Agar Disc Diffusion Research Articles

Pharmaceutical Analysis and Evaluation of In-vitro Antibacterial Activity of Gomutra Ghana: A Concentrated and Solidified Form of Cow’s Urine

Introduction: Cow’s urine has been described as a highly effective animal-derived substance. Its therapeutic and pharmacological actions make it effective in the treatment of a variety of disorders. One of its notable properties is its antibacterial action, where the drug’s ability to target and inhibit the growth of bacteria. However, due to the pungent odour and taste of cow’s urine, it is difficult to consume in its natural form. Additionally, the collection of fresh cow’s urine can be challenging, especially in urban areas where access to cows may be limited. So, it is important to modify it into a dosage form, like Gomutra Ghana, which improves palatability and shelf life. Aim: To study the pharmaceutical development, quality control assessment, and in-vitro antibacterial activity evaluation of Gomutra Ghana. Materials and Methods: The pharmaceutical and analytical studies were carried out in Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved College Hospital and Research Centre and Dattatraya Ayurved Pharmacy, Salod (H), Wardha, Maharashtra, India. The in-vitro (antibacterial) study was carried out in JNMC, Sawangi (M), Wardha, Maharashtra, India, from April 2022 to August 2023. The in-vitro antibacterial study of cow’s urine and Gomutra Ghana was performed on five bacterial strains. Fresh cow’s urine was collected from a goshala (cowshed), and Gomutra Ghana was prepared in three batches by boiling the cow’s urine to a thicker consistency, then sun-drying it, followed by drying in an electric dryer. The final product was stored in a clean, sealed glass jars. Analytical parameters like pH, loss on drying at 105ºC, total ash, water-soluble ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble extractives, alcohol-soluble extractives, and microbial contamination were studied. The in-vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar disc diffusion method at concentrations of 5 μL, 10 μL, and 15 μL, with results compared to those of a broad-spectrum and commonly used antibiotic, ciprofloxacin (5 μg). Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0, employing Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compare three groups (Ciprofloxacin, cow’s urine, and Gomutra Ghana) at all three concentrations. A significance level was set with a p-value of <0.05 for the antibacterial study. Results: High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) showed a peak from cow’s urine and Gomutra Ghana, with maximum heights of 500.1 and 450.4, which were nearly the same, so they may contain similar constituents. An extra peak was observed in Gomutra Ghana, suggesting the presence of additional compounds formed during its preparation. Gomutra Ghana extract showed the highest zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli. Conclusion: Gomutra Ghana showed antibacterial properties, which warrant further exploration in humans for safety and efficacy in humans.

Production and investigation of bio-textile films produced from bacterial cellulose biosynthesis from black tea and ginger, and cultivation on sugar cane media

In this study, bacterial cellulose was produced through the fermentation of a mixture of black tea, ginger, and sugar, and used to create bio-textile films on sugarcane-based media. Characterization included ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, and SEM was used to examine surface morphology. The bio-textile films showed increasing UV resistance beyond 10 days of cultivation (T.UVA%; 0.13 ± 0.02, T.UVB%; 0.22 ± 0.01, UPF; 629 ± 2.12) and antimicrobial resistance was assessed by quantifying Colony-Forming Units (CFU), resulting in a 100% reduction in growth for both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Subsequently, after 15 days of cultivation, antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the disc agar diffusion method, yielding noteworthy outcomes. E. coli displayed a 25 mm zone of inhibition, S. aureus exhibited a 31 mm zone of inhibition, Candida albicans showed a 35 mm zone of inhibition, and Aspergillus niger presented a 22 mm zone of inhibition.

Preparation of an innovative series of respiratory nano-filters using polystyrene fibrous films containing KCC-1 dendrimer and ZnO nanostructures for environmental assessment of SO2, NO2 and CO2.

