Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of bitter and sweet apricot (Prunus armeniaca L. ) kernels

The present study describes the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of methanol and water extracts of sweet and bitterapricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels. The antioxidant properties of apricot kernels were evaluated by determining radicalscavenging power, lipid peroxidation inhibition activity and total phenol content measured with a DPPH test, the thiocyanatemethod and the Folin method, respectively. In contrast to extracts of the bitter kernels, both the water and methanol extracts ofsweet kernels have antioxidant potential. The highest percent inhibition of lipid peroxidation (69%) and total phenolic content (7.9± 0.2 μg/mL) were detected in the methanol extract of sweet kernels (Hasanbey) and in the water extract of the same cultivar,respectively. The antimicrobial activities of the above extracts were also tested against human pathogenic microorganismsusing a disc-diffusion method, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of each active extract were determined. Themost effective antibacterial activity was observed in the methanol and water extracts of bitter kernels and in the methanol extractof sweet kernels against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the methanol extracts of the bitterkernels were very potent against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (0.312 mg/mL MIC value). Significant anti-candidaactivity was also observed with the methanol extract of bitter apricot kernels against Candida albicans, consisting of a 14 mm indiameter of inhibition zone and a 0.625 mg/mL MIC value.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of bitter and sweet apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels.

The present study describes the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of methanol and water extracts of sweet and bitter apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels. The antioxidant properties of apricot kernels were evaluated by determining radical scavenging power, lipid peroxidation inhibition activity and total phenol content measured with a DPPH test, the thiocyanate method and the Folin method, respectively. In contrast to extracts of the bitter kernels, both the water and methanol extracts of sweet kernels have antioxidant potential. The highest percent inhibition of lipid peroxidation (69%) and total phenolic content (7.9 +/- 0.2 microg/mL) were detected in the methanol extract of sweet kernels (Hasanbey) and in the water extract of the same cultivar, respectively. The antimicrobial activities of the above extracts were also tested against human pathogenic microorganisms using a disc-diffusion method, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of each active extract were determined. The most effective antibacterial activity was observed in the methanol and water extracts of bitter kernels and in the methanol extract of sweet kernels against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the methanol extracts of the bitter kernels were very potent against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (0.312 mg/mL MIC value). Significant anti-candida activity was also observed with the methanol extract of bitter apricot kernels against Candida albicans, consisting of a 14 mm in diameter of inhibition zone and a 0.625 mg/mL MIC value.

Single right coronary artery-R-I subtype: a report of an extremely rare case.

A single coronary ostium with no associated congenital cardiac disease is a rare congenital coronary-artery anomaly. However, a single right coronary artery has a much rarer incidence. We report here the antemortem diagnosis of a case with R-I subtype single coronary artery supplying the entire myocardium. A 36-year-old female with chest pain and dyspnea on exertion was admitted to the hospital, whose coronary angiography revealed a single, large coronary artery originating in the right aortic sinus. No observable change was detected in her electrocardiogram and her angiographic examination did not reveal any significant luminal narrowing although she experienced chest pain and dyspnea on exertion. R-I type of single coronary artery is an anomaly with a very rare incidence, which may cause myocardial ischemia and sudden death and whose recognition might be of use to physicians when diagnosing and treating this anomaly.

The ability of 67Ga scintigraphy to detect the lesions of Echinococcus multilocularis infection: preliminary results.

