Antimicrobial activity of the leaves of Pistacia khinjuk

Pistacia khinjuk is one of the three species Pistacia growing in Iran. The essential oils of some Pistacia plants contain variety of components with different therapeutical effects. The purpose of this study was to provide the examination of antibacterial and antifungal effects of chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol and diethyl ether extracts obtained from the leaves of P. khinjuk. for obtaining different extracts of P. khinjuk, 30 gr of leaves powder was macerated with 120 ml of each solvent [chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, diethyl ether]. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of different extracts was individually tested against a panel of microorganisms, including Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Some major constituents of essential oil from the aerial parts of P. khinjuk are beta-pinene, beta-pinene, Myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, Germacrene B and Spathulenol. The extracts showed antimicrobial activity against bacteria [MIC=0.02 - 0.5 mg/ml] and fungi [MIC=0.06 - 0.4 mg/ml]. In conclusion the different leaves extracts of P.khinjuk [chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, diethyl ether] like other species of Pistacia show antibacterial and antifungal activities

In vivo efficacy of gum obtained pistacia atlantica in experimental treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Recent circumstantial evidences are suggesting that an increasing number of Iranian patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis are unresponsive to meglumine antimoniate [Glucantime]. Pistacia atlantica is native plant in Iran [central, western, and eastern regions]. Gum obtained Pistacia atlantica has been reported to possess considerable in vitro antimicrobial activity. In this study, we aimed to investigate antileishmanial activity of P. atlantica. Male BALB/c mice were inoculated subcutaneously 2x10[6] L. major Promastigotes [MHROM/IR/75/ER] at the base of tail in 2007. Mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, in group 1 Glucantime was administered to the BALB/c mice in regimen of 60 mg per kg of body weight for 28 days by intraperitoneal injections per day, in group 2 the gum of P. atlantica var. Kurdica were tested by rubbing of local lesions for 28 days, group 3 infected but non-treated. Comparisons of treated groups and untreated group were done by two-way analysis of variance [ANOVA] Topically rubbing administration of gum obtained P. atlantica var. kurdica daily for 28 days like Glucantime decreased skin lesion size in the BALB/c mice infected with L.major compared with that in the control [P< 0.01]. Treatment BALB/c mice with gum obtained P. atlantica var. kurdica and Glucantime causes decrease number of parasitologicaly positive mice [P< 0.05]. Our results show that gum obtained P. atlantica var. kurdica can be used for controlling cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L.major and inhibiting development of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions

Study on chemical composition of essential oil and anti-oxidant and anti microbial properties of Artemisia haussknechtii

Artemisia species with common Persian name of Dermaneh are found all over Iran and are used for treatment in infectious diseases such as malaria, hepatitis and other diseases. Some Artemisia species are used in traditionally as tonic and anti-helmintic in north of Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate chemical composition of the essential oil of Artemisia haussknechtii. Also potential antioxidant and anti microbial activities of the essential oil and ethanolic extract were studied. The essential oil was prepared by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS instruments. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by methods; namely DPPH, free radical scavenging, FTC system and total phenolic compounds analyzing. The antimicrobial activities of the extract were individually tested against a panel of microorganisms using disc diffusion method and MIC [minimum inhibitory concentration] measurement. Forty-eight components were identified constituting 98.35 of total oil. Camphor [12.4%], alpha-Terpineol [9.93%], Davana ether [6/24%], and Bornyl acetate [3.77%] were the major components. Good antioxidant activity of extract; increasing with the increment of concentration of plant extract was revealed. Ethanolic extract of Artemisia haussknechtii inhibited both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. MIC of the extract against yeast was the lowest [2.5 micro sign g/ml]. A known anti-bacterial compound [camphor] was one of major components in the essential oil, ethanolic extract showed good anti-oxidant activity and also extract inhibited growth of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria and fungi. These findings supported some traditional use of this plant

Preparation of a K39sub recombinant antigen for the detection of Leishmania infantum antibodies in human: a comparative study with an immunochromatographic test and direct agglutination

