Extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides (L’Her. Ex Dc) Leaf Decolonizes Escherichia coli on and in the Larvae of Housefly Intended for Feed Meal

EFFECT OF SUBSTITUTION OF FISH MEAL WITH MAGGOT (Hermetia Illucens) MEAL ON CALCIUM (Ca) AND PHOSPHORUS (P) DIGESTIBILITY OF BROILER CHICKEN. As an animal feed, maggot from black soldier fly (Hermetia Illucens) has high calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) content. Yet, little is known about the digestibility of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in the diet containing maggot. The present study was designed to determine the effect of substitution of fish meal with maggot (Hermetia illucens) meal in the diets on (Ca) and phosphorus (P) digestibility of broiler chicken. Twenty day old chicks (DOC) CP 707 broiler chicken of about 1300-1500 g body weight were assigned to each dietary treatment which was replicated four times in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) arrangment. The experimental diet consisted of 5 treatments and 4 replications, formulated as follow: R0 = 100% fish meal + 0% maggot meal; R1 = 75% fish meal + 25% maggot meal; R2 = 50% fish meal + 50% maggot meal; R3 = 25% fish meal + 75% maggot meal; and R4 = 0% fish meal + 100% maggot meal. Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) digestibility were calculated using total collection method. Parameters measured were calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) digestibility. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05. Tukey test (HSD) was employed to further analyze among treatment diferences. The results showed that calcium (Ca) digestibility was significantly (P < 0,05) increased as the level of maggot (Hermetia Illucens) meal in the diets increased; whereas the digestibility of phosphorus (P) was not significantly (P > 0,05) affected by the treatments. It can be concluded utilization of maggot (Hermetia illucens) meal up to 100% replaced fish meal or 15% in the diet, inreased calcium (Ca) digestibility and did not affect phosphorus (P) digestibility of broiler chicken. Key words: Fish meal, Maggot (Hermetia Illucens) meal, Calcium and Phosphours digestibility

The aim of the preset study was to determine the efficacy of Annona Senegalensis stem and root extracts against Salmonella typhimurium Shigella flexneri and Escherichia coli through the evaluation of bacterial sensitivity and determination of the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration of the extracts against the test isolates. Plant materials were collected and duly authenticated. The methanoic and aqueous extracts prepared from the powdered forms were tested on the bacterial after cultural and biochemical identification of the isolates. The antibiotic sensitivity test was carried out using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method while chloramphenicol was used as the standard control. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the plant extracts were determined by broth dilution method while the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was determined by a method described using standard protocols. The ratio of MBC:MIC was computed to determine the bactericidal or bacteriostatic effects of the extracts. Data were analyzed using the Minitab 16 statistical package. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard error) and analysis of variance tools were applied while mean separation was done Fischer’s method at 5% level of significance. Antibacterial sensitivity test showed that the control test (Chloramphenicol) had significantly higher antibacterial sensitivity ( P<0.05) than any of the plant extract. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the plant extract ranged from 6.25 mg/ml to 25.0 mg/ml. The lowest MIC of 6.25mg/ml was observed in Salmonella typhimurium among all extract types. Root and stem had similar effects on the test organisms (P>0.05) but, methanoic root extract had the lowest MBC of 6.25mg/ml against S.typhimurium and S. flexneri. Based on the MBC/MIC ratio, all extract types had bactericidal effects on Salmonella typhimurium and Shigella flexneri except aqueous root extract that showed bacteriostatic effect. Only the methanoic root and stem extracts exhibited bactericidal effects on Escherichia coli. Annona Senegalensis root and stem could possibly be explored commercially as an antibacterial agent against species of Salmonella, Shigellia and Escherichia.