Air pollution has become a major challenge that threatens human health. The use of respiratory filters is one of the proposed solutions. In this study, using polystyrene (PS) fibers and various nanomaterials, improved respiratory filters were fabricated to remove air pollutants. In this context, ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) integrated into dendritic structures of KCC-1 silica were used to improve the filters' ability to absorb pollutants. For the first time, the removal of gasses by modified filters with a novel polymeric nanocomposite (PS/ZnO-KCC-1) stabilized on the surface of respiratory filters was investigated. Moreover, two different methods including stabilized- and solution-based techniques were used to prepare the filters with different amounts of ZnO NPs and their efficiency was evaluated. All synthesized nanocomposites and developed filters were characterized by FT-IR, FESEM, TGA and XRD methods. The successful stabilization of nanostructures on the fibers was proved and the performance of the fibers was investigated with some tests, such as pressure drop and removal of suspended particles and CO2 (89%), NO2 (86%), and SO2 (83%) gases. PS/KCC-1-ZnO (5%) has better performance than other prepared fibers. The results showed that the removal of suspended particles in the filter containing ZnO and KCC-1 (M5) nanostructures was improved by 18% compared to the filter consisting of polystyrene fibers. The pressure drop increased with the addition of nanostructures and reached 180 Pa in the M5 filter. The filter containing ZnO NPs showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus (S.) aureus and Escherichia (E.) coli as Gram-positive and Gram-negative model bacteria using the Agar disk-diffusion method. Based on the results, the use of improved respiratory filters is recommended as an effective solution for combating air pollution and protecting human health.

In situ bio-inspired fabrication of Ag nanoparticles on Matricaria chamomilla extract modified Cu-Al-Zn LDH as a beneficial antimicrobial agent

This current study is based upon a biogenic process for the eco-friendly fabrication of Ag NPs anchored Matricaria chamomilla L. extract- modified layered double hydroxide (Ag NPs/LDH-M.chamomilla) nanocomposite material. Firstly, the plant, aqueous extract of Matricaria chamomilla was coated on the surface of Cu-Zn-Al LDH using their inherent adhering ability, which was farther employed for the in situ sustainable reduction of Ag+ ions into Ag NPs. The polyphenolics of herb extract further acted as a natural capping agent for the prepared nanocomposite without requiring extra harmful reagents. The as-fabricated Ag NPs/LDH-M.chamomilla nanocomposite was morphologically and structurally examined by various analytical methods like FE-SEM, FT-IR, EDX, elemental mapping, XRD, and TEM. It has been shown that the Ag NPs with uniform size and shape were distributed homogeneously over the M. chamomilla extract modified LDH. The M. chamomilla constituted bioactive compounds act as green reductant, capping and stabilizer agents for the effective immobilization of Ag NPs on the LDH surface without obvious accumulation. Thereafter, their antimicrobial activity was assessed thoroughly against pathogenic strains of Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) employing agar disc diffusion technique. Furthermore, MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) and MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) were determined via micro-well dilution assay. This clean and environmentally-safe ligand-free approach has outstanding advantages including facile preparation, eco-friendliness, and free of harmful reducing agents.

Antimicrobial and FAD synthetases modulating activities of leporins A-C isolated from the sponge-associated fungus Trichoderma sp.

Abstract. Losung F, Ginting EL, Abdjul B, Kapojos MM, Maarisit W, Mentang F, Sumilat DA, Balansa W, Mangindaan REP. 2023. Antimicrobial and FAD synthetases modulating activities of leporins A-C isolated from the sponge-associated fungus Trichoderma sp. Biodiversitas 24: 6502-6515. The emergence of microbial resistance poses a formidable threat to human health, requiring the discovery of new antibiotics. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial potential and molecular structures of the metabolites produced by a sponge's symbiont fungal species, Trichoderma sp., in vitro against S. aureus IAM 12544T and Candida albicans IFM 4954 and in-silico against the emerging antibacterial target, prokaryotic bifunctional synthetases (FADS). The molecular structures were determined using spectroscopic techniques (1D, 2D NMR, HRESIMS), while the assessment of biological activities, physicochemical properties, and molecular modifications was performed through a slightly modified disk agar diffusion method, molecular docking, SwissAdme and pkCMS tools, and bioisosterism, respectively. The analysis of spectroscopic data supported the identification of leporins A-C (1-3) as the metabolites, which exhibited strong binding affinities against the 2X0K protein target (-8.9 to -9.4 kcal/mol). Despite their being slightly weaker than known FADS modulators such as compounds 4 (-10.5 kcal/mol) and 5 (-10.5 kcal/mol), leporins A-C demonstrated a stronger binding affinity than compound 6 (-9.6 to -10.5 kcal/mol). Notably, substituting a methyl group with a fluorine atom in 1-3 resulted in lepofluorins A-C (1a-3a), which exhibited enhanced binding affinities and improved physicochemical properties compared to the existing FADS modulators. These findings suggest that leporins A-C (1-3), particularly lepofluorins A-C (1a-3a), have potential as putative novel modulators of FADS. This study provides valuable insights into the design and development of new antibiotics to combat microbial resistance.

