Phytochemical constituents and biological activities of Salvia macrosiphon Boiss.

Salvia macrosiphon Boiss. is an aromatic perennial herb belonging to the family Lamiaceae. Phytochemical studies and biological activities of this plant have been rarely documented in the literature.

Down-regulatory effects of green coffee extract on las I and las R virulence-associated genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Background: Antibiotic resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the cause of Gram negative nosocomial infections especially among the immunosuppressed patients. The bacteria contains las I and las R genes that play very important roles in the pathogenesis and mechanisms of aggression. These genes can be influenced by the quorum sensing (QS) system and such mechanism is becoming clinically important worldwide.

Improvement of the functionality of pancreatic Langerhans islets via reduction of bacterial contamination and apoptosis using phenolic compounds.

Objectives: During type-1 diabetes treating by pancreatic islet transplantation, increasing oxidative stress and microbial contaminations are the main reasons of transplantation failure. In this study, we evaluated anti-apoptotic, antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of phenolic compounds called ellagic acid (EA) and silybin on rat pancreatic islets.

Materials And Methods: By doing MTT assay, effective concentrations of EA and silybin were determined as 1500 and 2100 μM, respectively.

Burn Wound Healing Activity of Lythrum salicaria L. and Hypericum scabrum L.

Objective: Burns are complicated traumatic injuries caused by several physical or chemical factors. Plants with a wide range of secondary metabolites, with valuable properties like antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, can be a promising source of wound healing agents.

Materials And Methods: Effects of hydromethanolic extracts of Lythrum salicaria and Hypericum scabrum, individually and in combination, were assessed in second-degree burn wounds in rats in comparison to a white oleaginous base (negative control) and silver sulfadiazine (positive control).

Phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial, antioxidant activities and total phenols of Ferulago carduchorum in two vegetative stages (flower and fruit).

Ferulago carduchorum (Apiaceae family) is an endemic plant of Iran. The crude extract and four fractions of aerial parts of F. carduchorum in two vegetative stages (flower and fruit) were studied for their total phenolic contents, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities using folin-ciocalteu assay, micro dilution method and DPPH assay, respectively.

Comparison of essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of Coriandrum sativum L. extracted by hydrodistillation and microwave-assisted hydrodistillation.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), is an annual herb in the Apiaceae family which disperses in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. The Coriander essential oil has been used in food products, perfumes, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries for its flavor and odor.

Probiotic Properties of Lyophilized Cell Free Extract of Lactobacillus casei.

Background: In recent years there have been considerable interests in the use of probiotic live cells for nutritional and therapeutic purposes. This strategy can be concomitant with some limitations such as survival of live cell during the GI-transit and their effective delivery to target tissues upon ingestion. Several attempts have been made to overcome these limitations such as their microencapsulation, spray-drying and lyophilization.

Bioactive Terpenoids and Flavonoids from Daucus littoralis Smith subsp. hyrcanicus Rech.f, an Endemic Species of Iran.

Background: Daucus littoralis Smith subsp. hyrcanicus Rech.f.

Bacterial contamination of single- and multiple-dose vials after multiple use and intravenous admixtures in three different hospitals in iran.

There is possibility of microbial contamination of any single-dose vials (SDVs), multiple-dose vials (MDVs) and admixtures (ADXs) during the preparation and injection to the patients that could be resulted in bloodstream infection. The goal of this study was to investigate the microbial contamination of MDVs and SDVs after multiple use and ADXs prepared by nursing staff in the treatment room versus those prepared by the hospital pharmacist in the clean room. The sterility of 43 opened MDVs and SDVs, 92 prepared ADXs in treatment room and 17 prepared ADXs in clean room were studied by membrane filtration method.

An evaluation and partial characterization of a bacteriocin produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp lactis ST1 isolated from goat milk.

A bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance producing Lactococcus lactis subsp lactis strain, ST1, isolated from goat milk of Iranian origin and with broad spectrum of activity and desirable technical properties was used for evaluating some futures of bacteriocin inhibitory activity. Cell growth and bacteriocin production studies were carried out in MRS medium incubated statically under uncontrolled pH condition. The antibacterial activity presented a primary metabolite pattern and showed a rapid decrease at the stationary phase.

Enhanced antibacterial activity of roxithromycin loaded pegylated poly lactide-co-glycolide nanoparticles.

Background And The Purpose Of The Study: The purpose of this study was to prepare pegylated poly lactide-co-glycolide (PEG-PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with roxithromycin (RXN) with appropriate physicochemical properties and antibacterial activity. Roxithromycin, a semi-synthetic derivative of erythromycin, is more stable than erythromycin under acidic conditions and exhibits improved clinical effects.

Methods: RXN was loaded in pegylated PLGA NPs in different drug;polymer ratios by solvent evaporation technique and characterized for their size and size distribution, surface charge, surface morphology, drug loading, in vitro drug release profile, and in vitro antibacterial effects on S.

Antimicrobial activity of different Lactobacillus species against multi- drug resistant clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Background: Lactobacilli are the well known friendly bacteria for their probiotic activities against pathogens. The inhibitory activity of different strains of lactobacilli either obtained as commercial products or isolated from human feces was investigated against the clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The isolates were selected as the most resistant strains when challenged with anti-pseudomonal antibiotics already in clinical practice.

