Considerable Antimicrobial Activity Research Articles

Assessment of Wound Healing Properties of Medicinal Plants: The Case of Berlinia confusa

Objectives Berlinia confusa is used as wound healing agent in folklore medicine. However, this has not been scientifically validated and there is dearth of information on its bioactive metabolites. The current research aimed at evaluating the wound healing, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the stem bark of the plant and track down some of its metabolites. Methods The dermal excision model in Sprague Dawley rats was used for the in vivo wound healing activity of the 70% ethanol extract (formulated as 1% and 2% cream). The DPPH radical scavenging and in-vivo lipid peroxidation assays were used to assess the antioxidant activity whereas the agar well and broth-dilution assays were used for the antimicrobial activity evaluation. The PrestoBlue cell viability in keratinocytes and acute dermal toxicity assays were used for the safety assessment. Results The 1% w/w extract showed over 70% wound surface closure from day 13-23 whereas the 2% w/w exhibited similar effect from day 15-23. The activity of the extract was comparable to 1% silver sulphadiazine (SSD) used as reference agent. The extract (1% w/w) also significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (455.2 ± 11.91) compared to the negative control group (739.8 ± 44.93) and was also superior to silver sulphadiazine (MDA level 548.4 ± 10.73). The extract again showed a considerable antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms with MIC's in the range of 5-10 mg/mL. The 2% extract did not show any skin irritation and were mildly toxic (88.2 ± 3.76% viability) to keratinocytes. Purification of the extract yielded two (2) major known wound healing metabolites including betulinic acid and catechin. Conclusion Berlinia confusa has demonstrated considerable wound healing in vivo and also mitigated healing modifying factors such as microbes and reactive oxygen species.

Exploring the potential of biosurfactants produced by fungi found in soil contaminated with petrochemical wastes

Biosurfactants are a diverse group of compounds derived from microorganisms, possessing various structures and applications. The current study was seeking to isolate and identify a new biosurfactant-producing fungus from soil contaminated with petrochemical waste. The bioprocess conditions were optimized to maximize biosurfactant production for Aspergillus carneus OQ152507 using a glucose peptone culture medium with a pH of 7.0 and a temperature of 35 °C. The carbon source was glucose (3%), and ammonium sulfate (0.25%) was utilized as the nitrogen source. For Aspergillus niger OQ195934, the optimized conditions involved a starch nitrate culture medium with a pH of 7.0 and a temperature of 30 °C. The carbon source used was sucrose (3.5%), and ammonium sulfate (0.25%) served as the nitrogen source. The phenol-H2SO4 and phosphate tests showed that the biosurfactants that were extracted did contain glycolipid and/or phospholipid molecules. They showed considerable antimicrobial activity against certain microbes. The obtained biosurfactants increased the solubility of tested polyaromatic hydrocarbons, including fluoranthene, pyrene, anthracene, and fluorine, and successfully removed the lubricating oil from contaminated soil and aqueous media surface tension reduction. Based on the obtained results, A. carneus and A. niger biosurfactants could be potential candidates for environmental oil remediation processes.

New insights from the integration of dapsone, flutamide, tea tree oil, and rose oil as a topical combined microemulsion for the management of Acne Vulgaris: Design, development, and in vitro/in vivo characterization

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a multifactorial sebaceous glands disorder resulting from androgen receptor activation associated with follicular colonization by bacteria. Oral administration of the androgenic antagonist flutamide (FLU) and the antibacterial dapsone (DAP) may cause several side effects. Hence, this study aimed to design a topical microemulsion (ME) combining these drugs to manage AV. Drugs solubility was examined in different oils, surfactants and cosurfactants. Pre-formulation and compatibility studies were performed. The selected MEs were characterized to determine one ME to be investigated regarding stability, and skin irritation as well as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-acne activities. Based on the in vitro characterization of the selected MEs, o/w ME (F1) based on 15 % w/w oils (tea tree oil (TTO)/rose oil (RO)) and 40%w/w of tween 20 as surfactant together with transcutol p as co-surfactant was chosen as the optimized ME. The results revealed that F1 showed acceptable pH, viscosity, conductivity, and droplet size (172.6 ± 9.7 nm). The in vitro release and ex vivo permeation of DAP and FLU were efficiently enhanced by their combination in F1. Moreover, F1 exhibited considerable antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Topical application of F1 resulted in low expression levels of interleukin 1β associated with a reduction in the number of androgenic receptors (AR). In conclusion, F1 could be suggested as a combination topical therapy to control AV via its anti-inflammatory, anti-acne, and antimicrobial activities.

