In vitro antifungal activity of 9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene-2carboxylic acid isolated from a marine bacterium: pseudomonas putida

An antifungal compound 9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene - 2 - carboxylic acid was isolated from a marine derived bacterium Pseudomonas putida isolated from surface water samples of Karachi fish harbor coast line. The structure was explored using extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic techniques. The compound was found to be active against fungal strains obtained from clinical samples whereas strong activity was noted against Candida albicans with a MIC value of 20microg/ml, as the purified compound showed promising anticandidal activity a multidisciplinary approach is needed to explore further this compound as potential pharmacological lead compound against Candida spp and will add in the global hunt for clinically functional antifungal agents

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of antibacterial activity of copper oxide nanoparticles against clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Bacterial resistance is spreading globally due to excessive use of antibiotics, making it one of our times biggest challenges. To address this issue present study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial activity of copper oxide nanoparticles against methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]. Copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical precipitation method and were characterized by UV-Visible, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction [XRD] and Scanning Electron Microscopy. These nanoparticles of 27nm were assessed for antibacterial activity using disc diffusion method. Our results showed superb inhibitory effects of CuO nanoparticles with increase in concentration and complete inhibition was recorded against tested strains of S. aureus at 100Mul/ml and 125Mul/ml concentration. The study concludes that the drugs which do not show any inhibitory effects against resistant bugs could be augmented with CuO nanoparticles to achieve the treatment goal

Essential oils showing in vitro anti MRSA and synergistic activity with penicillin group of antibiotics

This study was planned in order to investigate effective essential oils to inhibit in-vitro growth of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA]. In this study using disc diffusion method anti MRSA activity of ten diverse essential oils extracted from traditional plants namely Thymus vulgaris L, Mentha pulegium, Ocimum sanctum, Mentha piperita, Cymbopogon citratus, Rosmarinus officinalis L., Cortex cinnamom, Citrus nobilis x Citrus deliciosa, Origanum vulgare and Mentha sp. was examined. All the essential oils inhibited growth of S. aureus to different extent, by exhibiting moderate to elevated zones of inhibitions. Essential oils of cinnamon [Cortex cinnamomi] and thyme [Thymus vulgaris L] were observed to be the most powerful against MRSA strains used in this study. At lowest concentration of 25 micro l/ml essential oils comprehensible zone of inhibition was found 9+/-0.085mm and 8+/-0.051mm respectively, and at elevated concentrations there was a total decline in growth of MRSA and a very clear zone of inhibition was observed. A synergistic effect of essential oils in amalgamation with amoxicillin a Penicillin group of antibiotic was also examined. Interestingly a strong synergism was observed with oregano [Origanum vulgare] and pennyroyal mint [Mentha pulegium] essential oils, which were not so effective alone driven out to be important synergistic candidate. Our results demonstrated that essential oils of cinnamon and thyme can be used as potential antimicrobial agent against the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections and Amoxicillin antibacterial activity can be enhanced using active constituents present in oregano and pennyroyal mint essential oils

Isolation and characterization of antibiotic producing bacterial strains from red soil of Himalayan region of Pakistan

The emergence of multi drug resistant microbial pathogens has become a global health challenge and set a dire requirement of searching new effective antimicrobials. Soil is an ultimate reservoir of biologically active micro flora, which harbors trillions of microbial strains producing compounds of commercial interest. Hence aim of the present study was an attempt to isolate and identify the antibiotic producing microbial strains from the red soil of Himalayan an unexplored region of Pakistan. In this study from 10 different soil samples only one bacterial strain was isolated capable of antimicrobial activity. Strain was identified by biochemical characteristics and final identification was done by API 20 NE kit which showed 99% homology with P. aeruginosa. Hence the strain was identified as P. aeruginosa S2. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of the P. aeruginosa S2 showed that Staphylococcus aureus was extremely sensitive to it with a zone of inhibition of 42mm. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans were also inhibited by the isolated strain. Effect of Glycerol, Copper sulphate [CuSo4], Sodium sulphate [Na[2]SO[4]] and Glycerol on antibiotic production was also evaluated by supplementing growth media with these chemicals. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was grown in bulk quantity using solid state fermentation and crude extract was prepared using organic solvents and subjected to silica gel column chromatography for purification of active compound. Purified compound showed antibacterial against human pathogens. The unexplored Kashmir Himalayas are of great significance because of its richness in biodiversity and need to be explored for isolation and characterization of native microbes for biologically active secondary metabolites. This un touched region may be considered as hub of new antimicrobials and may have applications in natural product-based drug discovery

Screening of phytate hydrolysing marine bacteria isolated from Baluchistan

A total of 100 Marine bacterial strains were isolated and screened for phytate-degrading ability. The phytate degrading ability of the isolates was first qualitatively evaluated by the formation of haloes [clear zones] around the colonies growing on solid medium containing 10mM of sodium phytate and then quantitatively evaluated by measuring amount of free phosphate released as a result of sodium phytate hydrolysis by bacterial strains using high performance liquid chromatography and by spectrophotometric method. Thirteen percent of the isolated strains showed sodium phytate-degrading ability in solid medium and three percent of the strains showed sodium phytate degrading ability in liquid medium. The strains, which showed hydrolysis of sodium phytate both in solid and liquid media, were identified as E. coli, Bacillus steriothermophilus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. E.coli released 3.5mM phosphate and Bacillus steriothermophilus released 2.4mM free phosphate where as Pseudomonas aeruginosa released 1.4mM free phosphate

Solubilization of insoluble inorganic phosphate compounds by attached and free living marine bacteria

Phosphorous [P] is a plant nutrient, which is rapidly made immobile and less available for plant use after addition to the soil as a soluble fertilizer. Phosphate solubilizing microoganisms are able to improve the P nutrient availability to plants and thus stimulate plant growth. Marine bacteria isolated from attached and free surfaces were screened for solubilization of insoluble phosphate compounds. Both types of bacteria, attached and free-living demonstrated diverse levels of phosphate solubilization activity under in vitro conditions. Colonies of marine bacteria produced clear haloes on solid medium incorporating insoluble phosphate compounds, but only when glucose was provided as the carbon source. In attached bacteria 30% bacterial strains solubilized zinc phosphate, 19% solubilized calcium tri phosphate whereas, 18% of free-living bacteria solubilized zinc phosphate and 12% solubilized calcium tri phosphate