Inhibition Zone Diameter Research Articles

Exploring ethyl pyruvate as an antifungal and antibacterial agent for food preservation: an in vitro and in silico study

SummaryFood pathogens are one of the microbiological problems that have negative effects on both economic and human health by causing spoilage and decay of important foods such as fruits and vegetables. The adverse effects of chemical residues left by synthetic biocides on human health and the development of resistance mechanisms in microorganisms have directed research towards bio‐fungicide. This study aimed to develop an effective bio‐fungicide using varying concentrations of ethyl pyruvate (1–18 μL disc−1). Additionally, the interaction of EP with several proteins in pathogenic bacteria and fungi was investigated through in silico molecular docking. According to the obtained results, an increase in EP concentration resulted in larger inhibition zone diameters. In this context, at an EP concentration of 18 μL disc−1, the inhibition zones formed against E. coli, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium bacteria were measured as 27.50 ± 0.50 mm, 31.00 ± 1.00 mm, 30.00 ± 1.00 mm and 32.66 ± 1.15 mm, respectively. EP at a concentration of 9 μL disc−1 showed a fungicidal effect against B. cinerea and P. expansum and a fungistatic effect against C. gloeosporioides. As a result of in silico tests, the molecular binding energies of EP with E. coli dihydrofolate reductase, S. aureus DNA Gyrase B and B. cinerea 14 alpha‐demethylase were determined to be −4.62, −4.26 and −3.95 kcal mol−1, respectively. Our results holistically revealed that EP has great potential for use in food preservation due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Antimicrobial activity of eight plant essential oils having antioxidant property against spoilage microbes.

To identify efficient, broad-spectrum, and non-toxic preservatives for natural agricultural products, eight essential oils were screened for high inhibitory and antioxidant activities against spoilage microbes. The zone of inhibition test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay were performed to assess the antimicrobial activity of eight essential oils against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Penicillium, Saccharomyces, and Escherichia coli. Among the eight essential oils, garlic and rose essential oils exhibited the best inhibitory effects, their MICs against the spoilage microbes were 40-640 μl/l and 10-320 μl/l, respectively. In addition, the antioxidant activities of eight essential oils were compared using the DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging assays and the reducing power assay. Eight essential oils had antioxidant capacity, among which rosemary, thyme, rose, and tea tree essential oils performed the best. Moreover, the combination of thyme and rose exerted stronger antioxidant activity. Therefore, the concentrations of rose and garlic, and thyme essential oils were optimized using response surface methodology to obtain the optimal composite ratios, which were 1254 μl/l, 640 μl/l, and 1228 μl/l for rose, garlic, and thyme, respectively. The DPPH free radical-scavenging rate detected using this formulation was 50.2%, basically consistent with the prediction. Zone of inhibition diameters with the compound essential oil, against five spoilage microbes, were all greater than 45mm. The essential oil combination had high antimicrobial, against agricultural product spoilage microbes, and antioxidant activities.

Antibacterial Activity and Thin-Layer Chromatography (KLT) Ethanol Extract of Dragon Scale Leaves (Drymoglossum piloselloides (L.) C. Presl) Against Bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis

The dragon scale plant is a plant containing flavonoid compounds, tannins, alkaloids, saponins. Flavanoid compounds, alkaloids, and tannins are found in dragon scales that are thought to provide antibacterial effects. Thin Layer Chromatography Test (KLT). On quarstin there is a stain distance spot of 1 cm and an 8 cm motion phase with an Rf value of 0.129 and in the extract there is a stain spot of 7.3 cm with an 8 cm motion phase with an Rf value of 0.9. In Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria from the average of the largest inhibitory zones are applied to the extract with a concentration of 20%. The diameter of the average inhibitory zone formed around the disc paper at each concentration is: 5% 10.5 mm ± 0.20 at a concentration of 10% 11.26 mm ± 0.20 and a concentration of 20% 12.2 mm ± 0.30 each concentration has a strongly categorized response. Ethanol extract of dragon scale leaves (Drymoglossum piloselloides (L.) C. Presl) has antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. The diameter of the inhibitory zone that is best formed in the treatment of dragon scale leaf ethanol extract against Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria with a concentration of 20%12.2 mm±0.30 is 12.2 mm with a strong category.