Property-Wound Healing Relationship of Manuka-, Anzer- and Chestnut-Honey: Characterization, Antibacterial Properties and Cell Culture Applications

Honey is known to be a natural food product with antibacterial and wound-healing properties. Among its different types, some attributed more with medical applications including Manuka honey. In this study, some wound healing-related parameters were systematically investigated on two different types of Turkish honey (Chestnut and Anzer), in comparison with Manuka honey. Chestnut honey had considerable amount of hydrogen peroxide (5 μg/mL) whereas Manuka and Anzer honey did not contain any. Additionally, Chestnut honey had the highest acidity among all tested samples (24.50 meq/kg), as well as higher antioxidant activity (IC50 ; 2.45 mg/ml) than those of Anzer (13.02 mg/ml) and Manuka honey (6.27 mg/ml). It was also demonstrated that Chestnut honey displayed a considerable antimicrobial activity against selected pathogens. On the other hand, in the scratch assay performed as a model for the wound healing process, Anzer honey induced the highest cell proliferation corresponding to almost total wound closure for all concentrations tested. Overall, the results showed that the Turkish Chestnut and Anzer honey samples had distinguished characteristics for wound healing that is comparable to Manuka honey, and therefore are both promising candidates for use in clinical applications.

Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial potential of Alpinia galanga (L.) rhizome

Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. (A. galanga) is extremely significant and is utilized extensively in traditional medicine throughout many nations. This study aimed to determine the chemical composition of A. galanga rhizome extract (AgRE) and to evaluate its antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial activities. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of AgRE were determined. The antioxidant activity, cytotoxic capability, and antibacterial of were assessed, as well as anti-apoptotic genes. Molecular docking (MD) was used to assess the binding affinity of the most enriched constituents in AgRE toward the active sites of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase and p53 tumor suppressor protein (TP53). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis demonstrated that AgRE is a rich source of turmerone. AgRE had moderate 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging properties, with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 79.34 ± 1.78 and 88.94 ± 2.28 μg/ml, respectively. AgRE preferentially reduced the viability of a subset of malignant MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines, with IC50 of 125.35 ± 4.28 and 182.49 ± 3.19 μg/ml, respectively. AgRE exhibited considerable antimicrobial activity against all bacterial strains, with MIC values ranging from 7.81 ± 1.53 to 62.5 ± 3.28 μg/ml. The MD results revealed that ethyl-4-(2-methylpropyl)-benzene had the greatest binding energy with NADPH oxidase, with a Glide score of −6848 kcal/mol, followed by 2-methoxy-phenol (−5111 kcal/mol). Taken together, we report the interesting antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties of AgRE, which warrant further investigation. AgRE is a promising natural resource that could be used to combat complicated diseases such as cancer and bacterial infections.