ENERGYANDPROTEIN DIGESTIBILITY OF BROILER CHICKEN CONSUMING MAGGOT (HERMETIA ILLUCENS) MEAL SUBSTITUTING FISH MEAL IN THE DIETS. As an animal feed, maggot from black soldier fly (Hermetia Illucens) has high protein and fat content. Yet, little is known about the digestibility of energy and protein in the diet containing maggot. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of substitution of fish meal with maggot meal in the diets on energy and protein digestibility of broiler chicken. Twenty chicks were assingned to each dietary treatment which was replicated four times in a completely randomized design (CRD). Tretaments were formulated as follow: R0 = 100% fish meal (15% in the diet) + 0% maggot meal (0% in the diet); R1 = 75% fish meal (11,25% in the diet) + 25% maggot meal (3.75% in the diet); R2 = 50% fish meal (7.5% in the diet) + 50% maggot meal (7.5% in the diet); R3 = 25% fish meal (3.75% in the diet) + 75% maggot meal (11.25% in the diet); and R4 = 0% fish meal (0% in the diet) + 100% maggot meal (15% in the diet). Parameters measured were energy and protein digestibility. Energy and protein digestibility were calculated using the indicator (internal lignin) method. All data was submitted to the ANOVA procedure for completely randomized design. Differences were considered significantat (P< 0.05). The results showed that dry matter, energy, and protein digestibility were increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to R0, R2, R3, and R4. No significant difference (P > 0.05) were found among R0, R2, R3, and R4. It can be concluded that the maggot flour is best used to the level of 25% replacing fish meal or 11.25% in the ration. However, the result of this study indicate that maggot flour can be used up to 100% replace fish meal in broiler chicken rations without any negative effect on digestibility of dry matter, energy, and protein. Keywords: Fish meal, maggot (Hermetia Illucens) meal, energy and protein digestibility.

Chinese herbal medicines could be an alternative treatment for antibiotics against fish bacterial disease. The present research was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial potential of 40 herbs against Edwardsiella tarda , Streptococcus iniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae . Firstly, the anti-bacterial activity of forty herbal aqueous extracts (HAEs) was determined using the plate perforation method on brain heart infusion (BHI) agar. Then, effective HAEs were selected to detect the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against the pathogenic bacteria through the micro broth dilution method. Lastly, the inhibitory effects of HAEs combination were also assessed. The results showed that Caesalpinia sappan , Fructus mume , Rhus chinensis and Punica granatum could effectively inhibit all strains of the test bacteria, with the inhibitory circles in 15.00–17.00 mm diameter, MIC and MBC ranging from 31.25 to 62.50 mg/mL and 62.50 to 125.00 mg/mL, respectively. Among the compound of HAEs, the combination of Fructus mume + Rhus chinensis exhibited the most potent antibacterial efficacy against E. tarda and S. iniae , producing inhibitory circles of 19.5±0.41 mm and 19.5±0.41 mm, respectively. The MIC and MBC of this combination against E. tarda were 15.625 and 31.25 mg/mL, whereas, the MIC and MBC of this combination against S. iniae were 7.8125 and 15.625 mg/mL. The compound of C. sappan + F. mume showed the most potent antibacterial efficacy against K. pneumoniae , with inhibition zone diameter, MIC and MBC were 24.50±0.41 mm, 7.8125 mg/mL and 15.625 mg/mL, respectively. Overall, the results indicate that C. sappan , F. mume , R. chinensis and P. granatum showing significant potential for inhibiting pathogens, and their combinations could be a potential alternative to treat the aquatic bacteria diseases.