Antimicrobial effect of (2-chloro-4-cyano-5-ethoxy-3,5-dioxopentan-2-yl) phosphonic acid against pathogenic bacteria and fungi

The synthesized organic compound ((2-chloro-4-cyano-5-ethoxy-3,5-dioxopentan-2-yl) phosphonic acid)) was evaluated against pathogenic microorganisms using agar well diffusion method. The results obtained reveled that, the diameters of inhibition zones were ranging between 24.0-36.3 mm for gram-negative bacteria, from 28.3 mm to 34.5 mm for gram-positive bacteria and between 18.2-20.3 mm for genus Candida. The MIC value 62.5 µg/mL showed that among gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most sensitive to the compound compared to Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus mesentericus and Bacillus subtilis) had the same sensitivity to the compound with 125 µg/mL as MIC value. Among fungal strains, Candida tropicalis with MIC value 62.5 µg/mL was the most sensitive to the compound compared to Candida albicans (250 µg/mL) and Candida guilliermondii (125 µg/mL).

Modification of carbapenemase inhibition test and comparison of its performance with NG-Test CARBA 5 for detection of carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales.

Adequately and accurately identifying carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) is vital for selecting appropriate antimicrobial therapy and implementing effective infection control measures. This study aims to optimize the phenotypic detection method of carbapenemase for routine diagnostics in clinical microbiology laboratories. Carbapenemase genes in 2665 non-duplicate carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) clinical strains collected from various regions of China were confirmed through whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The carbapenemase inhibition test (CIT) was conducted and interpreted using different methods and breakpoints, then compared with the NG-Test CARBA 5 for carbapenemase detection. The diagnostic performance of the CIT method was optimal when the carbapenemase types were determined by comparing the inhibition zone diameters of the imipenem disc with 3-aminophenylboronic acid (APB) plus ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to those of the imipenem disc with either APB or EDTA alone, with a breakpoint of 4mm. The overall sensitivities of the current CIT, the modified CIT and NG-Test CARBA 5 were 91.4%, 94.9% and 99.9%, respectively. For detecting isolates co-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), the modified CIT method had higher sensitivity than the current method (70.0%vs. 53.3%), though this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.063). The NG-Test CARBA 5 showed excellent performance for multi-carbapenemases diagnosis, with sensitivity and specificity of 97.1% and 100%, respectively. Optimizing and standardizing the CIT method for clinical use is necessary. It has certain advantages in diagnosing multi-carbapenemase and rare carbapenemase production. However, for identifying common carbapenemase types, the NG-Test CARBA 5 demonstrated superior performance.

Development of antibacterial and hydrophobic PVDF@ZnO coating on cotton fabrics by electrospinning method

Products with antimicrobial properties enhance personal comfort and hygiene by preventing bacterial infections. In this work, we developed an antibacterial and hydrophobic coating by combining zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) through the electrospinning method, aiming for an enhanced cotton surface for textile applications. Initially, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized and integrated uniformly within the PVDF, characterized by various analytical techniques. This study highlights the coating's remarkable antibacterial activity, evidenced by a significant inhibition zone diameter of 18 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and its enhanced hydrophobicity, with a contact angle of 136°. Additionally, it was found that the Higuchi model could describe the diffusion release of ZnO from the PVDF coating. The obtained result allows us to conclude that applying the electrospinning method to fabric coatings opens new avenues in the design of functional textiles, particularly antibacterial ones, as proved in this paper.

Synthesis of Zinc Nanoparticles in Hibiscus sabdariffa Plant Extract and Investigation of Its Antimicrobial Properties

Background: The use of nanotechnology in various biomedical and pharmaceutical fields is expanding rapidly. Objectives: The aim of this study was to synthesize zinc nanoparticles using Hibiscus sabdariffa plant extract and investigate their antimicrobial properties. Methods: In this experimental study, the aqueous extract of sour tea was mixed with a 0.1 M zinc sulfate solution at a 1:1 ratio and allowed to react for 15 minutes at room temperature to produce nanoparticles. The synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles was confirmed using spectrophotometric methods, measuring the average diameter of nanoparticles, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the zinc oxide nanoparticles was then measured against standard strains. Results: The results showed that the largest inhibition zone diameter was observed at a concentration of 1024 μg/mL against Listeria monocytogenes, while the smallest inhibition zone was observed against Aeromonas hydrophila. At a concentration of 512 μg/mL, an inhibition zone of 10 mm was developed against two strains: Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles, along with the sour tea aqueous extract and zinc sulfate, exhibited antibacterial properties. However, the most pronounced antimicrobial effects were observed with the zinc oxide nanoparticles.