Silver nanoparticles from ascorbic acid: Biosynthesis, characterization, in vitro safety profile, antimicrobial activity and phytotoxicity

Skin lesions are caused by the interruption of their functions, causing several possibilities of injury, and affecting the patient's quality of life. Thus, an effective alternative to this problem is the application of metallic nanoparticles with considerable antimicrobial activity, such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In this context, the present study aims to synthesize and characterize AgNPs from l-ascorbic acid (AA) for a possible cutaneous tissue engineering, evaluating the in vitro safety profile (VERO cells line), antimicrobial activity (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains), genotoxicity effect and phytotoxicity (Lactuca sativa and Beta vulgaris L. seeds). The novelty of the present study consists of applying green silver nanoparticles for potential application in skin lesions, followed by the study of toxicity in seeds (phytotoxicity), cells (cytotoxicity and genotoxicity with the in vitro safety profile), and antimicrobial activity. X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 porosimetry, Field Emission Gun – Scanning Electron Microscope (FEG-SEM), zeta potential (ZP), Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to evaluate the morphological, structural, and textural properties of the AgNPs. XRD diffractogram showed characteristic peaks of a face-centered cubic crystal structure at 38.06° (111); 44.26° (200); 64.45° (220); 77.37° (311) and 81.34° (200). FEG-SEM micrography indicated a predominantly spherical morphology and uniformly distributed structure with an average size of 58.4 ± 19 nm. Moreover, AgNPs demonstrated functional groups characteristics of the reducing agent and the metallic precursor, such as the –OH, –CH, –CO, - CC, and Ag–O stretchings. AgNPs showed SBET = 0.3 ± 0.0085 m2 g−1, Dp = 16.2 ± 10.2 nm, Vp = 0.0008 ± 0.0002 cm³ g−1 and ZP = −27.6 ± 1.9 mV with hysteresis type H1 and mesoporous characteristics. EDX analysis indicated the presence of AgNPs (72.34 wt% and 10.46 wt% silver and oxygen respectively) indicating the effectiveness of the biosynthesis process. For the in vitro safety profile, AgNPs did not show cytotoxicity on VERO cells ranging from 0.5 to 150 μg mL−1 with a good gemoprotection. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed that AgNPs have an inhibition of 312 μg mL−1 and 156 μg mL−1 on Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, respectively. The phytotoxicity showed that only high concentrations (50 and 100 μg mL−1) of AgNPs interfered with seed growth. Therefore, AgNPs biosynthesized from l-ascorbic acid (AA) have potential applications as antimicrobial dressings and are biocompatible for application in skin lesions.

Antimicrobial Therapy in Dentistry: An Evidence-based Review of Pomegranate Fruit Properties

Background: Phytotherapy is characterized by the use of medicinal plants in their different dosage forms. Currently, the use of this alternative medicine has increased. The raw material of herbal medicines consists of organs from medicinal plants (leaves, stems, fruits, peels, flowers and roots) with pharmacological, food, technical or cosmetic adjuvant effects. In addition, the side effects of its use appear to be reduced compared to synthetic and conventional medication. Objective: The aim of this mini-review is to present the scientific evidence involving the properties of the pomegranate fruit for future antimicrobial applications in dentistry. Methods: Literature searches included randomized clinical trials and in vitro studies [2000-2023] filtered mainly by the following terms [Punica granatum L.], [Pomegranate], [Dentistry], [Antimicrobial activity] and [Candida albicans]. Results: Studies have shown that Punica granatum Linn. has considerable antimicrobial activity, in addition to other pharmacological effects such as anti-cancer, antioxidant and antiinflammatory action. The use of herbal medicines, as potent antimicrobial agents against oral pathogens, has been widely reported. Conclusion: The use of P. granatum has proven its effectiveness, as a potent antimicrobial agent against oral pathogens, especially against the fungus Candida albicans, future studies need to focus on the development of a biocompatible formulation directed to the treatment of patients with oral candidiasis.

