[en] In the present work, the fresh juice of black mulberry (Morus nigra) was tested for antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic microorganisms. Total antioxidant contents, total phenolic contents, total anthocyanins, trace minerals, total acid contents, total solids and ascorbic acid content were also evaluated. The results showed good antimicrobial activity both for Gram- positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with highest zones of inhibition for Bacillus spizizenii (19.68 mm, Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.87 mm, Gram-negative). The black mulberry juice was rich in ascorbic acid (23.45 mg/100 g), had low overall acid content (1.60 %) and had 19% total soluble solids. The average total anthocyanins and total phenolic contents of black mulberry juice were 769 mu g/g of cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalent (Cy 3-gly) per gram and 2050 mu g of gallic acid equivalent (GAE) per gram of fresh juice. The average antioxidant activity (Trolox equivalent, TE) of fresh juice was 14.00 mu mol/g according to a FRAP assay and 20.10 mu mol/g according to a DPPH assay. The fresh juice was also rich in a variety of trace minerals. (author)

[en] Seven compounds have been isolated for the first time from the chloroform soluble fraction of Buddleja asiatica namely, buddlejone (1), dihydrobuddledin-A (2), buddledone-B (3), ursolic acid (4), 2-phenylethyl-beta-D-glucoside (5), 7-deoxy-8-epiloganic acid (6) and scutellarin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7). Their structures have been elucidated through spectroscopic studies. All the isolated compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity. (author)

[en] Medicinal plants have been used for centuries to prevent and treat different health disorders. Bergenia ciliata is native to Himalayas and is used traditionally as an antipyretic, an astringent, diuretic and for dissolving kidney and bladder stones. Due to the medicinal value of B. ciliata, it has been over-exploited leading to be classified an an endangered species. The current study was designed to see B. ciliata response to tissue culturing specifically to callus formation and antibacterial activity of callus extracts. Callus inducing media was supplemented with 2, 4-D and Kinetin. Visible signs of callus formation on cut edges of explants were observed after 13 and 14 days of culturing and leaf showed 95% while petiole depicted 88% callus induction, respectively. Highest dry weight of callus was obtained from petioles (0.61 mg), which was 12% higher than that of dry weight of callus produced by leaf explants on same medium. The ethanolic extract of both petiole and petiole-derived callus demonstrated promising antibacterial activity against six pathogenic bacterial strains. The results suggested that callus from valuable medicinal plants can provide a way to produce essential metabolites and help in the conservation of the natural population of endangered plants. In future, evaluating biochemical composition of callus and plants extracts will enable us to find new dimensions to get maximum benefits from in-vitro technique. (author)

[en] The aim of present paper was to evaluate clinical effectiveness of combined antimicrobial treatment by means of in vitro synergism tests and to determine effectiveness of used procedure to direct applications of these treatment strategies in patient presenting with sepsis from varied resistance bacteria. Treatment applied was assessed in 163 newborn patients presenting with sepsis from positive hemoculture in 'America Arias' University Gynecology-Obstetrics Hospital from January 1993 to December 2000, by checkerboard method in microtritate plates. In vitro synergic drug combinations showed a high probability of clinical effectiveness, independently of susceptibility pattern of microorganism event versus resistant strains to both antimicrobials used in treatment. All in vitro antagonistic results correspond both with a therapeutic clinical failure. Procedure used may be a valuable tool to direct therapeutics in patients presenting with sepsis from resistant microorganisms. (Author)

[en] In the present study, an attempt has been made to collect and identify the Pteridophytes of Utror valley, Swat. During the survey 16 Pteridophytes belonging to 10 genera and 9 families are taxonomically and ethnobotanically described. Dryopteridaceae was found as a dominant family having the largest number of species, i.e. 4 species belonging to the genus Dryopteris. Aspleniaceae was the second largest family in terms of number of species, i.e. 3 species belonging to the genus Asplenium. The families like Adiantaceae, Cystopteridaceae, Dennstaedtiaceae, Polypodiaceae, and Thelypteridaceae were represented by one species each, i.e. Adiantum venustum, Cystoperis fragilis, Pteridium aquilinum, Polypodium vulgare, and Cyclosorus dentatus, respectively. The study revealed that these ferns are used by the local community for the treatment of different health ailments. (author)