Identification and biological control of bacterial leaf spot disease of cucurbits

Objective: The present study was conducted for isolation and detection of the phyto-pathogen responsible for bacterial leaf spot disease of cucurbits as well as evaluation of its biological control techniques. Methods: The pathogen of the disease was isolated from infected leaf of bitter gourd and cultured on Luria-Bertani (LB) growth medium. The morphological tests and biochemical tests revealed the isolated bacteria as gram negative. Furthermore, advanced molecular technique was applied to facilitate proper detection of the isolated bacteria. The PCR of the bacterial genomic DNA using specific primers generated clear band of approximately 1450 bp in gel electrophoresis. Results: In gram staining test, the bacterial strain was found to be rod shaped and pinkish in color and Gram-negative. All the biochemical test showed positive without mannitol salt agar. The nucleotide sequencing of 16S rDNA gene of the bacterial isolate showed 86.02% similarities with the original sequence of Xanthomonas cucurbitae. In antibiotic sensitivity assay, the antibiotic cefixime showed highest 28.0±0.7 mm diameter of inhibition zone against the tested bacteria. The highest antibacterial activity was 8.0±0.5 mm zone of inhibition by of Allium sativum. Conclusion: The present findings may be benevolent for the detection, characterization and development of biological control techniques to prevent the leaf spot disease of cucurbits crops in Bangladesh. It may help to find out the specific signaling pathway techniques for plant microbes relationship for disease formation in future.

Comparative Evaluation of Antifungal Efficacy of 3% Sodium Hypochlorite, 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate, Ozonated Water, Alum Water, and Normal Saline Solutions against Endodontopathogenic Microorganism, Candida Albicans: A Microbiological In Vitro Study.

To compare and evaluate the antifungal efficacy of 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) gluconate, 4 mg/mL ozonated water, and 2M alum water against Candida albicans (C. albicans). A total of 35 patients were selected from those attending the outpatient department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry at Santosh Dental College and Hospitals, Ghaziabad. Their salivary samples were taken and cultured on a Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) plate. The antifungal efficacy of 3% NaOCl, 2% CHX gluconate, 4 mg/mL concentration of ozonated water, and 2M alum water was assessed against clinical strains of C. albicans with the help of agar well diffusion method. The microbial isolates were inoculated into 10 mL of sterile peptone water and incubated at 37°C for 8 hours. The cultures were swabbed on the surface of sterile Mueller-Hinton agar plates using a sterile cotton swab. Five wells of 6 mm diameter were punched in each Petri dish. Around 100 µL of each test solution was poured into the designated wells. Further, the plates were incubated in an upright position at 37°C for 24 hours. The antifungal activity of the test solutions was determined by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone in mm produced against the Candida isolates, and means were calculated. It was observed that all test solutions used in this study were inhibitory against C. albicans but with a variation in the size of inhibitory zones. According to the means of the diameter of inhibitory zones for all test solutions, the 3% NaOCl represented the statistically significant largest average zones of inhibition against C. albicans, followed by 2% CHX when compared with the other two test solutions alum water and ozonated water. Ozonated water produced the smallest mean inhibitory zone. Sharma A, Naorem N, Srivastava B, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Antifungal Efficacy of 3% Sodium Hypochlorite, 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate, Ozonated Water, Alum Water, and Normal Saline Solutions against Endodontopathogenic Microorganism, Candida Albicans: A Microbiological In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(S-1):S17-S24.

Antibacterial Activity of Seligi Leaf Extracts and Fractions against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria and Their Bioautography

Seligi leaf (Phyllanthus buxifolius muell. Arg) is one of the medicinal plants that are traditionally used by the community. This plant can empirically treat several diseases, thanks to the content of antibacterial compounds such as flavonoids and terpenoids. The bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are the main causes of nosocomial infections. The purpose of this study is to examine the antibacterial activity of seligi leaf extract and fraction against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, as well as to identify active compounds that have an important role in these antibacterial activities. The extraction process is carried out using the maceration method with 70% ethanol. The antibacterial activity test was carried out by the disc diffusion method, with concentration of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% for extraction, then for all fractions a concentration of 50 %. The test results showed that the extract had antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus on 8 mg/disk loading disk with inhibition zone diameters of 10.33 ± 0.58 mm and 12.16 ± 1.41 mm, but no inhibition zones formed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa on all loading disks. The identification of compounds in seligi leaves using the KLT method showed that the extract contained phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenoids, while the ethyl acetate fraction contained phenolics and alkaloids. However, bioautographic tests do not indicate any antibacterial potential.