Antibacterial and antioxidant properties and phytochemical screening of Laurus nobilis L. extract from Ethiopia

Microbial resistance to antibiotics and the shortage of efficient antimicrobial agent has necessitated the search for a better antimicrobial agent from various sources. Plants secondary metabolites are the major sources for discovery of new bioactive chemical compounds. The objective of this study was to determine the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Laurus nobilis leaf extract and its essential oil against human pathogenic microorganisms and to analyse its chemical composition. The leaf of L. nobilis (500 g) was air-dried, powdered and extracted using four different solvents. The crude extract and the essential oil were tested against four Gram-negative and two Gram-positive bacterial strains. The radical scavenging activity of the crud extract was examined using DPPH assay. Bacterial inhibition activity of the crude extract increased with increased concentration from 25 mg/mL to 200 mg/mL. The maximum inhibition zone was recorded against Enterococcus faecalis 13.33±1.52 mm, Escherichia coli 14.33±1.53 mm and Salmonella typhimurium 16.00±1.00 mm, respectively. MeOH extract (1000 µg/mL) showed superior radical scavenging property (0.02) than ascorbic acid (0.05). The analysis of the oil using GC-MS indicated the presence of 48 chemical substances accounting for 91.4 % of the total compositions. The finding of this study showed that bay leaf has considerable antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Further evaluation of this plant is recommended with particular focus on the mechanisms of action of the antimicrobial substance.

Antioxidative and Antibacterial Hydro-Ethanolic Fraction from an Asian Edible Mushroom Lentinus sajor-caju (Agaricomycetes) Suppresses Inflammatory Responses by Downregulating COX-2 and iNOS Expression.

Mushrooms are prevalently important sources of pharmaceutically active metabolites. Various mushroom species belonging to the Lentinus genus are recognized for their nutritional and therapeutic properties. One such species is L. sajor-caju, which is renowned in Southeast Asian nations for its culinary value. The primary goal of this study is to investigate the potential medicinal properties of L. sajor-caju, specifically its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. A hydroethanolic extract was formulated using dried basidiocarps, which exhibited a high phenolic content of approximately 14% and a flavonoid content of approximately 2.7%. The extract demonstrated significant antioxidant potential in in vitro reactions. The extract is sufficiently capable of scavenging free radicals (DPPH and ABTS) and chelate Fe2+ with EC50 values spanning from 186 to 390 μg/mL. In addition, considerable antimicrobial activity against tested pathogenic microorganisms was observed, as indicated by low MIC50 values (256-358 μg/mL). Moreover, the fraction was found to prevent heat-induced protein denaturation which signifies its anti-inflammatory potential. When tested on the RAW 264.7 cell line, reduction in the nitrite production, and downregulation of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA expression was observed which are the key regulator of inflammatory signalling systems. The study, therefore, recommends the use of L. sajor-caju in the medical and pharmaceutical industries for the benefit of humanity.

Preliminary Phytochemical Analysis of Brugmansia suaveolens and Study of its Antimicrobial Activities

Abstract: Brugmansia suaveolens (family:solanaceae) is a medicinal semi-woody shrub which is known as angel's tears and snowy angel's trumpet. Every part of Brugmansia suaveolens is poisonous as well as exhibit curative activity against several ailments like headache, reduce inflammatory swellings of joints in rheumatic attacks etc. In the present study, the bioactive compounds present in the flower of Brugmansia suaveolens were investigated for antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli) and fungus(Penicillium atramentosum).dried flower samples were used to obtain various extracts viz.Chloroform, Acetone,Ethanol, and water. The phytochemical analyses showed the presence of phenol, steroids, saponins, Tannins flavonoids glycosides terpenoids alkaloids phlabatannins extracts used in this study.under the well diffusion method had a considerable antimicrobial activities increased with higher concentration. The Ethanol extract from dry flower Brugmansia suaveolens shows more effective against Escherichia coli, The Chloroform extract from dry flower Brugmansia suaveolens shows more effective against Staphylococcus aureus. In case of fungi Chloroform extract from dry flower Brugmansia suaveolens showed the highest inhibition zone against Penicillium atramentosum.

Development and Evaluation of an Eco-Friendly Hand Sanitizer Formulation Valorized from Fruit Peels.