Introduction: Antiseptic agents used in periodontics, such as bis-biguanide derivatives (Chlorhexidine - CHX) or essential oils, are primarily chemical substances. However, the recent rise of herbal derivatives, with their activity against putative periodontal pathogens, has sparked interest. This study delves into a polyherbal formulation, Kabasura Kudineer (KSK), which is a blend of medicinal herbs with known individual pharmacological benefits, to determine its antibacterial efficacy against periodontal pathogens in-vitro. Aim: To assess the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of KSK extract against pure strains of putative periodontal pathogens, namely Porphyromonas gingivalis (American Type Culture Collection - ATCC 33277), Fusobacterium nucleatum (ATCC 25586), and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (ATCC 43718). Materials and Methods: An in-vitro study was performed in the Department of Periodontics, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, between December 2022 and February 2023. In the study, the aqueous extract of KSK was prepared by maceration and stored under controlled conditions at 4°C. The MIC and MBC were determined against commercially available strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Fusobacterium nucleatum using the broth dilution method and MIC assay method, respectively. The MIC and MBC activities of the KSK extracts were compared with CHX as a standard. Results: Kabasura kudineer has been proven to possess antibacterial activity against all three tested periodontal pathogens. The MIC value of KSK extract was similar to that of CHX, as assessed by the broth dilution method. The MIC of KSK extract for P. gingivalis was 0.4 μg/mL, while for A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum, it was 0.2 μg/mL; the CHX values against all three periodontal pathogens were 0.2 μg/mL. The MBC of KSK extract for P. gingivalis was 0.8 μg/mL, and for A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum, it was 0.2 μg/mL, with CHX values against all three periodontal pathogens also being 0.2 μg/mL. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of KSK demonstrated a noteworthy MIC and MBC, exhibiting effectiveness against the three periodontal pathogens evaluated in this study, thereby demonstrating its potential for use as an adjunct in periodontal therapy

Aims: To assess the effectiveness of lemon and/or honey on some causative agents of Respiratory Tract Infections, Isolation and identification of some infectious bacteria of respiratory tract infections, Collection of pure honey and lemon fruits, Determination of the inhibitory activities of honey, lemon and honey/lemon mixture at varied concentrations on the bacterial isolates by agar diffusion and broth dilution techniques, Evaluation of the rate of kill of the bacterial isolates by the agents (honey and lemon) and Comparative analysis of the susceptibility pattern of the bacterial isolates to the honey and lemon separately and in combination. Study Design: Isolation, identification and antibiotic susceptibility determination of the test Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, Zones of inhibition, Minimum Inhibitory and Bactericidal Concentrations and Rate of kill determination. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (A. B. U. T. H.), Zaria, University Hospital Services (U. H. S.) Samaru Campus Ahmadu Bello University (A. B. U.), Zaria, between March 2012 and April 2013. Methodology: Agar well diffusion and broth dilution methods were employed to ascertain Original Research Article Annual Research & Review in Biology, 4(4): 625-637, 2014 626 degree of susceptibility of the isolates to honey and/or lemon, and the standard antibiotics. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations were carried out. Rate of Kill was also carried out to know the death/survival rate of the bacterial isolates after exposure to the agents. Results: Mean zones of inhibition (mm) of 14-32 (Ceftriaxone), 7-27 (Gentamicin), 8-35 (Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid), 12-27 (Levofloxacin), 7-21 (Azithromycin), 10-23 (100% v/v Honey), 10-24 (100% v/v Lemon), and 19-26 (Honey/Lemon mixture) were obtained. However, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations range between 1.95-125 μg/ml (Ceftriaxone), 1.56-100 μg/ml (Gentamicin), 3.91-125 μg/ml (Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid), 0.98-15.6 μg/ml (Levofloxacin), 3.13-100 μg/ml (Azithromycin), 20-65 μg/ml v/v (Honey), 15-35 μg/ml v/v (Lemon), 15-35 μg/ml (Honey/Lemon mixture). Furthermore, for the rate of kill; Lemon, Honey and Lemon mixture (20 μg/ml) effected complete killing at 120 minutes and 240 minutes respectively. Therefore, it was observed that lemon, honey and lemon mixture, Ceftriaxone, Levofloxacin and Gentamicin showed higher antibacterial activity. While Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid and Azithromycin had less antibacterial activity. At Pvalue P≥0.05 there is significant difference between Honey and Lemon mixture and Honey, but not with lemon. Conclusion: It was observed that lemon, honey and lemon mixture, Ceftriaxone, Levofloxacin and Gentamicin showed higher antibacterial activity. While AmoxicillinClavulanic acid and Azithromycin had less antibacterial activity. Better bactericidal activity was observed with Lemon and the mixture of Honey and Lemon than the Honey alone. This research therefore scientifically approves the use of Honey and Lemon as an alternative medicine by the populace in the treatment of respiratory tract infections.