A clinical, microbiological and immunological comparison between subgingival irrigation with Dentol and chlorhexidine in advanced periodontitis.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical, microbiological and immunological effects of subgingival irrigation with Dentol(™) and 0.2% chlorhexidine in human advanced periodontitis.

Material And Methods: Twenty cases of advanced periodontitis patients were randomly treated either with Dentol(™) (as test) or 0.

On the benefit of whey-cultured Lactobacillus casei in murine colitis.

The objective of this study was to examine the prophylactic and therapeutic effect of whey-cultured Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) in a murine model of colitis. Colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of a mixture of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS)/absolute ethanol in male Wistar rats.

Preparation and characterization of spray dried inhalable powders containing chitosan nanoparticles for pulmonary delivery of isoniazid.

The aim of this study was to prepare spray dried inhalable powders containing isoniazid-loaded chitosan/tripolyphosphate (TPP) nanoparticles for sustained delivery of the drug to the lung. Nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation method. In-vitro drug release study indicated that the rate of drug release from nanoparticles was decreased by increasing the amount of chitosan.

Biochemical and pathological evidences on the benefit of a new biodegradable nanoparticles of probiotic extract in murine colitis.

Efficacy of probiotics in the management of human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been approved in the recent years. In the present work, the efficacy of a new biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) of encapsulated and lyophilized probiotic extract (LPE) was examined in murine colitis. Colitis was induced by rectal instillation of trinitrobenzen sulfonic acid to male Wistar rats.

Effect of probiotication on antioxidant and antibacterial activities of pomegranate juices from sour and sweet cultivars.

There is an increasing interest in using pomegranate juice as a natural antioxidant rather than synthetic compounds. In this study, the antioxidant capacities of probioticated and nonprobioticated aril juices of sweet (SWV) and sour (SV) pomegranate cultivars were determined by two different methods: ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 1,1-diphenyl 2-picrylhydrazyl assay. Total counts of Lactobacillus casei GG increased by about 3 log in SWV and 2 log in SV juices after incubation for 48 h.

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of ciprofloxacin containing niosomes for pulmonary delivery.

In order to develop a niosome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin (CPFX) HCl formulation for pulmonary delivery, the feasibility of encapsulation of CPFX in niosomes, its stability and nebulization capability was evaluated. Various combinations of nonionic surfactants with cholesterol were used to prepare the formulations. The in vitro deposition data of the niosomal formulations were examined using an Andersen cascade impactor.

Development of respirable nanomicelle carriers for delivery of amphotericin B by jet nebulization.

The aim of the present work was to prepare and characterize chitosan-stearic acid conjugate nanomicelles for encapsulation of amphotericin B (AmB) and to evaluate the in vitro nebulization of the formulations. Water soluble chitosan was grafted to stearic acid (SA) chains via 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide mediated coupling reaction. The chemical structure of depolymerized chitosan (DC)-SA copolymers and degree of amino substitution was determined by (1)H NMR.

Preparation and in-vitro Antibacterial Evaluation of Electroless Silver Coated Polymers.

Long-term use of indwelling medical catheters has often been hindered by catheter-associated nosocomial infections. In this study the effectiveness of silver coating of polystyrene and polyethylene polymers was investigated. Polymer pieces of 2 cm(2) each were coated with a thin layer of silver using electroless plating technique.

Intra/extracellular biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by an autochthonous strain of Proteus mirabilis isolated from photographic waste.

There is an enormous interest in developing green synthesis procedures for production of nanoparticles by using biomimetic approaches. In our research focus has been given to the development of an efficient and eco-friendly viable process for the synthesis of nanoscale silver particles using Proteus mirabilis PTCC 1710, a bacterial strain that was isolated during a screening program from photographic waste. A significant result of this study is our observation that silver nanoparticles could be induced to synthesis intra and extracellulary.

Selection for autochthonous bifidobacteial isolates adapted to simulated gastrointestinal fluid.

Background And The Purpose Of The Study: Bifidobacterial strains are excessively sensitive to acidic conditions and this can affect their living ability in the stomach and fermented foods, and as a result, restrict their use as live probiotic cultures. The aim of the present study was to obtain bifidobacterial isolates with augmented tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal condition using cross-protection method.

Methods: Individual bifidobacterial strains were treated in acidic environment and also in media containing bile salts and NaCl.

Efficacy of detergents and fresh produce disinfectants against microorganisms associated with mixed raw vegetables.

Efficacy of commercial detergent and disinfectants to eliminate microorganisms associated with fresh vegetables eaten raw in Iran, including radish, parsley, basil, coriander (cilantro), Allium porrum (leek), and peppermint were studied. The raw vegetables were subjected to a triple wash treatment of washing in tap water for mud removal, washing in water containing a detergent (dishwashing liquid) or disinfectant individually, and rinsing in tap water. The population of total mesophilic microbes on the surface of untreated vegetables ranged from 10(5) to 10(6) CFU/g.

Live and heat-inactivated lactobacilli from feces inhibit Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli adherence to Caco-2 cells.

A quantitative approach has been proposed to evaluate the competitive inhibition of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi by live and heat-inactivated laboratory isolated Lactobacillus sp. on adhesion to monolayer of Caco-2 cells. Three species of Lactobacillus (L.