Hand sanitizer usage has proven to be a common and practical method for reducing the spread of infectious diseases which can be caused by many harmful pathogens. There is a need for alcohol-free hand sanitizers because most hand sanitizers on the market are alcohol-based, and regular use of them can damage the skin and can be hazardous. India is the world's largest producer of fruits and one of the major problems after fruit consumption is their peels, causing waste management problems and contributing to the formation of greenhouse gases leading to air pollution and adding to the problem of climate change. Valorization of such wastes into other value-added products and their incorporation into formulations of eco-friendly alcohol-free hand sanitizers would solve these issues, save the environment, benefit the society, and help in achieving the sustainable development goals. Thus, this research focuses on formulating an effective natural alcohol-free hand sanitizer that harnesses the antimicrobial properties of the various types of bioactive components found in fruit peels of pomegranate, sweet lime, and lemon. The peel extracts and the formulated sanitizer proved considerable antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic Escherichia coli and hand microflora. Molecular docking was also applied to examine ligand-protein interaction patterns and predict binding conformers and affinity of the sanitizer phytocompounds towards target proteins in COVID-19, influenza, and pneumonia viruses. The binding affinities and the protein-ligand interactions virtual studies revealed that the sanitizer phytocompounds bind with the amino acids in the target proteins' active sites via hydrogen bonding interactions. As a result, it is possible to formulate a natural, alcohol-free hand sanitizer from fruit peels that is effective against pathogenic germs and viruses using the basic structure of these potential findings.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Crude Ethanolic Extracts of Selected Spices

Infectious diseases and food poisoning caused by microbial pathogens continue to pose significant threats to global public health. In this context, the antimicrobial properties of certain spices have garnered attention due to their historical use not only for culinary purposes but also for their medicinal value. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial activity of crude ethanol extracts obtained from a selection of spices, including clove, cinnamon, cardamom, fenugreek, cumin, and ajowan against several pathogenic bacteria, namely Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Results indicated that among the six tested spices, clove exhibited the highest antimicrobial efficacy, with no-table inhibition zones of 23mm against E. coli, 20mm against Klebsiella pneumoniae, 32mm against Staphy-lococcus aureus, and 16mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cumin demonstrated considerable antimicro-bial activity with inhibition zones of 22mm, 14mm, 29mm, and 20mm against E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Ajowan, cardamom, and cinnamon also displayed varying degrees of antimicrobial efficacy against the tested bacterial strains.On the other hand, fenugreek showed weak antimicrobial activity, as it failed to inhibit the growth of any of the four bacterial isolates. The findings suggest that spices such as clove, cumin, and cinnamon possess promising potential as natural remedies against pathogenic bacteria, providing a safer alternative to traditional antibiot-ics. Additionally, these spices could serve as natural preservatives in various food and healthcare applications.

Efficient, Green One-Pot Synthesis of Antimicrobial Agents: Functionalized DPTS Catalyst for the Preparation of 2-Amino-4-Aryl-5-Oxo-4HChromene- 3-Carbonitriles, with Theoretical Calculations

Background: In the search for a new and effective synthetic approach to bio-logically chromene-derived compounds, a series of 2-amino-7, 7-dimethyl-5-oxo-4H-tetrahydrochromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives (4a-i) were synthesized. This synthesis involved the use of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridiniump-toluenesulfonate (DPTS) as a catalyst in an aqueous medium. Additionally, the relative stability between isomers was investigated using DFT/B3LYP calculations. Methods: The target compounds were synthesized through a multicomponent reaction of 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione (dimedone) 1, various arylaldehydes (2a-i), and malononitrile 3 in water and were recrystallized in ethanol. The reaction was promoted using DPTS, which is a low-toxic, inexpensive, commercially available, and easy-to-handle catalyst. Results: The catalytic activity of DPTS was investigated in a condensation reaction conducted in an aqueous medium at room temperature. All synthesized compounds displayed considerable antimicrobial activities against human pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Conclusion: The developed synthetic protocol demonstrates energy efficiency, shorter reaction time, environmental friendliness, high product yields with purity, and scalability to gram-scale synthesis. DPTS proved to be a valuable contribution to the field of organocatalysis. The synthesized compounds were screened for in vitro antimicrobial activities, demonstrating varying potency against the microbial strains. Compound 4h exhibited the most potent activity with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) measuring 15 mm against E.coli. This was followed by compounds 4b, 4d, 4f, and 4g, which displayed a ZOI of 12 mm. Furthermore, the antifungal results revealed promising anticandidal activity for compounds 4b, 4e, and 4h, with a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.031 mg/ml. In addition, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) mapping, reactivity indices such as electronegativity, electrophilic index, softness, and hardness, as well as frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO), were used to provide further evidence regarding the stability and reactivity of the synthesized products.