Dual influence of graphene oxide/clay and electron beam radiation on the structure, mechanical, thermal, and antimicrobial properties of nitrile butadiene rubber nanocomposite

Infective diseases are becoming more popular, and managing them has become a great worry for humanity. A rubber nanocomposite based on nitrile butadiene rubber with graphene oxide (NBR/GO) and GO/nanoclay (montmorillonite, MMT) (NBR/GO/MMT) was fabricated by a simple technique, roll milling. The synergistic influence of the existence of GO, clay, and electron beam (EB)-radiation on the NBR nanocomposites was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT–IR) techniques to study the mechanical, thermal, and antibacterial properties. The antibacterial activity of the prepared rubber nanocomposites was estimated via the disk diffusion process against Gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus lentus, and Gram-negative bacteria ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis. The results demonstrated that the physico-mechanical performance was significantly reinforced by incorporating nano GO (6 phr) and clay with GO (3 phr/6 phr. NBR films have no antibacterial potential. GO increases the antibacterial efficiency of the NBR films. NBR/3% GO/3% clay film is the most effective in reducing bacterial growth and B. subtilis was the most sensitive bacteria for rubber treatments. The inhibition zone diameters of the un-irradiated and irradiated NBR/3% GO/3% clay films for B. subtilis were 18.03 ± 0.59 and 25.63 ± 0.98 mm, respectively. It could be concluded that because of its outstanding flexibility and human-body compatibility penetration, rubber in corporation with antimicrobial agents can be utilized for manufacturing medical and environmental products.

Bidentate bromhexine drug coordination modes with various transition metal ions: Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro antibacterial and anti-breast cancer activity tests

BackgroundBromhexine (BHX) is a mucolytic drug used in treatment the respiratory disorders which are associated with excessive or viscid mucus. Transition metal complexes have made tremendous progress in the treatment of a variety of human ailments, according to reported articles. Transition metal complexes are being developed as medications with a lot of effort. Metal complexes can form a variety of coordination geometries, giving them distinct forms. So, binary metal complexes of bromhexine drug have been prepared to enhance the biological activity and stability of the free drug. MethodsA new series of binary complexes with bromhexine drug (BHX) has been prepared with some transition metal ions namely Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II). Elemental analyses, FT-IR, mass spectrometry, thermal studies and UV-Vis spectra have been used to characterize and structurally elucidate the produced metal complexes. Antibacterial activity has been tested for the ligand and metal complexes against a variety of pathogenic bacterial species (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus). In addition, the ligand has been tested for anticancer efficacy against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, as opposed to binary metal complexes. The binding orientation or conformation of the free BHX ligand and Co(II) complex in the active region of the protein of crystal structure of Escherichia coli (PDB ID: 3T88) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PDB ID: 6NE0) has been performed using molecular docking studies. ResultsThe BHX ligand coupled in neutral bidentate mode to the metal ions, according to FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectral results. The molar conductivity measurements of the complexes in DMF proved the electrolytic nature of all binary complexes. Co(II) complex showed the highest inhibition zone diameter against S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Zn(II) complex had the greatest inhibitory effect against P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis. Also, Cd(II) chelate appeared high efficacy as antibacterial agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. ConclusionAll the output data conjugated to confirm the octahedral geometry of the metal complexes. The biological findings revealed that metal complexes can be more active than the free BHX ligand. Against MCF-7 cell line, Cd(II)-L complex is highly active complex (4.95 µg/mL) but BHX free drug is the most active compound (3.96 µg/mL).

Anti-bacterial cyclic dipeptides from Hormonema dematioides, an endophytic fungus of Juniperus communis

Hormonema sp., an endophytic fungi found in the medicinal plant of Juniperus communis leaves, was reported to possess antimicrobial compounds from its unidentified species. In this study, 21 cyclic dipeptides (1–21) were isolated and identified from H. dematioides. All the 21 isolated cyclic dipeptides were reported for the first time from the genus Hormonema. The antimicrobial activity by the disc diffusion method showed that five compounds including cyclo(Pro-Gly) (9), cyclo(Phe-Ile) (11), cyclo(Ile-Val) (12), cyclo(Val-Ala) (17), and cyclo(Ala-Phe) (20) inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 12 to 30 mm. Further bioassay demonstrated that four cyclic dipeptides (9, 12, 17, and 20) showed significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus with MIC values of 0.04, 0.39, 0.01, and 0.10 µg/mL, respectively, as compared to the positive control (ciprofloxacin, MIC = 0.08 µg/mL). However, none of these cyclic dipeptides showed obvious anti-fungal activity against Candida albicans.

Antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and mineral trioxide aggregate paste against α-Hemolytic Streptococcus

Background: The bacteria mostly found in the root canals are aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria, such as α-Hemolytic Streptococcus. Calcium hydroxide has alkaline characteristics with pH of 12.5, and antimicrobial properties. Calcium oxide is hydrophilic and has a smaller molecular weight than calcium hydroxide. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has alkaline properties, good biocompatibility, stimulates healing and inhibits bacterial growth. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences of antimicrobial activity between calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), also to find which of these materials has the highest antimicrobial activity. Methods: The design of this study was a post-test only control group design. The study subjects were divided into 4 groups. K (-) was control group without any treatment, P1 was treated with calcium hydroxide, P2 was treated with calcium oxide, and P3 was treated with MTA. Each group consisted of 7 samples. The α-Hemolytic Streptococcus were spread on Mueller Hinton agar. Antimicrobial test was using diffusion method and diameter of inhibition zones were measured with caliper. Results: Average inhibitory zone of each sample was P1 (30.9643 mm ± 0,7431), P2 (35,2357 mm ± 0,7099), P3 (28,6 mm ± 1,5532). Tukey HSD test showed significances results between samples P1 and P2 (p=0,001), P1 and P3 (p=0,002), P2 and P3 (p=0,001). Conclusion: The highest antimicrobial activity against α-Hemolytic Streptococcus was calcium oxide followed by calcium hydroxide and MTA.

Effect of Saga Leaf Extract (Abrus precatorius Linn) in Inhibiting Enterococcus faecalis Bacteria Growth as an Alternative Root Canal Irrigation Material

Abstract Objective This study aims to examine the antibacterial effect of saga leaf extract on Enterococcus faecalis bacteria, which causes root canal treatment failure. Materials and Methods This research was conducted using a laboratory experimental method with saga leaf extract at 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100% concentrations. Two percent chlorhexidine acts as the positive control, and 100% dimethyl sulfoxide as the negative control. The diameter of the inhibition zones was measured using the well diffusion test method. Statistical Analysis Data from the measurement of inhibition zone diameter were obtained and tested statistically using the normality test (Shapiro–Wilk), homogeneity test (Levene), parametric test (one-way analysis of variance), and further test (post hoc test). Results The largest inhibition zone diameter observed in this study was 9.46 mm at 100% concentration; however, it was not bigger than the positive control, which was measured at 16.55 mm. The research data were analyzed based on the classification of Davis and Stout inhibition zones. Conclusion This study concludes that saga leaf extract has an antibacterial effect on the growth of E. faecalis bacteria.

Quantitative determination of the antibacterial activity of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and tetracycline gel against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Prevotella intermedia (Pi)- a microbiological invitro study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of licorice gel and tetracycline gel against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia. An indigenously prepared 50 μL licorice and tetracycline gel was subjected to antibacterial sensitivity test (thrice) against Aa, Pg, Pi by agar well diffusion method using Brain Heart Infusion media. Colonies of Aa, Pg, Pi was transferred into broth and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h and diameter of inhibition zone was measured. The drug release profile of licorice gel at six regular intervals was higher when compared to tetracycline. MIC of licorice gel (50 μg/mL) against Aa (14 mg), Pg (7 mg), Pi (7 mg) respectively. The diameter of inhibition zone of licorice gel was significant against Aa when compared to tetracycline gel. However, tetracycline gel exhibited significant diameter of inhibition zone against Pg and Pi when compared to licorice gel. There was a statistical significance difference between licorice and tetracycline gel against Aa (p=0.043*), Pg (p=0.037*), Pi (p=0.046*) while assessing antibacterial sensitivity test. Licorice gel has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties which can act against periodontal pathogens and can be considered in treating periodontal disease at low concentrations. Therefore, it can be used as an adjunctive local drug delivery agent to non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) in treating periodontal disease.