In vitro Biological Evaluation of 1,2,4-triazole Mannich Base

Biological evaluation of a 1,2,4-triazole mannich base that has been synthesized for interesting behavior in medicinal chemistry, so it’s interesting to synthesize triazole derivatives and investigate their biological properties to evaluate their capacity in medicine. The aim of this study evaluate the antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant activities of a 1,2,4-triazole Mannich base derivative and its power in the treatment of diseases. For antimicrobial activity four bacterial strains and one fungal strain based on the agar disc diffusion. While used two cancer cell lines for anticancer activity which are known as Hep-G2 and MCF-7; the antioxidant activity of the compound used three different radical species include OH•, ABTS•+, and DPPH•, and also determine the antioxidant activity of the compound after extracting vitamins A, C, E, and MDA in the S. cerevisiae yeast cell by HPLC. The results of this study show the positive role of a derivative 1,2,4-triazole mannich base as antimicrobial and antiradical assays, particularly when treated with C. albicans and OH• radical that significantly reduced growth of the fungal and the radical compared to others. In addition, it didn’t exhibit any cytotoxicity to reduce both cancer cell lines. In conclusion, the compound's ability is different from one assay to another, increasing its concentration efficiency affects the radical scavenging, and inhibits microorganism growth.

Antimicrobial Activity of African Walnut (<em>Tetracarpidium conophorum</em>) Oil against Bacterial and Fungal Species Causing Food Spoilage and Food Poisoning Diseases

This study evaluated the antibacterial and antifungal activity of African walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) oil against species causing food poisoning and food spoilage. African walnut oil was extracted using the solvent extraction method. The fatty acid profile of the oil was determined using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The agar disc diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of the oil before using it for further tests. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were also determined using the disc diffusion assay. The result indicates that palmitic (1.53%), linoleic (13.5%), linolenic 80.59%, stearic (4.41%), and eicosenoic acid (0.42%) were present in the oil with higher polyunsaturated fatty acid values. African walnut oil showed remarkable activity against all the Gram positive organisms (Bacillus cereus ATCC 33018, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Clostridium perfringes NCTC 8799, and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 13932) with the inhibition zones ranging from 21.6 ± 0.27 mm to 26.3 ± 0.23 while the Gram negative organisms (Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 13883, Pseudomonas fragi ATCC 4973, Escherichia coli ATCC 12806, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium strain ATCC 14028) were less sensitive and resistant to the oil chromatography-mass with inhibition zones ranging from 6.3 ± 0.31 to 9.9 ± 0.21 mm. Out of the tested oil concentrations from 100 – 0.39 mg/mL, MIC obtained for the Gram positive organisms was 1.56 mg/mL while it was 3.13 mg/mL for Gram negative bacteria (except L. monocytogenes). The antifungal test reveals the MIC range of 100 - 0.78 mg/mL in all the fungal isolates tested. African walnut oil has proved to be potentially active against the Gram positive bacterial and fungal species tested indicating that it can be used as a natural alternative to control food spoilage and food poisoning diseases.