The anti-infective crotalicidin peptide analog RhoB-Ctn[1–9] is harmless to bovine oocytes and able to induce parthenogenesis in vitro

Crotalicidin is a cathelicidin-related anti-infective (antimicrobial) peptide expressed in the venom glands of the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus. Congener peptides of crotalicidin, named vipericidins, are found in other pit vipers inhabiting South America. Crotalicidin is active against bacteria and pathogenic yeasts and has anti-proliferative activity for some cancer cells. The structural dissection of crotalicidin produced fragments (e.g., Ctn [15–34]) with multiple biological functionalities that mimic the native peptide. Another structural characteristic of crotalidicin and congeners is a unique repetitive stretch of amino acid sequences in tandem embedded in their primary structures. One of the encrypted vipericidn peptides (Ctn [1–9]) was synthesized, and the analog covalently conjugated with rhodamine B (RhoB-Ctn [1–9]) displayed considerable antimicrobial activity and selective cytotoxicity. Methods to evaluate antimicrobial peptides' toxicity include lysis of red blood cells (hemolysis) in vitro and cytotoxicity of healthy cultured cells (e.g., fibroblasts). Here, as a non-conventional model of toxicity, the bovine oocytes were exposed to two standardized concentrations of RhoB-Ctn [1–9], and embryo viability and development at its first stage of cleavage (division of cells) and blastocyst formation were evaluated. Oocytes treated with peptide at 10 and 40 μM induced cleavage rates of 44.94% and 51.53%, resulting in the formation of blastocysts of 7.07% and 11.73%, respectively. Light sheet microscopy and in silico prediction analysis indicated that RhoB-Ctn [1–9] peptide interacts with zona pellucida and internalizes into bovine oocytes and developing embryos. The ADMET prediction estimated good bioavailability of RhoB-Ctn [1–9]. In conclusion, the peptide appeared harmless to bovine oocytes and, remarkably, activated the parthenogenesis in vitro.

Characterization and antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-proliferative activities of green synthesized magnesium oxide nanoparticles with shoot extracts of Plicosepalus curviflorus

Objective: To synthesize magnesium oxide nanoparticles using ethanol extract of shoots of Plicosepalus curviflorus (PC-MgONPs) and evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-proliferative activities of PC-MgONPs. Methods: The green synthesized PC-MgONPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential, energy dispersive X-ray, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, we investigated total antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial and anti-proliferative activities using breast cancer cell lines (MDA-231). Results: The UV spectrum of PC-MgONPs showed a sharp absorption peak at 300 nm. The presence of magnesium, oxygen, and sodium was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Scanning electron microscopy revealed PC-MgONPs as roughly spherical granular structures with sizes ranging from 20.0 to 76.4 nm. PC-MgONPs showed considerable antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans with zones of inhibition of 11-17 mm. In addition, total antioxidant capacity and anti-proliferative activity of PC-MgONPs against MDA-231 cells were dose-dependent. Conclusions: The synthesized PC-MgONPs could be a potent antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-cancer agent, which needs further investigation.