Medicinal plants offer a major and accessible source of health care to people living in developing countries. Increasing drug resistant microbial infections intensified the search for new, safer, and more efficacious agents against microbial infections. Acanthus sennii is one of the medicinal plants used traditionally for the treatment of different infectious diseases in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate antibacterial activity of A. sennii against pathogenic bacteria. Plant materials were extracted by maceration technique with chloroform, ethanol and water solvents. The antibacterial activities of the crude extracts of the plant were carried out by the agar well diffusion method. Broth dilution method was used to determine minimum inhibitory and streak plate bactericidal concentration of extracts. The results revealed that ethanol extracts of leaves revealed high antibacterial activity against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition zone of 14±0.6 mm at 25 mg/ml and 17±0.7 mm at 50 mg/ml. Ethanol extracts of buds showed high antibacterial activity against standard strains of S. aureus with inhibition zone of 25.7±0.7 mm at 100 mg/ml, also against standard strains of E. coli with inhibition zone of 16 mm at 50 mg/ml and 23.7 mm at 100 mg/ml. The mean minimum inhibitory concentration of 5.2±1.8 and 2.6±0.5 mg/ml was recorded for ethanol extract of leaves against standard strains of E. coli and clinical isolates of S. aureus; the mean minimum bactericidal concentration of 4.2±1.0 mg/ml with ethanol extract of leaves against standard strains of S. aureus; and the mean minimum bactericidal concentration of 12.5 mg/ml against standard strains and clinical isolates of E. coli. The result showed that A. sennii could be a candidate in the search for new antibacterial agents against these bacteria and its use in ethnomedicinal treatment of infectious diseases used by local communities may be validated. Isolating bio-active components and determining toxicity are future agenda.
 Keywords: Acanthus sennii, Antibacterial activity, E. coli, Minimum inhibition concentration, Minimum bactericidal concentration, S. aureus 

The leaves and roots of Clematis hirsuta Perr and Guill is traditionally applied to heal respiratory tract and for the treatment of various animal diseases in different regions of Ethiopia. The objective of this work is to evaluate the antibacterial activities of C. hirsuta. The leaves were collected and air dried in shade at room temperature, made into powder and was soaked in 80% methanol and chloroforms (1 g: 10 ml). The powder was placed in a shaker for 72 h at room temperature. The extract was prepared in 3% Tween 80 for antibacterial test. The antibacterial activities and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test were determined by paper disk diffusion and agar dilution methods respectively. The 80% methanol and chloroform extract of the leaves of C. hirsuta showed significantly higher inhibition zone than the negative control on some pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigela boydii and Salmonella thyphi), but the extracts had significantly lower inhibition zone than the standard drugs (chloramphenicol and ampicilin). The chloroform crude extract of the leaves C. hirsuta showed the best inhibition zone (12.33±0.50) on P. aeruginosa at 200 mg/ml concentration. The chloroform extract of C. hirsuta had the lowest MIC and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at 3.125 and 6.25 mg/ml on P. aeruginosa, respectively. The 80% methanol C. hirsuta leaf extract was not toxic at 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight to albino mice. Keywords: Inhibition zone,acute toxicity,minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration.

