effect of prangos ferulacea vaginal cream on accelerating the recovery of bacterial vaginosis: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: The present study was conducted on the effect of prangos ferulacea vaginal cream on accelerating the recovery of bacterial vaginosis

Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 100 non-pregnant women referring to health centers affiliated to Lorestan University of Medical Sciences in 2016 with the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis based on the patient's complaints, Amsel's clinical criteria, and the Nugent microscopic criteria. The women were randomly divided into two groups of 50. One group was treated with oral metronidazole plus Prangos ferulacea vaginal cream and the other with oral metronidazole plus a placebo vaginal cream for seven days. The patient's complaints, Amsel's clinical criteria and the Nugent microscopic criteria were assessed seven days after treatment. The data were analyzed using SPSS, version 20, with a significance level of 0.05

Results: The response to oral metronidazole plus Prangos ferulacea vaginal cream treatment was 94% according to Amsel's clinical criteria and 88% according to the Nugent microscopic criteria. The response to oral metronidazole plus placebo vaginal cream treatment was 94% according to Amsel's criteria and 86% according to the Nugent criteria. The analysis of the patients' complaints, Amsel's clinical criteria and the Nugent microscopic criteria showed significant differences in each group before and after the treatment

Conclusion: This trial showed that Prangos ferulacea vaginal cream accelerated the recovery of bacterial vaginosis of patients with bacterial vaginosis. It can be used effectively as a complementary treatment with oral metronidazole in cases of medication resistance and also in people wishing to use herbal remedies

Influence of heat shock temperatures and fast freezing on viability of probiotic sporeformers and the issue of spore plate count versus true numbers

Background and Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate effects of various heat shock conditions and fast freezing and subsequent thawing on the viability and recovery of Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis as probiotic Sporeformers, and also to compare spore plate and microscopic counts

Materials and Methods: After preparing the final suspensions of B. coagulans and Bacillus suhtilis subsp. Natto spores, they were spread-plated before and after fast freezing treatment [-70°C for about 1 min]. Heat shock treatments of the spores were carried out at 68°C for 15, 20, and 30 min as well as at 80°C for 10 and 15 min. Concentrations of the examined probiotic Sporeformers were determined simultaneously by plate enumerations and microscopically determined counts. Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA] of SPSS were used for statistical analysis of the data. Analysis of DoE results was carried out using Minitab

Results: The results presented here show that the highest recovery rates for B. coagulans [14.75 log CFU/mL] and B. subtilis spores [14.80 log CFU/mL] were under a heat shock condition of 68°C for 20 min in nutrient agar [p<0.05]

In addition, the survival rates of B. coagulans and B. subtilis spores under the fast freezing and subsequent thawing condition were about 90% and 88%, respectively. Plate counts differed significantly from counts determined microscopically, with differences of almost 0.5 and 0.8 log for B. coagulans and B. subtilis spores, respectively [p<0.05]

In addition, DoE results of the study revealed that both factors of spore count method and only freezing factor in fast freezing treatment have a significant effect on concentrations of the spores examined [p<0.05]

Conclusions: Heat shock conditions, freezing and subsequent thawing circumstances, and plate counts or enumerations determined microscopically have significant influences on the viability of probiotic Sporeformers and should be considered in determining of their accurate concentrations

Physical, antioxidant and antimicrobial characteristics of carboxymethyl cellulose edible film cooperated with clove essential oil

Carboxymethyl cellulose [CMC] is one of the most common cellulose derivatives. It has many applications such as edible films and coating. Antioxidant and antimicrobial of essential oils and their direct or indirect usage in foods have been investigated. This study focuses on the physical, chemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial characteristics of CMC edible film incorporated with clove essential oils [CEO]. In this experimental study, CMC edible films with or without clove essential oil were prepared by casting method and many characteristics such as thickness, water vapor permeability [WVP], tensile strength, elongation at break, optical characteristics, microstructure, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the films were assessed. Tensile strength values were higher when compared with those of control film [pure CMC film], especially in 1% EO concentration. Elongation at break value in 1% EO was higher than control film, but by increasing of EO portion, it decreased. Antioxidant properties and total phenolic compounds as expected increased in higher concentration of EO. Antimicrobial properties of the films showed that films incorporated with EO are effective against selected pathogen bacteria, especially in the higher concentration of EO. Some variations in the structure of various films were shown by scanning electron microscopy [SEM]. Additions of EO into CMC film disrupted condense structure of film and produced a heterogeneous structure. As antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of CEO retain when it used in CMC edible film, it could be beneficial in food packaging to retard of deterioration

structure biology and application of phytohemagglutinin [PHA] in phytomedicine: with special up-to-date references to lectins

Lectins first discovered more than 100 years ago in plants, they are now known to be present throughout nature. Phytohemagglutinin [PHA], the lectin extract from the red kidney bean [Phaseolus Vulgaris], contain potent, cell agglutinating and mitogenic activities. They play a role in biological recognition phenomena involving cells and proteins towards medical applications. The present article is a brief review of the history of lectin in nature. By reviewing the web-based search for all types of peer review articles published, was initiated using ISI web of Sciences and Medline / PubMed, and other pertinent references on websites about lectins. Here, we present a brief account of 100-plus years of lectin research and show how these proteins have become the focus of intense interest for biologists and in particular for the research and applications in medicine. Phytohemagglutinin, has been widely used for mitotic stimulation to human lymphocytes, cell arrest, or apoptosis, potential sources for developing novel pharmaceutical preparation and intensive interest for health care services, biologist and phytomedicine research can be considered