ORAL HEALTH PROTECTION THROUGH AN AYURVEDA POLY HERBAL FORMULATION- AN IN VITRO STUDY

Introduction: Natural medicines prescribed by the traditional Ayurvedic medical system of Sri Lanka have been extensively used to treat and prevent oral diseases.Objective: Here, we investigated the antimicrobial effect of Ayurveda polyherbal formulation, mentioned in authentic text as Gandusha (mouth wash) consisting of Jasminum officinale leaves, Terminalia chebula fruits, Tinospora cordifolia stem, Desmodium triflorum whole plant and Glycyrrhiza glabra roots.Methods: Anti-microbial susceptibility of the poly herbal preparation against common oral pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis) was tested using agar well diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory (MIC) was expressed in mg of freeze-dried extract per millilitres of agar solution.Results: The plant extract has considerable antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. The lowest MIC of 250mg/ml was shown against Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus.Conclusions: The polyherbal formulation is effective in mitigating the bacterial growth and hence enhance the oral health protection.

Assessment of Newly Synthesized Triazole Compounds Using ZnO(NPs) as Antimicrobial Agents and Theoretical Studies for Inhibiting COVID-19

An efficient method using ZnO(NPs) was used to synthesize derivatives of s-substituted-1,2,4-triazoles with excellent yield. The structure of all newly formed triazoles was approved using the data extracted from their spectral and elemental analyses. Fifteen s-substituted-triazole derivatives were tested for their antimicrobial activity and the results indicated that triazole derivative 15 recorded the highest antimicrobial activity against Trichophyton mentagrophyte followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus with clear zone diameters of 30, 28, and 15 mm when compared with the traditional antibiotics, with minimal lethal concentrations of 16, 32, and 64 µg/ml, respectively. While compounds 13c, 13b, 13a and 8a exhibited considerable antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive pathogens including B. cereus, S. aureus. The docking study for the most potent derivatives 8a, 13a, 13b, 13c and 15 against methicillin acyl-Penicillin binding protein 2a from methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain 27r at 2.60 A resolution (PDB: 1MWU) showed strong fit in the active site the methicillin acyl-Penicillin binding protein, especially for derivative 15. Due to the horror caused by the Corona pandemic during the past two years, we docked the s-substituted-1,2,4-triazole derivatives into the active site of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (6LU7). The docking result showed well-fitting and proper orientation of all triazole derivatives except the starting derivative 5. The physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness of the most active s-substituted-1,2,4-triazole derivatives were studied using SwissADME. The results of computational studies and in vitro antimicrobial activity showed great agreement, in addition to the docking study of COVID-19 revealed the ability of triazole derivatives to fit in the active site of the protein, which made us recommend laboratory tests for these triazole derivatives to prove their inhibition efficiency.

Towards effective dye degradation and antimicrobial behavior of chitosan and C3N4-doped CdS nanoparticles

In this study, co-precipitation has been employed to develop carbon nitride (C 3 N 4 ) and chitosan (CS)-doped CdS nanoparticles (NPs) to investigate the doping effect of CS and C 3 N 4 on CdS to degrade MB dye and assess their antibacterial activity. Comparatively, the maximum dye degradation achieved by the previously reported binary blend of CdS-C 3 N 4 was 85%, whereas the maximum degradation achieved by the currently prepared ternary nano-catalyst was 99.75%. Furthermore, CdS NPs were doped with a fixed amount of CS at various concentrations (2 and 4 wt. %) of C 3 N 4 . Numerous techniques have been utilized to characterize doped NPs. The hexagonal phase of CdS was confirmed by XRD results, and doping caused a decrease in crystallite size, as calculated by the Debye Scherrer formula. Functional group existence was determined by FTIR; CdS was confirmed at 662 and 758 cm −1 , and doped CdS exhibited bond stretching and absorption at 1061, 1388, 1627, and 3434 cm -1 . The UV-Vis absorption spectra with blueshift after doping resulted in increased bandgap energy, which could be attributed to a reduction in crystallite size. PL spectra were utilized to observe the charge carrier transfer and trap sites of doped NPs. The presence of CdS formation and doping was observed using EDS. The morphology of the product was examined using HRTEM, which revealed spherical NPs agglomeration. C 3 N 4 -doped NPs demonstrated significant methylene blue (MB) dye degradation, while doped CdS samples exhibited considerable antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria.

