Antimicrobial activity of some plant extracts against bacterial pathogens isolated from faeces of red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Antibacterial activity is the most widely studied aspect of plant extracts. Antibiotics extensively produced and consumed in large quantities, have proved to be problematic due to various types of adverse effects. The development of bacterial resistance to currently available antibiotics has necessitated the search for new antibacterial agents. One of the alternative strategies for fighting antibiotic- resistant bacteria is the use of natural antimicrobial substances such as plant extracts. We tested the antimicrobial activity of nine extracts from different plants against pathogenic bacteria isolated from the faeces of red deer (Cervus elaphus). Selected bacteria commonly contaminated the natural environment and constitute a source of infection in other animals and humans. Extracts obtained from the following plants were tested: Hypericum perforatum L., Chamomilla recutita L., Achillea millefolium L., Salvia officinalis L., Thymus vulgaris L., Pinus sylvestris L., Mentha x piperita L., Valeriana officinalis L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. The highest degree of antibacterial properties was observed for Mentha x piperita L., narrower spectrum of activity possessed Hypericum perforatum L. Extracts of Achillea millefolium L. had the lowest spectrum of antibacterial activity. Our study confirms that many plant extracts shows in vitro antibacterial activity.

Determination of flumequine and doxycycline in milk by a simple thin-layer chromatographic method.

Tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics have for many years served as important classes of veterinary drugs. Two representatives of both classes: doxycycline from tetracyclines and flumequine from quinolones are often administered together. When the withdrawal periods are not obeyed, the antibiotic residues may be present in edible products, e.g., in meat, eggs or milk. In the present paper a simple thin-layer chromatography (TLC) screening method is established for determining these drugs in milk. Only two developments of the plate with concentrating zone are needed: one as a clean-up procedure, the other as a proper analysis. The spots were detected both by UV lamp with dual wavelength (254 and 366 nm) and by densitometry.

Quantitation of the diacyl, alkylacyl, and alk-1-enylacyl subclasses of choline glycerophospholipids by chemical dephosphorylation and benzoylation.

A method for the determination of the relative amounts of the diacyl, alkylacyl, and alk-1-enylacyl subclasses of choline glycerophospholipids by benzoolysis is described. The procedure consists of simply heating the phospholipid with benzoic anhydride in the presence of boric acid for 5 h at 100 degrees C, followed by reaction with 4-dimethylaminopyridine for 2 h at room temperature and HPLC analysis of the lipidic products formed. With model compounds of the three subclasses it is shown that diacyl- and alkylacylglycerophosphocholines are completely dephosphorylated by this procedure, yielding quantitatively the corresponding diacyl- and alkylacylglycerobenzoates. The same procedure applied to a model alk-1-enylacylglycerophosphocholine gives only 53.5% of dephosphorylation, while the dephosphorylated products in turn are quantitatively converted into the corresponding acylglycerodibenzoates. The latter figure is shown to be fairly reproducible. The reduced dephosphorylation rate of plasmalogens appears to be due to complete disruption of the vinyl ether bond. The liberated fatty aldehyde gives rise to an addition product with benzoic anhydride, which was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It is demonstrated that acyl migration occurring during the benzoolysis does not interfere with the HPLC separation of the glycerobenzoates and dibenzoates derived from the three distinct subclasses. Results of subclass determinations by benzoolysis of several natural diradylglycerophosphocholines are in good accordance with literature values. The agreement between the plasmalogen contents, determined by benzoolysis and by phosphorus determination following exposure to HCl and separation by thin-layer chromatography, is satisfactory. The reliability of the benzoolysis method is generally discussed.