[en] Jabal Al-Akhdar (Oman) is one of diverse floral region of Arabian Peninsula. Ochradenus arabicus, is an important medicinal plant to local people of the area. However, little is known about its potential role in biological activities against various emerging ailments. The collected plant samples were extracted with methanol and fractionated into n-hexane (JOAH), ethyl acetate (JOAE), chloroform (JOAC), n-butanol (JOAB) and water (JOAAQ). Various concentrations of these fractions were tested for their antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, phenolics, flavonoids, allopathic and nutrition quality properties. The results showed that fruits and leaves of O. arabicus have higher levels of carbohydrate, crude fats, fibres, proteins, moisture, ash and energy values. In phytotoxic activities, JOAAQ inhibited the lettuce seed germination and growth. The anticancer activities of fractions showed that JOAE, JOAB and JOAAQ are potent to reduce the cancer cell viability of HT29, HCT116, HepG2 and MCF-7 lines with a concentration of 1000 micro g/ml. JOAB showed a meagre activity of 12% in Glucosidase inhibition assay. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were significantly higher in JOAE, which also resulted in higher DPPH radical scavenging activity as compared to other fractions and control. JOAE also exhibited higher antibacterial and antifungal activities. The results of current findings suggest that O. arabicus is a potential medicinal plants, which could be subjected to advance column chromatography for lead compounds using a bioassay guided approach. (author)

[en] The review is devoted to the latest achievements in the design of dual action antibiotics — heterodimeric (chimeric) structures based on antibacterial agents of different classes (fluoroquinolones, anthracyclines, oxazolidines, macrolides and so on). Covalent binding can make the pharmacokinetic characteristics of these molecules more predictable and improve the penetration of each component into the cell. Consequently, not only does the drug efficacy increase owing to inhibition of two targets but also the resistance to one or both antibiotics can be overcome. The theoretical grounds of elaboration, design principles and methods for the synthesis of dual action antibiotics are considered. The structures are classified according to the type of covalent spacer (cleavable or not) connecting the moieties of two agents. Dual action antibiotics with a spacer that can be cleaved in a living cell are considered as dual action prodrugs. Data on the biological action of heterodimeric compounds are presented and structure–activity relationships are analyzed. The bibliography includes 225 references

[en] Carbohydrates provide as an inexpensive starting material for the synthesis of polyfunctional, chiral natural products during the last two to three decades, the literature has revealed tremendous growth in this area, high lighted by many out standing achievements (1). The synthetic effort of carbohydrate chemistry has been inspired by the biochemical events and the knowledge gained from such studies has been useful in advancing many areas of the biological sciences. The asymmetric synthesis has been indigenously and widely used in the creation of C-C bonds in developing organic molecules. The control of absolute stereochemistry and regiospecific introduction of various functionality at predetermined sites remain a crucial problem in making moderately functionalized chiral compound. The compound in which the sugar portion is apparent and can be singled out by examination of their structures. (author)

[en] The exploration of nanocomposites has gained a strong research following over the last decade. These materials have been heavily exploited in several fields, with applications ranging from biosensors to biomedicine. Among these applications, great advances have been made in the field of microbiology, specifically as antimicrobial agents. This review aims to provide a comprehensive account of various nanocomposites that elucidate promising antimicrobial activity. The composition, physical and chemical properties, as well as the antimicrobial performance of these nanocomposites, are discussed in detail. (topical review)

[en] Antibiotic residues pose a threat to the health of aquatic organisms. The effects and accumulation of antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) in a floating macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes) under hydroponic conditions were investigated. It was found that E. crassipes exposure to CIP (< 1000 μg L⁻¹) could maintain a stable photosynthesis efficiency. In response to CIP stress, catalase and peroxidase activities of leaves were 7.24–37.51 nmol min⁻¹ g⁻¹ and 98.46–173.16 U g⁻¹, respectively. The presence of CIP did not inhibit the growth of the plant. After 14 days of exposure, tender leaves became white and withered, ascribed to the decline of chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. The CIP concentrations, absorbed by E. crassipes, were highest in the roots, followed by white aerial parts and green aerial parts at CIP concentrations of 100 and 1000 μg L⁻¹. These findings demonstrated that E. crassipes could absorb and tolerate CIP in a limited time-scale and imply an alternative solution for phytoremediation in water bodies contaminated with antibiotics.