Antibacterial and antifungal activity of intraoral products containing phthalocyanine: in vitro study

The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antiseptic efficacy of a mouthwash and a dental gel containing phthalocyanine derivatives (Pc) against bacteria and fungi frequently found in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia. The experiment in this study was conducted following Good Laboratory Practices. The product was tested at concentrations of 0.015% (mouthwash) and 0.100% (dental gel). The contact time of the suspension test (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger) was 60 s (1 min). In this analysis, the Phtalox® Mouthwash and Dental Gel resulted in a 99.99% reduction against the tested microorganisms after 1 min of contact time in both products. The Pc-containing mouthwash and dental gel were effective against bacteria and fungi found in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Efficacy of commercially available disinfectants against human norovirus surrogates and Clostridioides difficile endospores

Background Routine disinfection of environmental surfaces is essential to control the spread of pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a panel of disinfectants against two human norovirus surrogates [feline calicivirus (FCV) and Tulane virus (TuV)] and Clostridioides difficile endospores. Methods Nine products on EPA’s List G were selected using four criteria: 1) ready-to-use, 2) nonchlorine-based active ingredient, 3) commercially available, and 4) limited known health risks. Active ingredients of the products included hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peracetic acid, quaternary ammonium compounds, or alcohols. The efficacy of the products against FCV, TuV and C. difficile spores was tested using the ASTM suspension test and on stainless steel coupons for 1, 5 and 10 min (FCV, TuV) and 10 min (C. difficile spores). Results On stainless steel carriers, seven of the nine products reduced FCV > 5.1 log after 5 min of contact time and eight products after 10 min. One product reduced TuV > 3.1 log after 5 min while 8 products could not achieve this level of reduction even after 10 min. Only one product achieved > 6.0 log reduction of C. difficile spores after 10 min while other 8 products could not achieve this acceptable efficacy. The two most efficacious products contained H2O2 as active ingredient and resulted in > 5.1 log reduction of FCV and ≥ 2.4 log reduction of TuV after 5 min contact time on stainless steel carriers. However, among the five products containing H2O2, no strong correlation (R2 = 0.25, p = 0.03) between log reduction and H2O2 concentration was detected using the ASTM suspension test, suggesting product formulation, not active ingredient concentration, impacts efficacy. Conclusion A panel of nine EPA-approved disinfectants was tested against two HuNoV surrogates (FCV and TuV) and C. difficile endospores. The most efficacious products contained hydrogen peroxide as active ingredient. TuV was confirmed to be the more conservative surrogate for HuNoV than FCV. No strong correlation between log reduction and hydrogen peroxide concentration was detected, suggesting that product formulation has a significant impact on the efficacy of a product.

Study of Antidepressant Activity of Garcinia indica(Kokum) Fruit Rind in Wistar Albino Rats

BACKGROUND Depression is a mental disorder which is treatable but detected less often in primary healthcare settings. Therefore, there is a need for an effective treatment strategy for the management of depression. Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy is a slender evergreen tree. An invitro animal study has shown that its phytochemical constituent, hydroxy citric acid has the ability to increase serotonin levels in the brain. Hence, the objective of the study was to evaluate the antidepressant activity of ethanolic extract of Garcinia indica fruit rind in animal models of depression and compare it with control and standard drugs, imipramine, and fluoxetine. METHODS The study was conducted on Wistar albino rats of either sex. The animals were grouped into five, containing six animals in each group. Control (0.1 % carboxymethylcellulose, 10ml/kg), ethanolic extract of Garcinia indica (GIEE1) – 250mg/kg, ethanolic extract of Garcinia indica (GIEE2) – 500mg/kg, Standard1 - Imipramine – 10mg/kg ( Forced Swim test only) and Standard2 - Fluoxetine – 20mg/kg (Tail suspension test only). Drugs were administered for 14 days and antidepressant activity was evaluated on the 14th day after one hour of drug administration using two models - Forced swim test and tail suspension test. Results were tabulated as mean ± SEM (standard error of mean). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey Kramer test was used to interpret the statistical significance. RESULTS The period of immobility was obtained as 21.83 ± 1.44 and14.66 ± 2.74 in forced swim test and 36.8 ± 1.01 and 14.3 ± 0.954 in tail suspension test in GIEE1 and GIEE2 treated groups respectively, which was significantly less compared to control. CONCLUSIONS Garcinia indica has significant antidepressant activity compared to the control. KEY WORDS Antidepressant, Garcinia indica, Fruit Rind, Wistar Albino Rats