Detection of Aerobic Vaginitis and Antibiogram of its Implicating Bacteria among Women with Suspected Cases of Vaginitis in Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics, Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria-Nigeria

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a condition caused by aerobic bacteria, posing significant risks to women's health, particularly during pregnancy. Misdiagnosis and treatment challenges stem from widespread multidrug-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to diagnose aerobic vaginitis (AV) and assess antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the implicated bacteria in vaginitis among women attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital's Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics in Zaria, Nigeria. A total of 100 high vaginal swab (HVS) samples were collected and subjected to bacterial isolation, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility testing using cultural and biochemical methods, and the agar disc diffusion method, respectively. Results indicated 23% positivity for AV, with the highest prevalence observed in the 41-50 age group (50.0%) and the lowest in the 21-30 age group (7.3%), revealing a significant association between age and AV (p<0.05). While third-trimester pregnant women displayed a higher AV rate (32.0%) than those in their second trimester (0%), no significant association was found between gestational periods and AV (p>0.05). Symptomatically, painful intercourse correlated with a 28.0% AV rate, while vaginal itching showed an 18.5% rate, though lacking a symptom-AV relationship (p>0.05). Notably, condom use during sexual intercourse exhibited a higher AV rate (63.6%) than non-users (18.0%). AV prevalence was notably higher among women with a history of miscarriage (62.5%) compared to those without (15.5%), showing a significant association between risk factors and AV (p<0.05). Klebsiella species (47.8%) and Escherichia coli (30.4%) were the primary AV-associated bacteria, with Klebsiella spp. showing high resistance to Ceftriaxone and Ampicillin (100%). These findings underscore the importance of accurate AV diagnosis to avert adverse outcomes like miscarriage and postpartum complications and highlight the need to reconsider Ceftriaxone and Ampicillin usage in AV treatment.

Phyto-fabrication of Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles from Ocimum Gratissimum L. Leaf and Flower Extracts and their Antimicrobial Activities

Background: Phyto-fabrication of nanoparticles has gained attention in recent times owing to its simple mode, cost-effective and eco-friendly nature. Objective: Hence, the present study aimed to synthesize cobalt oxide nanoparticles from methanol extracts of Ocimum gratissimum flower and leaf and to evaluate their antimicrobial action towards pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Methods: Phyto-fabrication of Cobalt nanoparticles (CoONPs) was achieved using cobalt chloride hydrate solution as a precursor. Characterization of fabricated CoONPs was performed using Ultra Violet-Visible spectrometry (UV-Vis), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The antimicrobial property was tested against two bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and two fungi (Cryptococcus albidus and Candida globasa) by agar disc diffusion technique and by measurement of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Results: Initial confirmation of CoONPs synthesis was observed by the colour change from light pink to reddish pink. Further, the UV-Vis spectrophotometry validated the CoONPs synthesis with a peak at 509 nm. The XRD authenticated the crystal nature of CoONPs synthesized using flower extract at 2θ angles with an average size of 54.9 nm and CoONPs fabricated using leaf extract at 2θ angles with an average size of 55.02 nm. The FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the functional groups present in plant extracts, which are believed to reduce and stabilize CoONPs. The findings of antibacterial activity showed that CoONPs synthesized using leaf showed a higher inhibition zone against E. coli (20.00 ± 2.00 mm) than S. aureus. Relating to fungi, the CoONPs fabricated using flower extract displayed significantly the highest activity against C. albidus (28.67±0.57 mm) and C. globasa (25.0 ± 0.00 mm). The lowest MIC was observed against S. aureus (MIC 7.5 µg/ml). For fungi, the smallest MIC was found against C. albidus (MIC 2.5 μg/ml). Conclusion: The current research established the efficacy of the phytochemical constituents of leaf and flower extracts of O. gratissimum for the enhancement of the effectiveness of CoONPs against both the tested bacteria and fungi.

Exploring the Bioactive Potential of Calostoma insigne, an Endangered Culinary Puffball Mushroom, from Northeastern Thailand.