AIM: To assess the ability of 67Ga scintigraphy to detect the lesions of Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An animal model of EM infection was developed. The infected tissues taken from stock infection were placed into the abdominal cavity of uninfected animals operatively. The success of implantation was controlled 20-25 days after implantation. Five infected and 2 healthy animals were studied. All of the animals were examined by ultrasound before the scintigraphic evaluation. After the injection of 7.4 MBq (200 microCi) 67Ga citrate intravenously, static images from the whole anterior thorax and abdomen were obtained at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Visual and semiquantitative analyses were performed. In semiquantitative analysis, an irregular region of interest was drawn over the thorax as the background, excluding the heart and a second region of interest was drawn over the abdomen, excluding the liver and spleen. Abdomen/ background ratios were calculated using the mean counts. RESULTS: In the visual evaluation, it was noticed that there was considerably increased 67Ga uptake in the abdomens of the infected animals. In infected animals, mean abdomen/background ratios at 48 and 72 hours (3.76 +/- 1.04, 4.13 +/- 0.72, respectively) were increased compared with mean abdomen/background ratios at 24 hours (2.94 +/- 0.77). These increases in abdomen/background ratios were statistically significant at 72 hours (p = 0.04). Between the infected animals and control group, mean abdomen/background ratios were compared, and statistically significant differences were found in the images obtained at 48 and 72 hours. CONCLUSION: Imaging at 72 hours seems to be more suitable imaging time for the diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis. 67Ga scintigraphy may successfully demonstrate the lesions of EM infection localized intraperitoneally. The method of 67Ga scintigraphy is useful because it is simple, non-invasive and relatively safe.

Congenital coronary artery fistulas in Turkish patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac angiography.

A coronary artery fistula is a direct communication between a coronary artery and one of the cardiac chambers or vessels around the heart. The present study was undertaken to define the incidence, clinical findings and angiographic characteristics of congenital coronary artery fistula in Turkish adults who underwent diagnostic cardiac angiography. A consecutive series of 11,350 coronary angiography, performed between January 2000 and December 2001, was retrospectively examined for the presence of coronary artery fistulas. The incidence of congenital coronary artery fistulas was 0.08%. All the patients had chest pain during exertion or at rest. All the fistulas were single and most arose from the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery and drained into the pulmonary artery. All the fistulas were small. Surgical treatment was not indicated. A congenital coronary artery fistula in adults is a distinct though rare entity, variable in its incidence and commonly associated with coronary artery obstructive disease. Diagnosis is mostly incidental during routine coronary angiography.

Determination of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Rumex crispus L. extracts.

The antioxidant activities, reducing powers, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activities, amount of total phenolic compounds, and antimicrobial activities of ether, ethanol, and hot water extracts of the leaves and seeds of Rumex crispus L. were studied. The antioxidant activities of extracts increase with increasing amount of extracts (50-150 microg). However, the water extracts of both the leaves and seeds have shown the highest antioxidant activities. Thus, addition of 75 microg of each of the above extracts to the linoleic acid emulsion caused the inhibition of peroxide formation by 96 and 94%, respectively. Although the antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract of seed was lower than the water extract, the difference between these was not statistically significant, P > 0.05. Unlike the other extracts, 75 microg of the ether extract of seeds was unable to show statistically significant antioxidant activity, P > 0.05 (between this extract and control in that there is no extract in the test sample). Among all of the extracts, the highest amount of total phenolic compound was found in the ethanol extract of seeds, whereas the lowest amount was found in the ether extract of seeds. Like phenolic compounds, the highest reducing power and the highest DPPH scavenging activity were found in the ethanol extract of seeds. However, the reducing activity of the ethanol extract of seeds was approximately 40% that of ascorbic acid, whereas in the presence of 400 microg of water and ethanol extracts of seeds scavenging activities were about 85 and 90%, respectively. There were statistically significant correlations between amount of phenolic compounds and reducing power and between amount of phenolic compounds and percent DPPH scavenging activities (r = 0.99, P < 0.01, and r = 0.864, P < 0.05, respectively) and also between reducing powers and percent DPPH scavenging activities (r = 0.892, P < 0.05). The ether extracts of both the leaves and seeds and ethanol extract of leaves had shown antimicrobial activities on Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. However, none of the water extracts showed antimicrobial activity on the studied microorganisms.

Tl-201 uptake in bone and soft tissue involvement of sarcoidosis.

