ABSTRACT
Abstract This study assessed the inhibitory potential of the probiotics Lactobacillus (LB) exopolysaccharides (EPS) with or without extracts of Satureja calamintha on enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEc) responsible for gastroenteritis. Methanolic and hydromethanolic extracts were prepared by cold maceration and subjected to phytochemical screening. The compounds of the extracts were determined with the colorimetric assays and identified using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Antioxidant activities of the extracts were also evaluated by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging. Antibacterial effect on EPEc was evaluated by using both agar disc diffusion and microdilution methods. The in vitro test of auto-aggregation was investigated. Microbiological analysis showed that 63% of the isolated LB were producing EPS, with the amount ranging from 8.21 to 43.13 mg/L. Chemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids, more abundant in the hydromethanolic extract, which presented the highest content with 2.11 mg EGA/g of polyphenol and 1.64 mg EC/g of flavonoids and 1.71 mg EGA/g of polyphenol and 1.15 mg EC/g of flavonoids in the methanolic extract. Hydromethanolic extracts and EPS exhibited a more important activity than did the methanolic extract against EPEc. The combined action of EPS and extracts reduced the aggregation ability of EPEc and decreased the rate of their adhesion.
Subject(s)
Probiotics/adverse effects , Satureja/adverse effects , Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli/classification , Lactobacillus/classification , Plant Extracts/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Nepeta/adverse effects , Phytochemicals , Gastroenteritis , Antioxidants/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Ephedra, Nepeta, and Hymenocrater herbs have long been used in the treatment of many diseases, but their interactions with cellular components, especially nuclear proteins, are still unknown
On the other hand, in the eukaryotic cell nucleus histone proteins play a main role in the packaging of the genetic material as chromatin. The present study aimed at comparing the in-vitro interactions of aqueous extracts of Ephedra, Nepeta, and Hymonocarater with histone proteins
Materials and Methods: Histone proteins type 2A were purchased from Sigma company and aqueous extract of Ephedra, Nepeta and Hymenocrater were prepared in the research laboratory of Birjand University of Medical sciences. Different concentrations of the aqueous extracts were incubated with histone proteins, then analyzed by UV-Spectroscopy and Circular dichroism
Results: Aqueous extract of Nepeta increased maximum absorbance of histone proteins at 210 nm, but the reduction in absorbance was shown at its high concentration. The absorbance of histone proteins also changed in the presence of the aqueous extract of Ephedra and Hymenocrater and it decreased to zero at higher concentration of Ephedra. Circular Dichroism studies demonstrated that the structure of histone proteins changed in the presence of mentioned aqueous extract; the observed effect of the aqueous extract of ephedra was higher than Nepeta and Hymenocrater
Conclusion: The aqueous extracts of ephedra, Nepeta,and Hymenocrated interacted with histone proteins and changed their structure. The effect of ephedra was higher than others
Subject(s)
In Vitro Techniques , Nepeta , Histones , Plant Extracts , Phytotherapy , Plants, MedicinalABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to determine the effects of two geographically different strains of Rhizophagus intraradices (M3 and GA5) on the total biomass and essential oil (EO) yield and composition of Calamintha nepeta, with or without phosphorus (P) fertilization, under greenhouse conditions. The plant biomass was not significantly affected by any of the treatments, showing higher values in control plants. Strains had a differential response in their root colonization rates: M3 reduced these parameters while GA5 did not modify them. Both strains affected EO yield in absence of P fertilization: M3 promoted EO yield in C. nepeta plants and GA5 resulted in negative effects. The percentage composition of EO was not significantly modified by either strain or P fertilization. M3 strain could be a potential fungal bioinoculant for production and commercialization of C. nepeta in the aromatic plant market.
Subject(s)
Biomass , Glomeromycota , Nepeta/metabolism , Nepeta/microbiology , Oils, Volatile/chemistryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the larvicidal activity of essential oil and methanol extract of the Nepeta menthoides (N. menthoides) against main malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi (An. stephensi).@*METHODS@#The essential oil of plant was obtained by Clevenger type apparatus and the methanol extract was supplied with Percolation method. Larvicidal activity was tested by WHO method. Twenty five fourth-instar larvae of An. stephensi were used in the larvicidal assay and four replicates were tested for each concentration. Five different concentrations of the oil and extract were tested for calculation of LC(50) and LC(90) values.@*RESULTS@#The LC(50) and LC(90) values were determined by probit analysis. LC(50) was 69.5 and 234.3 ppm and LC(90) was 175.5 and 419.9 ppm for the extract and essential oil respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#According to the results of this study methanolic extract of plant exhibited more larvicidal activity than essential oil. This could be useful for investigation of new natural larvicidal compounds.
Subject(s)
Animals , Anopheles , Insecticides , Larva , Methanol , Chemistry , Nepeta , Chemistry , Oils, Volatile , Chemistry , Plant Components, Aerial , Chemistry , Plant Extracts , Chemistry , Regression AnalysisABSTRACT
Coronary Artery Disease [CAD] plays a major role in mortality worldwide. Thus there is a great challenge before clinicians to find out safe and effective therapy. There are some Unani drugs like Badranjaboya, Balchar, Jadwar and Arjun whose efficacy is mentioned in Unani literature without any known side effect. A clinical trial of these drugs on 60 patients of ischaemia was carried out which were selected on the ground of clinical presentation, ECG findings and ventricular dyskinesia in 2D, M-mode echocardiography. Drugs were given in the powder form orally [10 gm powder in two divided doses], study duration was set for two months and efficacy of the formulation was evaluated following modern parameters
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Myocardial Ischemia , Chemistry, Pharmaceutical , Nepeta , Nardostachys , Delphinium , TerminaliaABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify compounds that may be responsible for catnip response of Actinidia macrosperma, and compare chemical compositions in the wild and in vitro regenerated plants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>GC-MS and relative retention indices with n-alkanes as reference points were used for compound identification, and component relative percentage was calculated based on GC peak areas without using correction factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There are 28 compounds (92.72%) and 15 compounds (93.88%) identified in the essential oils from the wild and regenerated plants, respectively. Dihydronepetalactone, iridomyrmecin, and dihydroactinidiolide, which are believed to be attractive to felines, are present in both wild and regenerated plants. Actinine was not detected, and beta-pheylethyl alcohol was only present in wild plant. In addition, short-chain enol derivatives, messengers in chemical communication, are commonly present in wild plant of A. macrosperma, but absent in regenerated one.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dihydronepetalactone, iridomyrmecin, and dihydroactinidiolide are responsible for the catnip response of A. macrosperma.</p>