Calostoma insigne puffball mushrooms are only found in forests with rich biodiversity in very few countries including Thailand, and their biofunctions remain largely unexplored. This study used the agar disk diffusion assay, the anti-glucosidase assay, and the 3, 4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to evaluate the bioactive potential of these endangered puffball mushrooms. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene analysis identified C. insigne, a puffball mushroom with green, globose, and spiny spores. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the polysaccharide structure while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a fiber-like network. The ethanolic gelatinous fruiting body extract exhibited 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-scavenging capacity (57.96%), a ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value of 1.73 mg FeSO4/g, and α-glucosidase inhibition (73.18%). C. insigne cytotoxicity was effective towards HT-29 colon cancer cells using the MTT assay (IC50 of 770.6 µg/mL at 72 h) and also showed antiproliferative capacity (IC50 of 297.1 µg/mL). This puffball mushroom stimulated apoptotic genes and proteins (caspase-3, Bax, and p21) via an intrinsic apoptotic pathway in HT-29 cells. In the laboratory, the medium formula consisting of 20% potato, 2% sucrose, and 0.2% peptone was optimal to increase fungal mycelial biomass (2.74 g DW/100 mL), with propagation at pH 5.0 and 30 °C. Puffball mushrooms are consumed as local foods and also confer several potential health benefits, making them worthy of conservation for sustainable utilization.

Prevalence of pulmonary histoplasmosis infection among Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Tuberculosis patients attending infectious diseases hospital, Kano, northwestern Nigeria

Histoplasmosis is a disease with a global distribution and hyperendemic zones. The severity of the sickness is determined by the number of conidia inhaled and the host’s cellular immune system’s performance. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pulmonary histoplasmosis infection among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) / Tuberculosis (TB) patients attending an infectious diseases hospital in Kano, Nigeria. The study is a cross-sectional hospital study, in which 203 intervieweradministered questionnaires were distributed, sputum samples were collected, and fungal culture was carried out. Identification and antifungal susceptibility for the test isolates were done using microscopic examination and agar disc diffusion. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. The prevalence of histoplasmosis was 5.4%. Of the 67 (33.0%) samples collected from TB patients, only 5 (2.5%) were positive for Histoplasma capsulatum, and of the 75 (37.0%) samples collected from HIV patients, only 4 (2.0%) were positive. The findings highlight the need for developing better diagnostic tools that will promptly make the diagnosis of the infection, especially in developing countries. Histoplasmosis can present with symptoms similar to other respiratory diseases, which may lead to delays in treatment, and increase the financial burden of managing the infection on the patients.

Dual resistance to heavy metals and antibiotics of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from Carassius carassius (Linnaeus, 1758) in Lake Tonga, Algeria

Aeromonas hydrophila, a bacterium with significant virulence potential, is the predominant pathogenic bacteria naturally infecting fish. This study aims to identify the antibiogram and heavy metal resistance pattern of Aeromonas hydrophila obtained from both Carassius carassius fish and their surrounding water environment in Lake Tonga, Algeria. A total of 59 strains of Aeromonas hydrophila were isolated from 168 Carassius carassius samples and 144 waters samples of Lake Tonga. All the strains were tested for resistance to 13 antibiotics and three types of heavy metals (Cobalt, copper and cadmium) using disk diffusion and two-fold agar dilution method, respectively. Clinical macroscopic examination of the fish was also carried out. More than 14% of the examined fishes showed the characteristic clinical signs. Drug screening showed high levels of resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, 100% of the strains were resistant to ampicillin followed by cefalotin (91.53%) and ticarcillin (88.14%). More than 40% of the strains exhibited resistance against gentamicin, amikacin and chloramphenicol. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indexing of A. hydrophila strains showed that all of them originated from high-risk sources. Among tested heavy metals, bacterial isolates exhibited resistant pattern of Co>Cu >Cd. A positive correlation was observed between antimicrobial resistance and metal tolerance (Odds Ratio>0.1). These resistant profiles could be useful information to avoid unnecessary use of chemical and antimicrobial products in the aquatic environment and to provide a novel approach to manage bacterial infection in fish.

