos de favela (Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus), catingueira (Caesalpinia pyramidalis) e nim (Azadiracta indica) sobre bactérias isoladas de cabras de aptidão leiteira

RESUMO No Nordeste brasileiro, cuja vegetação predominante é Caatinga, muitas plantas nativas ou exóticas são potencialmente ricas em propriedades curativas, porém pouco exploradas ainda pela ciência. O trabalho foi realizado durante agosto de 2011 a junho de 2012, onde foram coletadas amostras bacterianas dos tetos dos animais através de swabs estéreis. Isolados e devidamente identificados, os microrganismos foram sujeitos a antibiogramas com os meios alternativos, controles positivos e negativo através da técnica de difusão em Ágar de poço. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a ação dos extratos de Favela (Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus), Catingueira (Caesalpinia pyramidalis) e Nim (Azadiracta indica) sobre bactérias isoladas de tetos de cabras no assentamento de Cordão de Sombra no Município de Mossoró-RN. ABSTRACT In Northeast Brazil, whose predominant vegetation is Caatinga, many native or exotic plants are potentially rich in healing properties, but little explored yet by science. The work was conducted during August 2011 to June 2012, where bacterial samples were collected from the teats of animals through sterile swabs. Once isolated and properly identified, the microorganisms were subjected to antibiograms with alternative means, positive and negative controls through the well agar diffusion technique. The objective of the work was to evaluate the action of extracts of Favela (Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus), Catingueira (Caesalpinia pyramidalis) and Neem (Azadiracta indica) on bacteria isolated from teats of goats in the settlement Cordão de Sombra in the Municipality of Mossoró-RN.