There have been many cases of snails reported to be agricultural pests in Thailand, including the important invasive pests, giant African snail, Lissachatina fulica, and the golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata. These snails have rich mucus that covers their surface, which may serve in preventing moisture evaporation, reducing friction and providing resistant to infection by microorganisms. In this study, the antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts of L. fulica and P. canaliculata mucus were tested against four strains of Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium sp. Thirty adult snail samples of both L. fulica and P. canaliculata were collected, snail mucus was harvested, and a crude aqueous extract of the mucus (CME) prepared. The in vitro antibacterial activity of each CME was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method, while the broth dilution method was used to determine its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). CME from both L. fulica and P. canaliculata displayed antibacterial activity against all four strains of Gram-positive bacteria in the agar well diffusion assay. In the broth dilution assay, CME from L. fulica showed weak activity against all four bacterial strains, being highest against S. aureus and MRSA (MIC 12.5 µg/ml; MBC >50 µg/ml), followed by S. epidermidis and Corynebacterium sp. (MIC 25 µg/ml; MBC >50 µg/ml); however, that from P. canaliculata showed no antibacterial activity against these bacteria. Therefore, CMEs from these two snail species were somewhat effective against these pathogens, and might be useful for human health-related applications in the future, following further fractionation to isolate the active components and determination of their optimal concentrations, and whether or not they act synergistically.

In folklore, Acalypha fimbriata have been associated with ‘cure all’ properties, but without sufficient empirical ethno-pharmacological scientific backups. This research work is therefore necessitated to determine the antimicrobial, phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of Acalypha fimbriata. The leaf of Acalypha fimbriata were Soxhlet extracted, reconstituted, and screened for phytochemical constituent of antimicrobial importance. Conventional biochemical characterization was carried out on the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae obtained for the research work and the antimicrobial activity of the plant sample was determined using the agar well diffusion technique. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extract were determined by broth dilution method on the isolates. The antioxidant activity of the extract was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and Graphpad prism were used to interprets the data. Alkaloids, flavonoid, anthraquinones, tannins and saponins was found in the leaf extract. Staphylococcus aureus exhibited highest zone of growth inhibition (28mm) at 100mg/ml while Pseudomonas aeruginosa had the lowest (14mm) at 100mg/ml from the antimicrobial assay. In the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration, Staphylococcus aureus exhibited MIC and MBC at 0.625µg/ml and 12.5 µg/ml, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa elicited MIC and MBC at 10 µg/ml and >10 µg/ml of MIC and MBC respectively. Themethanol extract of the plant acted as hydrogen/electrons donor or scavenger of radicals with fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 59.83 µg/ml while that of Ascorbic acid (standard) was found to be 92.70 µg/ml using. The varied MIC’s and MBC’s obtained coupled with the values recorded for the antioxidant radicals validate the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of Acalypha fimbriata that can be explored for therapeutic option, if further purified and optimally processed.

Information on the bactericidal activity of benzylpenycylin is important when planning antibiotic therapy for a number of diseases caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae (endocarditis, bacteremia, septicemia, etc.). However, methods for determining the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of antibiotics are complicated. The aim of the study was to develop a method for testing of diphtheria causative agent susceptibility to the bactericidal action of penicillin without MBC determination. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and MBCs in 80 strains of C. diphtheriae were determined using the standard broth dilution method (macromethod). The MICs were registered after 24 and 48 years of growth. After the first day of growth the MIC of penicillin was in the range of 0.017 to 0.5 mg / L, after second day — in the range of 0.035 to 0.5 mg / liter. The increase of the MICs for the second day of growth was observed in 47.5±5.6% of strains. MIC50 and MIC90 both after 24 hours and after 48 hours of growth were 0.13 and 0.25 mg/L, respectively. MBCs of penicillin was in the range of 0.5 to 32.0 mg/L, MBC50 was 4.0 mg/l, MBC90 – 8.0 mg/l. In 35,0±5,3% of the studied strains, high MBCs (8.0 mg / l or higher) was detected. It has been established that in C.diphtheriae the relationship between the MIC and the MBC of penicillin is clearly expressed, taking into account the two values of the MIC – for the first and second day of growth. Investigated strains are divided into three conditional groups: 1) with MIC 0.13 mg/L and basically with low MBCs; 2) with MIC 0.25 mg/L, in most cases are not susceptible to bactericidal action, and 3) strains with MIC 0.5 mg/L and high MBCs. The most pronounced were differences in the prevalence of corynebacteria with high MBCs in two groups of strains: MICs which did not exceed 0.13 mg/L after 24 and 48 hours, and those in whom the MIC was 0.25 mg/L or higher already on the first day of incubation (Student's coefficient t=4.13, p<0.001). The obtained results can be used to improve the methods for determining of corynebacteria susceptibility to antimicrobials.