The authors describe a 38-year-old man who was referred to the nuclear medicine department because of pain and swelling of his fingers in both hands. Tc-99m MDP and Tl-201 scans were performed to evaluate the lesions. A Tc-99m MDP bone scan showed hyperemia and increased uptake in the lesions. A Tl-201 scan showed marked uptake in both early and delayed images in the lesions of his fingers. Bone biopsy and histologic examination confirmed sarcoidosis. This case indicates that Tl-201 uptake can be seen in bone lesions resulting from sarcoidosis.

Comparison of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of tilia (Tilia argentea Desf ex DC), sage (Salvia triloba l.), and black tea (Camellia sinensis) extracts.

The antioxidant activity of the water extract of Tilia argentea Desf ex DC was determined by the thiocyanate method. The antioxidant activity of the water extract increased with the increasing amount of lyophilized extract (50-400 microg) added into the linoleic acid emulsion. Statistically significant effect was determined in 100 microg and higher amounts. Antioxidant activities of water extracts of tilia (Tilia argentea Desf ex DC), sage (Salvia triloba L.), and two Turkish black teas commercially called Rize tea and young shoot tea (Camellia sinensis) were compared. For comparison studies, 100 microg portions of extracts were added into test samples. All samples were able to show statistically significant antioxidant effect. Both of the tea extracts showed highest antioxidant activities, nevertheless, differences between tilia and sage and tilia and tea were not statistically significant (for both cases p > 0.05). Like antioxidant activity, the reducing power of water extract of Tilia argentea Desf ex DC was also concentration dependent. Even in the presence of 50 microg of extract, the reducing power was significantly higher than that of the control (p < 0.05) in which there was no extract. Unlike antioxidant activity, the highest reducing power activity was shown by sage extract. Among the tea extracts, young shoot extract was the most effective one, however, it had significantly lower activity than sage (p < 0.05). Although tea flower had the lowest reducing power activity, it was higher than that of tilia. But this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). From these results, we could suggest that although the reducing power of a substance may be an indicator of its potential antioxidant activity, there may not always be a linear correlation between these two activities. In addition, antimicrobial activities of each of the above extracts were studied by disk diffusion methods on different test microorganisms. None of the extracts showed antibacterial activity on the studied microorganisms.

Bitter taste threshold and its relation to number of circumvallate papillae in the elderly.

The main purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the number of circumvallate papillae and the bitter taste threshold with age. The study group consisted of 10 women (age range, 60-80) and 14 men (age range, 60-85) and the control group of 15 young women (age range, 18-25) and 15 young men (age range, 17-20); the total number of subjects was 54. The number of circumvallate papillae was counted by direct observation with the naked eye; bitter taste thresholds were evaluated by the three drop forced-choice method with an ascending series, using quinine sulfate dehydrate as the bitter agent. We observed that while the number of circumvallate papillae did not increase with age, the bitter taste threshold changed significantly with age.

Bitter taste thresholds, numbers and diameters of circumvallate papillae and their relation with age in a Turkish population.

OBJECTIVES: This study analyses the relationship between the sense of bitter taste and age. The relationships between these and the numbers and diameters of Circumvallate Papillae (CP) are also analysed. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four elderly subjects (from 65 to 85 years) and 30 young subjects (from 17 to 25 years) were studied. METHOD: Bitter taste thresholds were determined by the three drop method with an ascending series of concentrations. The numbers and diameters of CP were observed by direct naked eye observation using a wooden tongue depressor, a gauge and a light source. RESULTS: The bitter taste acuity was significantly poorer in the older sample. There was no relationship between the bitter taste acuity and number of papillae but an inverse relationship was observed between the bitter taste acuity and diameters of papillae, thus lower acuity was associated with larger papillae. It was also observed that the diameters of papillae were inversely related to the numbers of CP. The distribution of numbers and diameters of CP were not significantly different between these samples with age.