ABSTRACT
Herbal medicines are the major remedy in traditional medical systems and made a great contribution in maintaining human health and in preventing many infectious diseases. The present study was carried out to determine the potential antibacterial effect of ethanol extracts and essential oil of Marrubium vulgare L. against Staphylococcus aureus which is antibiotic resistant. All 17 strains of S. aureus isolated from nose and throat sample from 160 healthy subjects, hospital staffs and inpatient in the city of Zabol [Amir Al-Momenin hospital, Zabol, south-eastern Iran] were screened during years 2010-2011. In this study, the essential oil of Marrubium vulgare L. obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry [GC-MS] in order to determine their chemical composition. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were investigated to characterize the antimicrobial activities of this essential oil and extract. Thirty-one components in the oil of Marrubium vulgare were identified. The results demonstrated that the major components of the essential oil were gamma-Eudesmol [11%], Germacrene [10%], D-Citronelly formate [10%], beta-Citronellol [8%], Geranyl tiglate [7.1%], Geranyl formate [6.02%]. The least MIC value of extract M. vulgare was 2.5 mg/mL and the highest MIC value of essential oil M. vulgare was 2.5 mg/mL. This investigation showed that the M. vulgare essential oil and extract has a potent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. The present studies confirm the use of this essential oil and extract as antibacterial agent. Further research is required to evaluate the practical values of therapeutic applications
ABSTRACT
In vitro maturation [IVM] of human oocytes is an emerging procedure quickly incorporated into the world of assisted reproductive technologies. As an effective method of in vitro maturation, several studies have reported the critical role of differentions on activating the complex process involved in both gamete maturation and fertilization. In this study, we supplemented a chemically defined medium with different combinations of selenium, calcium and calcium ionophore concentrations to obtain the best rate of human oocytes maturation, survival, and fertilization. As an experimental study, Three combinations of [selenium [5 microg/ml], calcium [5 microg/ml] and calcium ionophore [1 microg/ml]], [selenium [10 microg/ml], calcium [7 microg/ml] and calcium ionophore [2 microg/ml]] and [selenium [15 microg/ml], calcium [10 microg/ml] and calcium ionophore [5 microg/ml]] added to the chemically defined medium and the morphology of oocytes assessed after 22-24 hours in vitro maturation of the oocytes. The highest percentage of MII [meiosis II] oocytes [68%], developing beyond the morula [20.1%] and the blastocyst formation [11.1%] observed in oocytes treated with 15microg/ml selenium, 10microg/ml calcium and 5microg/ml calcium ionophore. Moreover, we showed the significant rate of survival in each three combinations after 36, 72 and 96 hours. Maturation and activation of oocytes may be triggered by changes in intracellular ion concentrations as second messengers in signal transduction pathways. Here, we received the highest percentage of in vitro maturation and fertilization among three combinations of selenium, calcium and calcium ionophore treatments. Using this combination of ions beside other factors might be useful for the enrichment of the human oocytes IVM medium