Phytochemical characterization, antimicrobial properties and in silico modeling perspectives of Anacyclus pyrethrum essential oil

Medicinal plants are used widely in the treatment of various infectious diseases. One of these medical plants is Moroccan plants such as Anacyclus pyrethrum. In this study, the essential oil isolated from the leaves of Anacyclus pyrethrum (APEO) by the hydrodistillation method was analyzed using (GC/MS) analysis. A total of forty-four compounds were identified form the oil and the oxygenated monoterpenes were the most abundant class of compounds. The major identified compound is santolina alcohol (40.7 %), followed by germacrene-D (8.9 %). The in-vitro assessment of the antimicrobial efficacy of APEO encompassed an investigation involving six microbial strains, including two Gram-positive bacteria, four Gram-negative bacteria, and three fungal strains. The findings revealed noteworthy antibacterial and antifungal properties against all examined microorganisms, with inhibitory zone diameters ranging from 25.67 ± 0.06 mm to 25.19 ± 0.03 mm for Gram-positive bacteria and from 22.34 ± 0.01 mm to 14.43 ± 0.02 mm for Gram-negative bacteria, as determined through the disc-diffusion assay. In the case of antifungal activity, inhibitory zones ranged from 24.57 ± 0.04 mm to 18.37 ± 0.06 mm. Further evaluation revealed that the MIC values of Gram-positive bacteria were at the concentration 0.25 % v/v, while MBC values ranged from 0.25 % to 1.0 % v/v. The Gram-negative bacteria exhibited MIC values spanning from 0.5 % to 2.0 % v/v, with MBC values in the range of 0.5 %–2.0 % v/v. For the fungal strains, MIC values ranged from 0.5 % to 1.0 % v/v, while the MFC consistently remained at 1.0 % for all tested fungal strains. The assessment of the MBC/MIC and MFC/MIC ratios collectively indicates that A. pyrethrum EO possesses bactericidal and fungicidal attributes. The in silico study of bioavailability predictions for compounds in APEO based on six physicochemical properties show optimal physiochemical properties including size, lipophilicity, solubility, flexibility, and saturation. α-Pinene, limonene, germacrene D, and (E)-β-farnesene are non-polar due to their lack of polar groups, and the ADME profile indicates desirable properties for considering these compounds in drug development. Molecular docking investigation indicates that all the compounds of APEO reside well into the binding site of the DNA gyrase B enzyme of Staphylococcus aureus by mediating a number of significant interactions with the binding site residues. The ADME analysis suggested that the major compounds APEO possess desirable properties for further consideration in drug development. In light of these findings, APEO could serve as a natural source for the elaboration of new and active antimicrobial drugs.

Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior) Towards Enterococcus faecalis: A Preliminary Research to the Alternative of Root Canal Irrigant of Primary Teeth

Enterococcus faecalis is a notable pathogen found in the root canals of primary teeth with endodontic infections, often resistant to conventional root canal irrigation solutions, leading to treatment failure. Torch ginger or kecombrang (Etlingera elatior), a spice plant, is reported to contain bioactive compounds with antibacterial properties. This study investigates the antibacterial efficacy of ethanolic extract of torch ginger against Enterococcus faecalis, evaluating its potential as an alternative irrigant based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and effective concentration. Samples included Enterococcus faecalis ATCC® 29212™ and 70% ethanol extract of torch ginger, tested in eight concentrations (80%, 75%, 65%, 50%, 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, and 3.125%) obtained through maceration, alongside two control groups (NaOCl and saline). The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was employed to determine MIC, while the streaking method from MIC testing identified MBC. Data analysis for MIC and MBC values was conducted using the One-Way ANOVA parametric test (p < 0.05). Torch ginger extract demonstrated antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, with inhibition observed at a minimum concentration of 3.125% with average inhibition zone diameter of 9.63 ± 0.25 mm and reaching up to 80% concentration with average inhibition zone diameter of 15.03 ± 0.21 mm. The MIC was established at 3.125%, and the MBC among the tested concentrations was 80%. The study concludes that the ethanolic extract of torch ginger shows significant antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis. An 80% concentration is identified as the most effective for inhibiting and killing the pathogen, suggesting its potential as an alternative root canal irrigant of primary teeth.