With the growing incidence of microbial pathogenesis, several alternative strategies have been developed. The number of treatments using naturally (e.g., plants, algae, fungi, bacteria, and animals) derived compounds has increased. Importantly, marine-derived products have become a promising and effective approach to combat the antibiotic resistance properties developed by bacterial pathogens. Furthermore, augmenting the sub-inhibitory concentration of the naturally-derived antimicrobial compounds (e.g., hydroxycinnamic acids, terpenes, marine-derived polysaccharides, phenolic compounds) into the naturally derived extracts as a combination therapy to treat the bacterial infection has not been well studied. The present study was aimed to prepare green algae Ulva lactuca extract and evaluate its antibacterial activity towards Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogenic bacteria. Also, revitalize the antibacterial efficiency of the naturally-derived antimicrobial drugs and conventional antibiotics by mixing their sub-MIC to the U. lactuca extracts. Extraction was done using a different organic solvent, and its antibacterial activity was tested towards Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of U. lactuca extracts has been determined towards pathogenic bacteria using the micro broth dilution method. The viable cell counting method was used to determine the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) assay was utilized to examine the combinatorial impact of sub-MIC of two antibacterial drugs using the micro broth dilution method. The chemical components of the extract were analyzed by GC-MS analysis. Among all the extracts, n-hexane extract was found to show effective antibacterial activity towards tested pathogens with the lowest MIC and MBC value. Furthermore, the n-hexane extracts have also been used to enhance the efficacy of the naturally-derived (derived from plants and marine organisms) compounds and conventional antibiotics at their sub-inhibitory concentrations. Most of the tested antibiotics and natural drugs at their sub-MIC were found to exhibit synergistic and additive antibacterial activity towards the tested bacterial pathogens. The combining of U. lactuca n-hexane extracts with natural drugs resulted in synergistic and additive bactericidal effects on Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogenic bacteria. The present study shows a new alternative strategy to revitalize the antimicrobial activity of naturally derived compounds for treating human bacterial pathogens.

Seven fractions were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Prinsepia utilis Royle by silica gel column chromatography. The antibacterial activities determined by disc diffusion method in vitro, indicated that the first and fourth fractions showed better antibacterial activity than the other fractions, while the sixth and seventh fractions did not showed any antibacterial activity. The diameters of the inhibition zone of first and fourth fractions were greater than 10 mm against three standard strains (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, Escherichia coli ATCC44102 and Salmonella sp. CMCC(B)50041) at the concentration of 20 mg/ml. The first fraction was then repeatedly recrystallized in acetone to yield a white snowflake-like compound A, the inhibition zones of which were 14.03 mm, 11.54 mm and 12 mm, respectively. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were measured by broth dilution method at the concentrations ranging from 20 to 0.313 mg/mL. The MIC and MBC values of the first, fourth fractions and compound A were lower than that of oregano oil (positive control) against S. aureus ATCC25923.