The Mediterranean type of kala-azar is occurred in different parts of Iran and caused by Leishmania infantum. A rapid and valid test for early detection of visceral leishmaniasis in human would be highly desirable because it could decrease mortality rate of the disease. In this study, we aimed to compare the results of K39sub antigen with a commercial immunochromatographic dipstick rk39 test [Cypress Diagnostic Company, Belgium] for early detection of L. infantum infection in human. K39sub recombinant antigen of L. infantum LON49 was expressed in prokaryotic system and evaluated for the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis. This study evaluated the performance of recombinant K39sub antigen by ELISA and an commercial immunochromatographic dipstick rk39 test for the detection of L. infantum antibodies in 43 clinically infected patients with direct agglutination test [DAT] at a 1: 3200 cut off titer and higher. Controls included 69 healthy volunteers and 28 patients with other diseases including malaria [n=5], tuberculosis [n= 3], toxoplasmosis [n= 4], cystic hydatidosis [n= 5] and cutaneous leishmaniasis [n= 11]. The sensitivity of the K39sub antigen and an immunochromatographic dipstick rk39 test was 90.7%, and 97.7%, respectively, while the specificity was 95.6% and 97.9%, correspondingly. A good concordance was found between k39sub antigen and commercial dipstick rk39 strips [k= 96.4%]. The accuracy of the K39sub antigen in the detection of L. infantum antibodies in human infection is confirmed

Diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis by ELISA using K39sub recombinant antigen

Surveillance of the canine reservoir is highly important to help control of visceral leishmaniasis in human. It is therefore imperative to improve and develop new tools reliable, easy to use, and cheap for the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis. K39 sub recombinant antigen of Leishmania infantum was expressed in prokaryotic system and evaluated for sero-diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis [CVL]. The gene fragment encoding a single 39-amino acid subunit of the kinesin-related protein k39 [k39sub] was amplified from DNA of Iranian strain of L. infantum [MCAN/IR/96/LON49] and cloned into a pMAL-p2 expression vector in frame with maltose-binding protein [MBP] fusion. The antigenic properties of L. infantum recombinant K39 subunit [39 amino acids] have been tested for the serological diagnosis of CVL by ELISA. K39sub ELISA for CVL was compared with a standard direct agglutination test [DAT] on 55 clinically infected dogs and 71 healthy controls from endemic areas of Ardabil and East Azerbaijan provinces, north-west of Iran. A sensitivity of 72.7% and specificity of 87.3% were found at a 1:320 cut off titer when DAT confirmed cases were compared with healthy control. A good concordance was found between k39sub ELISA and DAT [k= 81.0]. Given the antigenic properties shown by the k39sub, we think this protein carry immunodominant epitopes and are valuable for the sero- diagnosis of L. infantum infection in dogs

Inhibit effect of allium hirtifolium boiss. [Persian shallot] hydroalcoholic extract on the growth of Leishmania infantum in vitro

Antiprotozoal effects of genus Allium plants including garlic and onion have been proven in Aryana L and s since hundreds years ago. In this study, inhibitory effect of persian shallot hydroalcoholic extract on growth of Leishmania infantum was evaluated in vitro. Different concentrations of the extract including 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/cc in schneider medium were prepared, the parasites were added and counted every day during 7 days after culture. Concentrations between 0.01 - 0.1 mg/cc inhibited the growth of parasites on the third day, but the highest concentration [0.2 mg/cc] inhibited the growth of parasites on the first day. This study proves inhibitory effect of persian shallot hydroalcoholic extract [containing allicin, ajoene and other agents] on Leishmania infantum. For exact evaluation of persian shallot antileishmanian properties, it is necessary to evaluate inhibitory effect of the plant hydroalcoholic extract in vivo

Invitro antitrichomonas activity of Allium hirtifolium [Persian Shallot] in comparison with metronidazole

Trichomonas vaginalis infection is a sexually transmitted infection causing vaginitis and acute inflammatory disease of the genital mucosa. Although Metronidazole resistance in T. vaginalis is well documented, The only drug approved for the treatment of trichomoniasis in some countries is metronidazole. Genus Allium plants including garlic; shallot and onion have had an important medicinal role for centuries. Some study have proven antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoal and antihelmintic properties of genus Allium plants. at first PSHE and PSDE [persian shallot hydroalcoholic and dichlromethanic extract] was prepared in ethanol/water [50:50] and dichlromethane respectively at cool temperature [10°C]. genus Allium plants extracts were shown to decrease the oxygen uptake, reduce the growth of the organism, inhibit the synthesis of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids and damage membranes. In this study the Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations [MICs] of PSHE, PSDE and metronidazole respectively were 10, 5 and 2micro g/ml. Persian shallot inhibited growth of T. vaginalis at low concentrations and in short times, therefore this plant have some antitrichomonas components [including allicin, ajoene and other organosulfides] that antimicrobial properties of these was proven