Dyeing of wool fibres with natural dyes: effect of proteolytic enzymes.

In spite of the widespread use of proteins (casein, peptone, etc.) and protein fragments as a substrate for the proteolytic enzymes, a substrate prepared from dyes that adsorb onto appropriate materials, such as wool and cotton, are also used for enzyme activity determination. In the point of view of this thought, it was our aim to develop the substrates which are easily and economically obtainable and also environmentally safer for the frequently used proteolytic enzymes, such as subtilisin carlsberg, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and protease type XVI and, if possible, to prepare the specific substrate at least for one of these enzymes.

Use of natural dye-casein complexes: effect of proteolytic treatment.

The activity of proteolytic enzymes is commonly measured using casein as a substrate. A modified caseinolysis assay was developed with natural dyes such as juglone, lawsone, berberine, and quercetin for Subtilisin carlsberg, protease type XVI, and trypsin, respectively. The pH dependence and incubation time were determined.

The antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Hypericum scabrum, Hypericum scabroides and Hypericum triquetrifolium.

The essential oils of Hypericum scabrum, Hypericum scabroides and Hypericum triquetrifolium were studied for the first time for their antimicrobial activity against nine organisms. All the essential oils exhibited some broad spectrum antibacterial activity, at a concentration of 80 microg/mL. The essential oils of Hypericum species showed antibacterial activity against the tested organisms and a yeast.

Antimicrobial activity of the resins obtained from the roots and stems of Cedrus libani and Abies cilicica.

The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract of resins obtained from the roots and stems of Cedrus libani and Abies cilicica was investigated using a disc diffusion method. Results revealed that crude extracts of the resins of both plants are highly effective against tested microorganisms by preventing their growth to a greater extent.