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of a Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, along with the determination of major fatty acids by GC-MS and the content of total phenolic compounds of Ganoderma lucidum naturally grown in Türkiye. The antioxidant activity was determined by widely used DPPH radical scavenging method. G. lucidum methanol extract exhibited a 90.81% scavenging activity of DPPH. The content of total phenolic compounds was determined as 235.19 µg GAE/mL by Folin-Ciocalteu’s phenol reagent method. The major fatty acids of G. lucidum were characterized by GC-MS. 2,6-di(t-butyl)-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (RT: 30.021 min), hexadecanoic acid (RT: 36.221 min), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (RT: 39.949 min), 9-octadecenoic acid (RT: 40.076 min) and octadecanoic acid (RT: 40.601 min) were found to be the predominant fatty acid compounds. The methanol and acetone extracts of G. lucidum were also tested against pathogenic microorganisms via agar disc diffusion method and exhibited various levels of inhibition. The highest antimicrobial activity was detected as 17.67±0.47 mm against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 strain by acetone extract.

Biological evaluations and computational studies of newly synthesized thymol-based Schiff bases as anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant agents

Three new thymol-based molecules were synthesized and evaluated as anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Liver, colon, lung and prostate cancer cell lines were utilized in cytotoxicity tests. The results demonstrated that synthesized molecules had a cytotoxic effect against the screened cell lines. One of the molecules (4a) was found to have a higher efficacy towards the colon cancer cell line (DLD-1) with an IC50 value of 12.39 µM and the other (4c) towards the prostate cancer cell line (PC3) with an IC50 value of 7.67 µM than the positive control drug cisplatin. To assess the antimicrobial activity of molecules (4a–c), Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and yeast were subjected to agar disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. The investigation of antioxidant potential was conducted using the DPPH radical scavenging activity assay. While all compounds displayed strong cytotoxic and antioxidant properties, they exhibited only moderate antimicrobial activity. Molecular docking studies were performed on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), B-Raf and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). The binding energies and interactions obtained from the docking results of compounds (4a–c) supported the experimental results. Drug similarity rates and pharmacokinetic properties were analyzed with the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) method. Geometric parameters such as chemical potential (µ), electrophilicity index (ω) and chemical softness (σ) of compounds (4a–c) were calculated using the 6-31*G basis set B3LYP method. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Novel lactoferrin-conjugated gallium complex to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the leading causes of opportunistic infections such as chronic wound infection that could lead to multiple organ failure and death. Gallium (Ga3+) ions are known to inhibit P. aeruginosa growth and biofilm formation but require carrier for localized controlled delivery. Lactoferrin (LTf), a two-lobed protein, can deliver Ga3+ at sites of infection. This study aimed to develop a Ga-LTf complex for the treatment of wound infection. The characterisation of the Ga-LTf complex was conducted using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Infra-Red (FTIR) and Inductive Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The antibacterial activity was assessed by agar disc diffusion, liquid broth and biofilm inhibition assays using the colony forming units (CFUs). The healing capacity and biocompatibility were evaluated using a P.aeruginosa infected wound in a rat model. DSC analyses showed thermal transition consistent with apo-lactoferrin; FTIR confirmed the complexation of gallium to lactoferrin. ICP-OES confirmed the controlled local delivery of Ga3+. Ga-LTf showed a 0.57 log10 CFUs reduction at 24 h compared with untreated control in planktonic liquid broth assay. Ga-LTf showed the highest antibiofilm activity with a 2.24 log10 CFUs reduction at 24 h. Furthermore, Ga-LTf complex is biocompatible without any adverse effect on brain, kidney, liver and spleen of rats tested in this study. Ga-LTf can be potentially promising novel therapeutic agent to treat pathogenic bacterial infections.