Thais savignyi tissue extract: bioactivity, chemical composition, and molecular docking

Context Thais savignyi Deshayes (Muricidae) is widely distributed in the Red Sea. Its abundance and the history of Muricidae in traditional medicine make it a tempting target for investigation. Objective To investigate the chemical profile and biological activities of T. savignyi tissue extracts. Materials and methods Methanol, ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate extracts from T. savignyi tissue were compared in their antioxidant by total antioxidant capacity, DPPH free radical scavenging, and total phenolic content. In addition, the antimicrobial, and antibiofilm properties (at 250 µg/mL) of the extracts were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The antioxidant extract with greatest activity was assessed for cytotoxicity (range 0.4–100 µg/mL) against 3 human cancer cell lines (UO-31, A549 and A431), and its chemical composition was investigated using GC-MS. Moreover, docking simulation was performed to predict its constituents’ binding modes/scores to the active sites of thymidylate kinase. Results The ethyl acetate extract (Ts-EtOAc) showed the highest total antioxidant capacity (551.33 mg AAE/g dry weight), total phenolics (254.46 mg GAE/g dry weight), and DPPH scavenging (IC50= 24.0 µg/mL). Ts-EtOAc exhibited strong antibacterial (MIC: 3.9 µg/mL against K. pneumoniae), antibiofilm (MIC: 7.81 µg/mL against S. aureus), and antifungal (MIC: 3.9 µg/mL against C. albicans) activities and considerable cytotoxicity against cancer cells (UO-31: IC50= 19.96 ± 0.93, A549: IC50= 25.04 ± 1.15 μg/mL). GC-MS identified multiple bioactive metabolites in Ts-EtOAc extract belonging to miscellaneous chemical classes. Molecular docking studies revealed that the constituents of Ts-EtOAc have antibacterial potential. Discussion and conclusions T. savignyi extract has considerable antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Further studies are needed to isolate the active constituents of this snail for comprehensive drug discovery tests.

Chemical Composition, Enantiomeric Distribution, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Origanum majorana L. Essential Oil from Nepal.

This study was conducted to examine the chemical constituents of Origanum majorana L. essential oils (EOs) that originate in Nepal, as well as their biological activities, antioxidant properties, and enantiomeric compositions. The EOs were extracted by the hydro-distillation method using a Clevenger-type apparatus and their chemical compositions were determined through gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Chiral GC-MS was used to evaluate the enantiomeric compositions of EOs. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the essential oils were determined by the micro-broth dilution method, and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 50 and 41 compounds in the EO samples, (S1) and (S2), respectively, representing the Kathmandu and Bhaktapur districts. The oxygenated monoterpenoids, along with terpinen-4-ol, were predominant constituents in both EO samples. However, the EOs from two locations showed some variations in their major components. The chiral terpenoids for two EO samples of marjoram have also been reported in this study in an elaborative way for the first time in accordance with the literature review. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on the compositions of EOs with 50 compositions reported in the literature revealed at least 5 different chemotypes of marjoram oil. The antioxidant activity for the sample (S2) was found to be relatively moderate, with an IC50 value of 225.61 ± 0.05 μg/mL and an EC50 value of 372.72 ± 0.84 µg/mL, as compared to the standard used. Furthermore, with an MIC value of 78.1 µg/mL, the EO from sample (S2) demonstrated effective antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Moreover, both samples displayed considerable antimicrobial activity. The results suggest that EOs of Origanum majorana possess some noteworthy antimicrobial properties as well as antioxidant activity, and hence can be used as a natural preservative ingredient in the food and pharmaceutical industries.