Background: Microbes are most commonly found associated with oral diseases. Globally, researchers along with the world Health Organization (WHO) suggested that this could be due to poor oral health and encourage all individuals to practice good oral hygiene using daily oral health products. The study aimed to determine the antimicrobial effects of toothpastes, as acclaimed by the manufacturers, to selected microbial flora involved in oral infections. Methodology: The antimicrobial activity of 6 toothpastes (3 herbal and 3 chemical) was tested against 3 clinical microbial isolates; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of each toothpaste determined for each microbial isolate using the broth dilution method. Results: Colgate exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against S. aureus with respective MIC and MBC of 125mg/ml and 125mg/ml, followed by Oral-B with MIC and MBC of 125mg/ml and 500mg/ml, Dabur herbal with MIC and MBC of 250mg/ml and 500mg/ml, and Longrich with MIC of 500mg/ml and MBC of 1000mg/ml. Colgate and CloseUp exhibited highest inhibitory activity against E. coli with respective MIC and MBC of 125mg/ml and 500mg/ml, followed by Dabur herbal with MIC of 500mg/ml but no MBC. Colgate exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against C. albicans with respective MIC and MBC of 125mg/ml and 500mg/ml, followed by CloseUp with MIC of 500mg/ml, Longrich with MIC of 500mg/ml and MBC of 1000mg/ml, and oral-B with MIC of 500mg/ml but no MBC. Longrich and Oral-B exhibited no MIC/MBC against E. coli while Gavia charcoal exhibited no MIC/MBC against all the 3 microbial isolates at the concentrations used in the assay.Conclusion: The results obtained showed that chemically formulated toothpastes (Colgate, CloseUp and Oral-B) had higher inhibitory activity on microbial isolates than herbal toothpastes (Longrich, Dabur herbal and Gavia charcoal). This supports the manufacturers claim for the chemical toothpastes used, however, the herbal toothpastes showed little or no inhibitory effects on the microbial flora.

Introduction. In recent years, researchers have shown increasing interest in species of the Passiflora genus due to their potential biological and pharmacological properties. These species are an agronomically important crops and are used commercially in the fruit industry of South America. During of collection of fruits from cultivated plants, the leaves are removed. This plant material may be used for medicinal purposes. Our previous studies showed that crude extracts from leaves of P. alata, P. caerulea and P. incarnata contained various secondary metabolites such as phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids. Moreover extract of P. alata showed the most effective activities against Acanthamoeba castellanii strain in vitro. Aim. The aim of our study was to evaluate and to compare the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the crude alcoholic extracts from leaf of P. alata, P. caerulea and P. incarnata. Material and methods. There was measurement of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), and the minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the extracts by serial dilution method. Results. The results showed that the most active extracts against Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 8040) were as follows from: P. incarnata = P. alata (MIC = 10.0 mg/ml, MBC >10.0 mg/ml) > P. caerulea (MIC = 10.0 mg/ml, MBC > 20.0 mg/ml); against Escherichia coli (PZH 026B6): P. incarnata (MIC = 10.0 mg/ml, MBC > 10.0 mg/ml) > P. caerulea (MIC = 10.0 mg/ml, MBC = 20.0 mg/ml) > P. alata (MIC = 10.0 mg/ml, MBC > 20.0 mg/ml); against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P): P. incarnata (MIC = 2.5 mg/ml, MBC > 5.0) > P. caerulea (MIC = 5.0 mg/ml, MBC > 10.0) > P. alata (MIC = 10.0 mg/ml, MBC > 10.0); against Candida albicans (PCM 1409PZH): P. caerulea (MIC = 7.5 mg/ml, MBC = 15.0 mg/ml), P. incarnata (MIC = 10.0 mg/ml, MBC > 10.0 mg/ml), P. alata (MIC = 15.0 mg/ml, MBC > 20.0 mg/ml); against Microsporum gypseum K1: P. incarnata = P. caerulea = P. alata (MIC = 5.0 mg/ml, MBC = 5.0 mg/ml). Phytochemical study showed that the highest concentration of phenolic compounds was shown in extract of P. alata > P. caerulea > P. incarnata. Conclusions. Due to the fact that low antimicrobial activity has been demonstrated for raw extracts, there is a need for further studies of fractionated extracts and isolated compounds to assess their activity.