Antibacterial efficacy and phytochemical properties of the bark extract of <em>Connarus monocarpus</em> (Fam: Connaraceae)

The Connaraceae family encompasses various plant species known for their antimicrobial properties found in their bark, leaves, and roots. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial properties of Connarus monocarpus (L), a member of the Connaraceae family found in Sri Lanka which is traditionally used for therapeutic wound healing. The active phytochemicals were extracted from the barks, using the reflux method employed in an aqueous medium. The antimicrobial properties of plant extract were assessed using the disk (well) diffusion agar method against four common pathogens; Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Enterococcus. Controls were run with double distilled water. All procedures were performed in accordance with aseptic methods. The diameter of inhibition zones was observed after the incubation period and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software package. The independent t-test revealed a significant difference between the mean values of the control and bark extraction for Staphylococcus aureus (p≤0.001), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p≤0.001), Proteus mirabilis (p≤0.001), Enterococcus (p≤0.001); revealing the antibacterial activity of the plant extract. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in antimicrobial activity among the four microbes according to the One-Way ANOVA test (p≤0.0001). The Connarus monocarpus plant’s antibacterial activity is supported by the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, phenol and tannins, which showed combination effects. The present findings highlight the potential of Connarus monocarpus bark extract as a valuable source of antimicrobial agents, warranting further investigation to elucidate its specific mechanisms of action and potential applications in the field of microbial control.

Biogenic Zinc oxide nanoparticles from Celosia argentea: toward improved antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities.

Biogenic Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized from Celosia argentea (C. argentea) plant extract. Structural analysis confirms the successful synthesis of biogenic zinc oxide NPs from C. argentea extract. The biogenic ZnO NPs have an average particle size of 21.55 ± 4.73nm, a semispherical shape, and a specific surface area of about 50m2/g. The biogenic ZnO NPs have a powerful radical scavenging activity (Ic50 = 91.24mg/ml) comparable to ascorbic acid (ASC) as a standard (Ic50 = 14.37mg/ml). The antibacterial efficacy was tested against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using an agar disc diffusion method. Gram-positive strains with biogenic ZnO NPs have a greater bactericidal impact than gram-negative strains in a concentration-dependent manner. Anticancer activity against Liver hepatocellular cells (HepG2) and Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was evaluated using a [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay. The results reflect the concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect of biogenic ZnO NPs against HepG2 cells even at low concentrations (Ic50 = 49.45μg/ml) compared with doxorubicin (Ic50 = 14.67μg/ml) and C. argentea extract (Ic50 = 112.24μg/ml). The cell cycle and gene expression were analyzed to determine the potential anticancer mechanism. The flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle revealed that biogenic ZnO NPs induce oxidative stress that activates the apoptotic genes NF-κB, CY-C, and P53, leading to cell death. The Celosia argentea improved the antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities of ZnO NPs without altering their structural properties. The effect of green synthesis on the bioactivity of biogenic ZnO NPs in vivo is recommended for future work.

Phytochemical screening, investigations & antimicrobial activity on the various extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Alternanthera sessilis (Joyweed) and Crepidium acuminatum (Jeevak)

The antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of & using petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and aqueous extracts were tested against Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus mutans, Pseudomonas mirabilis and Bacillus fragillis. The in vitro antibacterial activity was performed by agar disc diffusion method. The zone of inhibition was compared with the standard drug i.e. Penicillin. Petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone and ethanol extracts were effective against the entire four test microorganism used respectively when compared to standard drug penicillin. The preliminary phytochemical screening of contains alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, polyphenols, cardiac glycosides and quinones. indicated the presence of saponins, essential oils, athraquinones, sterols, coumarins, flavonoids, steroids, tannins and glycosides. Quantitatively alkaloids, resins, tannins, crude fibre, saponin, phenolic, flavonoids, carbohydrate and saponins were determined by different methods.Acetone extract was more effective followed by ethanol extract as antimicrobial agents when compared to other extracts of aerial parts of & . shows antihypertensive remedy, helps to treat hepatitis, bronchitis, asthma, central –stimulating & analgesic activity. shows aphrodisiac, haemostatic, anti-diarrheal, and styptic, anti dysenteric, febrifuge, cooling and tonic activity.Total Carbohydrate and Saponin contents are calculated by standard curve methods by us ing 80% ethanol and aqueous extract correspondingly. Quantities are found to 112±1.7 (μg Glucose equivalents/ml of extract) in 80% ethanol extract and 184±1.2 (μg saponin equivalents/ml of extract) in aqueous extract. Saponin content has also been measured by double solvent gravimetric method and it is found to be 2±0.48%. Quantity of Total Fat Content, Total Alkaloid Content, Total Resin Content, Total Tannin Content and Total Crude Fibre Content were calculated.Work is under progress to reveal the chemical nature of the active constituents responsible for the antimicrobial activity & its P’cological activities reported for aerial parts of the plant.

