Arum maculatum is traditionally used for the control of many diseases and illnesses such as kidney pain, liver injury, hemorrhoids. However, the detailed biomedical knowledge about this species is still lacking. This study reports on the bioactive components and the possible mechanisms underlying the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity of A. maculatum leaf extract. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for phytochemical analysis. Assay of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide ) (MTT) was used to determine the cytotoxicity in the murine cell line L20B upon exposure to different extract concentrations for 24 h. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect pro-inflammatory cytokines and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). GC-MS analysis identified the presence of important phytochemical components, e.g., 9-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (E), hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, followed by benzenepropanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, methyl ester (17.74%), heptadecanoic acid, 16-methyl-, methyl ester and dibutyl phthalate. The results indicated a significant dose-dependent decrease in L20B cell growth at a dose of 400 μg/ml (IC50) that is associated with a significant 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. The results suggested that the aqueous extract of A. maculatum leaves have potent antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity against L20B cell line with potential pro-inflammatory activity.
Background/Aims: Acinetobacter baumannii is a ubiquitous opportunistic microorganism associated with high morbidity and mortality Particularly among burn patients and immunocompromised individuals. This study aimed to assess the time-dependent antimicrobial effectiveness of indolicidin in combination with tigecycline against multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii isolates from patients with wound infections. Methods: The antimicrobial synergy between indolicidin and tigecycline was evaluated using the checkerboard broth microdilution method And anti-biofilm activity was assessed using the crystal violet assay. Ten isolates resistant to multiple antibiotics were identified and confirmed using the API 20-NE system. Results: Fractional
... Show MoreObjectives: Semen analysis is the cornerstone for the valuation of the male partner in the infertile couples. This test has been standardized throughout the world through the World Health Organization (WHO) since the1970s by producing, editing, updating, and disseminating a semen analysis manual and guidelines. A retrospective study to give an insight about male infertility. Methods: This retrospective study assessed the semen findings of 1000 men evaluated at the Department of Urology, Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital in Baghdad-Iraq between January 2016 and May 2019. Semen analysis were done for them. Results: According to WHO standard for semen normality, 1000 samples that were analyzed, normospermia was shown in 835 (83.5%)males
... Show MoreHypertension is identified as one of the most significant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). There is growing evidence showing that oxidative stress plays a major role in hypertension. Increased production of reactive oxygen species and decrease bioavailability of antioxidant have been demonstrated in experimental and human hypertension. The present study was directed to determine the beneficial effect of the antioxidant vitamin C in patients with essential hypertension treated with the calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) or with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (enalapril). Ninety six patients (50 females and 46 males) with essential hyp
... Show MoreThe antimicrobial activity of ginger extracts ( cold-water, hot-water, ethanolic and essential oil ) against some of pathogenic bacteria ( Escherichia coli , Salmonella sp , Klebsiella sp , Serratia marcescens, Vibrio cholerae , Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus sp) was investigated using Disc diffusion method , and the results were compared with the antimicrobial activity of 12 antibiotics on the same bacteria . The results showed that the ginger extracts were more effective on gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative . V. cholerae and S. marcescens,were the most resistant bacteria to the extracts used , while highest inhibition was noticed against Streptococcus sp (28 mm) . The ethanolic extract showed the broadest antibacterial ac
... Show MoreInfluence of metal nanoparticles synthesized by microorganisms upon soil-borne microscopic fungus Aspergillus terreus K-8 was studied. It was established that the metal nanoparticles synthesized by microorganisms affect the enzymatic activity of the studied culture. Silver nanoparticles lead to a decrease in cellulase activity and completely suppress the amylase activity of the fungus, while copper nanoparticles completely inhibit the activity of both the cellulase complex and amylase. The obtained results imply that the large-scale use of silver and copper nanoparticles may disrupt biological processes in the soil and cause change in the physiological and biochemical state of soil-borne microorganisms as well.
In this research, Schiff bases derived from the reaction of anthrone with different heterocyclic amines have been described. The resulted Schiff base compounds were reacted with various nucleophiles in order to obtain new heterocyclic derivatives. Chemical structures of all products were confirmed by IR, 1H-, 13C-NMR spectral data and elemental analysis. All synthesized compounds were in vitro tested against a standard strain of pathogenic microorganism including Gram +ve bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram –ve bacteria (Escherichia coli), and fungi (Candida albicans).
A field experiment was carried out to test the efficiency of potassium silicate and wild eggplant