Herbal Medicine from Single Clove Garlic Oil Extract Ameliorates Hepatic Steatosis and Oxidative Status in High Fat Diet Mice

@#Introduction: High fat diet (HFD) can cause lipid accumulation and contribute to various metabolic disorders. Single clove garlic oil (SCGO) has advantages over regular garlic due to its higher amounts of organosulfide compounds in particular. This study aimed to determine the ability of SCGO extract to ameliorate hepatic steatosis and improve oxidative status by modulating expression of tumour necrosis factor α and superoxide dismutase in mice fed a HFD. Methods: Twenty-four adult male Balb/C mice were divided into six groups: i) normal diet; ii) positive control diet; iii) negative control diet; and iv) HFD with SCGO at 12.5 mg/kg body weight (mg/kg BW); v) HFD with SCGO at 25 mg/kg BW, vi) HFD with SCGO at 50 mg/kg BW. Liver weight and morphology, spleen weight, serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), TNF-α expression in the aorta and lipid profiles were assessed at the end of the experimental period. Results: SCGO treatment was associated with significant decreases in liver and spleen weight as well as amelioration of hepatic steatosis. SCGO treatment also decreased TNF-α levels and expression. Serum levels of SOD in the SCGO groups were significantly increased compared with the negative control group. Lipid profiles were improved in the SCGO treatment groups compared with the negative control group. Conclusion: SCGO as an herbal medicine could be an effective treatment for degenerative disorders caused by HFD.

The Effect Of Postpartum Coping Skill Classes (PCSC) On Stress Level, Cortisol Levels, Maternal Self- Efficacy, And Baby’s Growth And Development In Semarang, Central Java

@#Postpartum stress incidence rate is quite high (26% - 85%). Several studies reveal that more than 50% of women experience stress and depression after giving birth and almost 80% of new mothers experience terrible sadness feelings after giving birth, often called postpartum stress. This study aims to determine the effect of postpartum coping skill classes (PCSC) on stress level, cortisol level, maternal self-efficacy (MSE), and baby's growth and development. This study employed an experimental design method with a randomized study pre-test post-test control group design. The study was conducted on 18 postpartum women who were given PCSC treatment which was integrated into postpartum classes and 17 women were given postpartum classes (PC) only. The study was conducted in 4 weeks. The data were analyzed statistically using a t-test method. Ethical clearance for the study was obtained. The results disclose that PCSC significantly decrease the PSS score (-2.66 ± 4.74, p = 0,029). Similarly, the cortisol level drops significantly (-38.53 ± 74.60, p = 0.031). In other respect, the MSE score between groups have significant mean difference (p = 0.013), but the weight gain and development of the baby between the two groups have no significant mean difference (p >0.05). The provision of coping skill classes through maternal classes for postpartum women was effective in decreasing stress levels, cortisol levels, and increasing MSE scores although it did not affect the baby's growth and development.

The effect of single-bulb garlic oil extract toward the hematology and histopathology of the liver and kidney in mice

Single garlic has been used as a traditional medicine for hypercholesterolemia and increasing stamina. The aim of this research was to analyze the effect of single-bulb garlic oil (SGO) extract toward hematology and histopathology liver and kidney in mice. Male mice (strain Balb-C, 12 weeks old, weight of 28±3 g) was treated by SGO for 28 days (once per days) with various doses K- (Normal); K+ (SGO 0.0 mg/kg BW); T1 (SGO 6.25 mg/kg BW); T2 (SGO 12.5 mg/kg BW); T3 (SGO 25.0 mg/kg BW); T4 (SGO 50.0 mg/kg BW). The end of the treated mice was sacrificed. Blood was collected to analyze hematology. Liver and kidney were collected then made microanatomy slide with Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. Parameters of hematology are the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, number of erythrocytes, and number of leukocytes. Histopathology of liver and kidney determine by cell necrosis. The result of the research showed that SGO increased the number of erythrocytes and leucocytes but there is no effect on the levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit. Histopathology on liver and kidney showed there is no effect in necrosis. The conclusion is the single-bulb garlic oil extract safe if consumed continuously

Characterization of bioactive compound from actinomycetes for antibiofilm activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria

Aims: Biofilm is an assemblage of microorganisms enclosed in a matrix of extracellular materials, such as, extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), and relates to bacterial virulence, pathogenesis, and environmental survival. Bacteria inside biofilm are more resistant to conventional antibiotics and the host immune system. Non-biocidal antibiofilm compounds have been developed to address this problem. Specifically, actinomycetes have known to produce many metabolite compounds that have useful application in medicine and biotechnology. The study aimed to characterize bioactive compounds from actinomycetes crude extract that have capability as a multispecies antibiofilm agent. Methodology and results: In this study, none of the isolates had shown any antimicrobial activity. Based on the antibiofilm assay, most of the isolates have the capability to inhibit and to destroy biofilm formation of pathogenic bacteria at a 5% and 10% dosage. The crude extracts showing the highest activity for antibiofilm inhibition were extracted from Streptomyces sp. The characterization of the bioactive compounds showed that different components of a particular isolate responsible for its antibiofilm activity against pathogenic bacteria. The SW19 isolate had a nucleic acid, KP12 isolate had a combination of the three component (polysaccharide, protein, and nucleic acid), and CW17 isolate had a combination of polysaccharide and nucleic acid as the active compound for antibiofilm activity. Conclusion, significance and impact study: Thus, the bioactive crude extracts from actinomycetes has high potential to be used in treating biofilm-related infection and further research is needed to purify the bioactive compound from the crude extract which has antibiofilm activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens.

PPARγ expression by rambutan peel extract in obesity rat model-induced high-calorie diet

Objective: To monitor the physiological characteristics and genes expression of obesity rat model after rambutan peel extract (RPE) treatment. Methods: Twenty-four 12-week-old male rats were divided into 4 groups: normal, obesity, obesity treated with ellagic acid (O-EA) and obesity treated with RPE30 (O-RPE30). Physiological characteristics were monitored by measuring body weight, calorie intake, size of adipocyte and level of triglyceride. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins α and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) expression were observed using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and quantitative RT-PCR methods. Results: Body weight gain of O-EA and O-RPE30 rats were lower than obesity group and size of adipocyte cells were smaller than obesity group ( P < 0.05), but when we compared to normal group, those groups had higher body weight gain and larger adipocyte cells. The level of triglycerides, protein expression of PPARγ and mRNA level of FABP4 genes were significantly downregulated on O-EA and O-RPE30 compared to obesity group ( P < 0.05). Our results indicated that RPE had potential substance as inhibitor of body weight gain, declining of size of adipocyte, level of triglycerides, PPARγ expression and mRNA level of FABP4 gene on obesity rat model. Conclusions: RPE have anti-obesity activity by inhibiting body weight gain, declining size of adipocyte, decreasing triglyceride, PPARγ expression and mRNA level of FABP4 gene on obesity rat model.