Study on Antimicrobial Activity of Chromolaena odorata and Aerva lanata

Purpose: Numerous natural products from traditional medicinal plants have extensive chances for new steers to drug development because of the obtainability of chemical diverseness. Advanced modern methods are developed for the extraction, which are pointed to be the critical move in formulation of plants. These latest approaches of extraction are more effectual than the antient extraction methods for the effective development of traditional herbal remedies. For the greater extraction and study of medicinal plants, scientists prefer modern sample- preparation techniques over conventional techniques as they ensure the better-quality herbal products to the worldwide consumers. The interest in plant based therapeutic drugs and comestible plants has grown all over the World, since the increase in stipulation for chemical diverseness in investigation programs. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study examines how different plant extract concentrations and extraction solvents affect the antimicrobial activity of several therapeutic plants. The traditional mechanical method is used for extraction. Chromolaena odorata and Aerva lanata were the medicinal plants chosen for the extraction. Different concentrations of the extracts were made such as 1%, 10% and 50%. Diethyl ether, sterile distilled water and ethanol are the solvents used for extraction. Two common techniques were used to observe whether the selected plants have any antimicrobial activity against the organisms, which were agar disc diffusion and well diffusion method. Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus aureus were the microorganisms selected for this study. Findings/Result: Among the selected extracts, aqueous extract gave more activity against infectious microbes. C. odorata showed better reaction with S. aureus, K. pneumonia and B. subtilis, were as A. lanata found well reactive against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and K. pneumonia. Originality/Value: This study gives us an outline about the antimicrobial activity of C. orodata and A. lanata on various infectious microbes, based on the collected data. Paper type: Case study based research approach.

Mixed pyrazinamide and 4-dimethylaminopyridine nickel(II) complex: Characterization, DFT, and biological potentials

Ni(II) complex of pyrazinamide with 4-Dimethylaminopyridine formulated as [Ni(PZA)2(DMAMP)2](H2O) [PZA=pyrazinamide, DMAMP = 4-Dimethylaminopyridine] has been prepared and structurally elucidated using spectroscopic techniques and single crystal x-ray diffraction. The [Ni(PZA)2(DMAMP)2](H2O)X-ray structural refinement showed the PZA coordinates with the metal center Ni2+ ion as a neutral ligand in chelating with two nitrogen and two nitrogen atoms from the bidentate PZA ligand, along with two nitrogen atoms from the monodentate DMAMP moiety in a slightly distorted octahedral configuration. The findings of the X-ray analysis indicate that the product crystallizes in the tetragonal system with a=b=13.2738(5), c = 14.8262(8) Å, and space group P41212 with (α = β = γ = 90o). Thermogravimetric analysis was achieved on the sample to ascertain the thermal stability, method of thermal degradation of the complex, the existence of lattice water molecules, and the formation of the metal oxide. Additionally, antibacterial efficacy of the complex was evaluated in-vitro against 5 bacteria isolates (3 Gram + and 2 Gram -) using the agar disk diffusion method and antimycobacterial activities against three spp. of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to compare the potencies of the metal complex with the parent drug. The results revealed that the complex exhibited improved action by showing promising broad-range anti-bacterial potential compared to the ligands. The DFT studies showed that the Ni complex has an energy gap (ΔE) value of 3.025 eV in methanol, which is lower than that of the free ligands; 4.968 eV and 5.034 eV for pyrazinamide and 4-Dimethylaminopyridine respectively.