Anticandidal activity of a wild Bacillus subtilis NAM against clinical isolates of pathogenic Candida albicans

BackgroundResistance to antifungal medications poses a significant obstacle in combating fungal infections. The development of novel therapeutics for Candida albicans is necessary due to the increasing resistance of candidiasis to the existing medications. The utilization of biological control is seen as a more advantageous and less hazardous strategy therefore the objective of this study is to identify the antifungal properties of Bacillus subtilis against pathogenic C. albicans.ResultsWe conducted a study to evaluate the antifungal properties of three bacterial isolates against the human pathogen Candida albicans. One of the bacterial isolates exhibited a potent antifungal activity against this fungal pathogen. This bacterium was identified as Bacillus subtilis based on the 16Sr RNA gene sequence. It exhibited inhibitory efficacy ranging from 33.5 to 44.4% against 15 Candida isolates. The optimal incubation duration for achieving the maximum antifungal activity was determined to be 48 h, resulting in a mean inhibition zone diameter of 29 ± 0.39 mm. The Potato Dextrose agar (PDA) medium was the best medium for the most effective antifungal activity. Incubation temperature of 25oC and medium pH value of 8.0 were the most favorable conditions for maximum antagonistic activity that resulted fungal growth inhibition of 40 ± 0.16 and 36 ± 0.94 mm respectively. Furthermore, the addition of 10.5 mg/ml of bacterial filtrate to C. albicans colonies resulted in 86.51%. decrease in the number of germinated cells. The fungal cell ultrastructural responses due to exposure to B. subtilis filtrate after 48 h were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It revealed primary a drastic abnormality that lead to cellular disintegration including folding and lysis of the cell wall, total collapse of the yeast cells, and malformed germ tube following the exposure to the filtrate. However, the control culture treatment had a characteristic morphology of the normal fungal cells featuring a consistently dense central region, a well-organized nucleus, and a cytoplasm containing several components of the endomembrane system. The cells were surrounded by a uniform and intact cell wall.ConclusionThe current study demonstrates a notable antifungal properties of B. subtilis against C. albicans as a result of production of bioactive components of the bacterial exudate. This finding could be a promising natural antifungal agent that could be utilized to combat C. albicans.

Phytochemical Analysis of Centaurea calcitrapa L. Aerial Flowering Parts Serial Solvent Extracts and Its Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities.

To evaluate the phytochemical composition, antibacterial, and antioxidant activity of successive extracts of Centaurea calcitrapa L. (C. calcitrapa) aerial flowering parts, they were assessed in vitro. Using a spectrophotometer, the sample absorbance at 517 nm was used to quantify the scavenging activity. The negative control was DPPH. In the current study, the diffusion using agar wells technique was adapted to measure antimicrobial activity. Phytochemical analysis was performed using the recommended standard procedures. The methanol extract of C. calcitrapa exhibited high levels of total phenolic acids expressed as gallic acid (GA), measured as (97.25 ± 0.73 mg GAE/g) content compared to the chloroform, acetyl acetate, and aqueous extracts (27.42 ± 0.29, 64.25 ± 0.96, and 17.25 ± 0.73 mg GAE/g), respectively. Additionally, the methanol extract had a higher total tannin (27.52 ± 0.53 mg TAE/g) content compared to the chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extracts (12.02 ± 0.55, 26.01 ± 0.81, and 7.35 ± 0.56 mg TAE/g), respectively, while the aqueous extract contains a lower percentage of flavonoids (141.10 ± 1.31 mg RTE/g) compared to the higher content achieved by the methanol extract (425.93 ± 1.27 mg RTE/g). The hydroxyl groups of the flavonoid and the phenolic compounds found in C. calcitrapa are essentially scavenging free radicals. Radical scavenging activity was highest in the methanol extract (IC50 = 2.82 μg/mL), aqueous extract (IC50 = 8.03 μg/mL), ethyl acetate extract (IC50 = 4.79 μg/mL), and chloroform extract (IC50 = 6.33 μg/mL), as compared to the standard scavenging activity (IC50 = 2.52 μg/mL). The antibacterial properties of C. calcitrapa against Gram-negative bacterial strains Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Acinetobacter baumanii, in addition to Gram-positive strains Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus, revealed inhibition zone diameter. The findings of this investigation establish that the aerial flowering parts of C. calcitrapa have substantial antibacterial action against human infections, and the plant can serve as a significant antioxidant that can be employed to prevent and treat severe degenerative diseases brought on by oxidative stress. qPCR showed that C. calcitrapa extracts elevate both SOD1 and SOD2 (cellular oxidation markers) with remarkable folds (1.8-fold for SOD1 and SOD2) with ethyl acetate plant extract against ascorbic acid as a control. This result reflects that C. calcitrapa extracts have remarkable antioxidant activity.