Protective properties of Myrtus communis extract against oxidative effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on rat plasma and hemoglobin.

PURPOSE: This study investigates the protective properties of Myrtus communis extract against the oxidative effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELFMF). Also, this study is aimed to analyze the conformational changes of hemoglobin, oxidative damages to plasma proteins and antioxidant power of plasma following exposure to ELFMF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male rats were divided into 3 groups: (1) control, (2) ELFMF exposure, and (3) ELFMF exposure after M. communis extract administration. The magnetic field (0.7 mT, 50 Hz) was produced by a Helmholtz coil for one month, 2 hours a day. The M. communis extract was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg before exposure to ELFMF. The oxidative effects of ELFMF were studied by evaluating the hemoglobin, methemoglobin (metHb) and hemichrome levels, absorption spectrum of hemoglobin (200-700 nm), oxidative damage to plasma proteins by measuring protein carbonyl (PCO) levels and plasma antioxidant power according to the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). The mean and standard errors of the mean were determined for each group. One-way ANOVA analysis was used to compare the means of groups. The significance level was considered to be p < .05. Moreover, artificial neural network (ANN) analysis was used to identify the predictive parameters for estimating the oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb) concentration. RESULTS: Exposure to ELFMF decreased the FRAP which was in concomitant with a significant increase in plasma PCO, metHb and hemichrome concentrations (p < .001). Oxidative modifications of Hb were shown by reduction in optical density at 340 nm (globin-heme interaction) and 420 nm (heme-heme interaction). Administration of M. communis extract increased FRAP values and decreased plasma POC, metHb, and hemichrome concentrations. Also, a significant increase in Hb absorbance at 340, 420, 542, and 577 nm showed the protective properties of M. communis extract against ELFMF-induced oxidative stress in erythrocytes. ANN analysis showed that optical absorption of hemoglobin at 520, 577, 542, and 630 nm and concentration of metHb and hemichrome were the most important parameters in predicting the oxyHb concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Myrtus communis extract enhances the ability of erythrocytes and plasma to deal with oxidative conditions during exposure to ELFMF. Also, ANN analysis can predict the most important parameters in relation to Hb structure during oxidative stress.

Comparison of antibacterial effects of a carrier produced in microemulsion system from aqueous extract of Aloe vera with selected antibiotics on Enterobacteriacea.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Antibiotics resistance has recently increased. The aim of this study was the evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of Aloe vera carrier produced in microemulsion system in comparison with ordinary antibiotics against some Enterobacteriacea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aquatic extract of Aleo vera was produced by the Soxhlet method and a nonocarrier in the microemulsion system was prepared by two emulsifiers. The clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella enterica, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Paratyphi, Serratia marcescens, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Citrobacter freundii and Morganella morganii were obtained from patients and were identified by microbiological methods. Diffusion disk was used for evaluation of antibacterial properties in comparison with selected ordinary antibiotics. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) for tested materials were determined using MTT in the Micro Broth dilution method. RESULTS: The results proved that effect of carrier on studied isolates is dependent on concentration level. The inhibitory effect of carrier in concentration of 15 µg/ml by 18 mm zone of inhibition for Klebsiella pneumoniae was comparable to Ceftazidime and Cefalothin. The lowest MIC and MBC determined by the Microbroth dilution method with MTT belonged to Klebsiella pneumoniae as 0.1 and 3 µg/ml and higher concentrations belonged to Enterobacter aerogenes at 7 and 15 µg/ml. The greatest effect of carrier of Aleo vera aquatic extract was observed for Klebsiella pneumoniae and the lowest effect belonged to Enterobacter aerogenes, Citrobacter freundii and Morganella morganii. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the carrier of Aloe vera produced in microemulsion system was most effective and had equal effects in comparison with ordinary antibiotics against Enterobacteriacea.

Antimycobacterial activity assessment of three ethnobotanical plants against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: An In Vitro study.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Resistances to herbal medicines are still not defined and finding natural remedies against drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) has research priority. The antimycobacterial susceptibility method for herbal extracts is unclearly defined and there is no standard method for assessment of the materials against bacteria. In the present study, time kill of three medicinal plants was determined against MTB. METHODS: The clinical isolate of MTB from a patient who harbored confirmed tuberculosis was used in the study. Aqueous extracts of Aloe vera leaves, mint, and Hypericum perforatum were prepared using reflux distillation. Disk diffusion methods were conducted in Petri dishes and McCartney bottles containing Löwenstein-Jensen medium to measure the sensitivity of plant extracts in serial concentrations of 0.25-8mg/mL. A pour plate method was performed by mixing 0.7mL of each concentration of extract in 5mL Löwenstein-Jensen medium followed by surface culturing of MTB fresh cells. The time kill method was conducted by bacterial suspension in equal amounts of the extract and viable evaluation in fresh culture at the beginning, and at 24-h, 48-h, 72-h, and 1-week intervals. All cultures were incubated at 37°C for 4weeks. Inoculum concentrations were considered as a variable. RESULTS: The zones of inhibition of A. vera, H. perforatum, and mint extracts in the disk diffusion method in McCartney bottles were 60mm, 41mm, and zero, respectively, but Petri dishes did not have repeatable results. In the pour plate method, an extract concentration up to 1mg/mL could inhibit cell growth. In mint extract, colony forming was four times more than the others at 0.5mg/mL. Time kill of 95% of cells occurred when exposed to extracts of A. vera and H. perforatum separately, but was 50% in 24 h and 20% in 10 min. The time kill for mint was 95% in 1week. CONCLUSION: The results give some scientific basis to the use of plant extracts for growth control of MTB cells. Clinical trials are recommended for assessment of the extract as complementary medicine, as well as for antisepsis.