Gender, Depression and Zincum metallicum

Background: Depression is a hot topic for research including for the homeopathy community. Laboratory models for human diseases offer the possibility to evaluate depression-like behavior in mice by the tail suspension test (TST), such as the challenge of mothers with induced inflammation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during gestation. Moreover, it is known that gender influences depression prevalence and treatment evolution as well in a homeopathic approach. Aims: Verify if the treatment of LPS-challenged pregnant mice with homeopathic Zincum metallicum would change the depression-like behavior of the offspring according to the gender. Methodology: the procedures with animals were previously approved according to local and international law (CEUA-UNIP protocol 156-13). Pregnant randomized BALB/c mice were treated in blind with Zincum metallicum 200c, 30c, 5c and Lactose 5c as control. The treatment lasted 31 days: 21 days from the mating day to the delivery plus ten days of lactating. At the 9.5 days of pregnancy, mothers were challenged or not with 100 microgram/Kg of LPS IP. The pups were separated by sex and mother treatment. The tail suspension test was performed to all pups after they grow up to adulthood (2 months old). Results: The treatment influenced the TST according to gender, but not according to mother’s LPS exposition. Female mice born from mothers treated with 200c potency showed reduction in the immobility time in relation to the control (p-value

Evaluation of Antidepressant Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Cissus quadrangularis on Swiss Albino Mice

Background: Cissus quadrangularis has been used for cure of various ailments that includes bone cracks, frail bones (osteoporosis), scurvy, malignant growth, annoyed stomach, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcer sickness, excruciating menstrual periods, asthma, jungle fever (malaria), and mental distress. Specially it is used for bone healing properties. According to this background, the aim of the study was to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of the ethanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularis (EECQ) in different behavioral models such as forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) on mice after two weeks treatment. Methods: Mice were divided into six groups (n=6/group): control group (normal saline), stress control (normal saline), standard group where Imipramine (15mg/kg) was used as standard drug and three test groups where three doses of ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis (EECQ) (100, 250, and 350mg/kg) was used for two weeks treatment. All the medication and test samples were managed by means of gavage through oral course. To evaluate the antidepressant like impact of EECQ forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) have been done in mice. Results: The outcomes demonstrated that a solid and dose-dependent antidepressant effects in various mice models. The main findings of the EECQ significantly decreased the duration of immobility times in the forced swimming test (p<0.5). Likewise, the extract significantly decreased the immobility time in the tail suspension test (p<0.5) when compared against stress control as well as against imipramine which was used as a standard. Conclusion: The present results clearly demonstrate that the ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis possesses antidepressant-like activity in the animal behavioral models. Cissus quadrangularis plant can be used for the treatment of neurological disorders and may be recommended as a supplement for the antidepressant activity.

Antidepressant-like Effect and Mechanisms of Essential Oils From Citrus Reticulata in Reserpine-induced Depression Model Mice

Citrus reticulata, has been used for various diseases such as cough. According to previous studies, the essential oil of C. reticulata (CREOs) have been shown to be effectively alleviate depression-like behaviors in mice. This study is aimed to investigate the antidepressant-like effect of CREOs in the rapid reserpine-induced depression model mice as well as its possible mechanisms. The experiment was conducted in six groups, each with four mice. The essential oil group and the control group were administered by sniffing (1h/d), while the reserpine group and fluoxetine group by intraperitoneal injection. Body weight, forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were used to assess depressive behavior. The compositions and contents of CREOs were analyzed by GC-MS. The results indicated that reserpine could reduce the weight of mice and prolong the immobility time of FST and TST. Moreover, the level of 5HT-1A, GR and Nissl bodies in the brain tissue were significantly reduced, while the level of BDNF was increased in reserpine-treated mice. The administration of CREOs could effectively inhibit the weight loss and the prolongation of immobility time caused by reserpine. In addition, the treatment of CREOs has also been shown to reverse the changes in Nissl body, 5-HT, GR and BDNF levels. Limonene was the main active component of CREOs and might be related to the reduction of BDNF. By up-regulating the level of BDNF, CREOs could regulate the hyperexcitability of the HPA axis, thereby increasing the level of neurotransmitters and restoring neurons.