[Study of antibacterial properties of adiantum capillus-veneris extract on eight species of gram positive and negative bacteria]

Adiantum capillus-veneris L. is a traditional medicinal plant which was used in the treatment of bronchitis and coughs, and also to prevent hair loss. Methanolic extract of this plant has demonstrated significant antimicrobial activities. In this study the antibacterial properties of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. extract on eight species of Gram positive and negative bacteria were evaluated. The herbal sample of Adiantum capillus-veneris was collected during the summer [June-July] from the north region of Iran called Condoluse and identified by herbarium laboratory in Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, where a voucher specimen is deposited. The sample was pretreated and extracted with methanol 96% by percolation method and then concentrated and stored in a safe bottle until the experiments started. By using dilution method different dilutions of the extract have been prepared [10%, 5%, 2.5% and 1.25%]. Antimicrobial activity of the methnolic extract of Adiantum capillus-veneris were evaluated against 8 strain of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria using agar disk diffusion and agar well plate methods. Our results demonstrated that prepared dilutions of the Adiantum capillus-veneris extract had significant effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori strains. Also the results indicated no significant inhibitory effects on Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus pyogenes strains. Consistent with the other studies, our investigation demonstrated some antimicrobial effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris extract. With respect to various and multiple chemical properties of this plant, it is suggested that Adiantum capillus-veneris can be used for more medical and therapeutic purposes

[Serological study of visceral leishmaniasis in Boyer Ahmad Township in 2005]

Visceral leishmaniasis [Kala-azar] is a disease caused by intracellular protozoa parasites of the genus Leishmania. Kala-azar in Iran is usually seen in children below 10 years old. Kala-azar is endemic in some areas of Iran including Ardebil, Fars, and East Azerbaijan. The present study was designed to assess the situation of Kala-azar in children of ten and below ten years in Boyer Ahmad township in Kohgiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad province in 1384. Blood samples were collected from all the children of 10 and less than 10 years old. In this survey 1628 blood samples were collected from finger tip of children on filter paper. Collected samples were evaluated by direct agglutination test [DAT]. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS software. Result of this study showed that from 1628 samples collected, 50 cases [3.07 percent] were become positive with DAT test. Infection in females was less than male. No significant correlation was found between antibody titer and sex. The highest prevalence rate of the infection was seen in age 10 [14.82%]. Leishmania Infection was not found in any of the studied reservoirs [dogs]. Results of this study indicate that Kala-azar is an endemic disease in the studied region. Considering the obtained data, more study is needed to find out the prevalence of the disease in other regions of the province and also to find ou more about the possible animal reservoir of the diseases in the region