Medicinal plants contain bioactive substances that are highly bioavailable in extracts or pure molecules, making them promising for therapeutic applications and precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical semi-synthesis. Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil’s Claw) is widely recognized as one of the most potent therapeutic herbs. This study aimed to extract seeds from H. procumbens using two types of solvents and to assess both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the extracts. The two extracts were evaluated for antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities using agar well diffusion assays against four bacterial isolates and two yeast isolates. Qualitative analysis identified the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids. The active components detected were: alkaloids (12.69%), flavonoids (3.25%), total phenolic compounds (24.58%), total terpenoids (8.55%), and total steroids (1.25% for methanolic and 4.55% for petroleum ether). Both methanolic and petroleum ether extracts exhibited antioxidant activities of approximately 85.33% and 74.19%, respectively, compared to ascorbic acid, which had an antioxidant effect of 67.99% at a concentration of 200 µg/ml. The extracts demonstrated a broad spectrum of activity against all tested bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes) and fungi (Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis). At a concentration of 1000 µg/ml, the seed extracts showed the highest bactericidal activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 10 to 22 mm. Moreover, both extracts exhibited greater anti-biofilm activity at 1000 µg/ml compared to lower concentrations. Our study found that seed extracts of H. procumbens possess significant antibacterial and antioxidant activities, particularly at a concentration of 1000 µg/ml.
Amaranthus viridis (F. Amaranthaceae), usually known as slender amaranth. It is a multifunctional vegetable that grows in tropical and subtropical areas, sustaining stressful conditions, especially drought, producing a wide array of secondary metabolites: phenolics, terpenes, carotenoids and others, which are responsible for various therapeutic effects. Aerial parts were defatted with hexane, then the defatted residue was extracted in the Soxhlet using 80 % aqueous ethanol. Ethanolic extract was sequentially and repeatedly partitioned with solvents of different polarities: chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Then, the n-butanol fraction was hydrolyzed using reflex with 10 % aqueous HCl for 6 hrs. The unhydrolyzed and hydrolyz
... Show MoreMicrobial antibiotics resistance is considered a serious health issue in the Middle East and developing countries. In this study, the Fe2O3 nanoparticles was prepared chemically, and the particles size and shape were analyzed by using Scan electron microscope (SEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). Different concentration of Fe2O3 nanoparticles were used and examined on E.coli and S. aureus. Using liquid dilution and in vitro cytotoxicity assay by microplate toxicity test (MTT). The microbial cell metabolic activity was measured on gram-negative, gram-positive bacteria and fungi after treating with different concentrations of Fe2O3 nanoparticl
... Show MoreNon-thermal (low-temperature) plasma may act as an alternative approach to control superficial wound and skin infections when the effectiveness of chemical agents is weak due to natural pathogen or biofilm resistance. In this paper an atmospheric pressure plasma needle jet device which generates a cold plasma jet is used to measure the effectiveness of plasma treatment against different pathogenic bacteria and to test the individual susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria to non-thermal argon plasma. It is found that, Gram-negative bacteria were more susceptible to plasma treatment than Gram-positive bacteria. For the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, there were no survivors among the initial 1x108C.F.U (Co
... Show MoreBackground: This is the first nationwide assessment of WHO-designated bacterial resistance in Iraq. Aim: To analyse antimicrobial resistance patterns over 4 years in Iraq, based on data from the national surveillance system. Methods: Using the WHO Antimicrobial Resistance Network software, we collected and analysed 238 973 antimicrobial resistance data from the 106 antimicrobial resistance surveillance sites across Iraq, for 2020–2023, from the Iraqi national surveillance system. The data were analysed using SPSS version 26. Results: Resistance to carbapenem by Acinetobacter baumannii increased markedly, reaching 80% in 2023. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was notably high among Acinetobacter baumannii (88.5–92%),
... Show MoreSulfamethoxazole (SMX) is the most significant antibiotic in the sulfonamide family. It was chosen as the representative of this category because of its widespread use. Starting with sulfamethoxazole, a new series of 2-Azetidinone (M1-M6) was synthesized, the structure of these new derivatives was confirmed using spectral methods, starting with the synthesis of Schiff’s bases by reflux of different aromatic benzaldehydes, separately, with Sulfamethoxazole in ethanol with few drops of acetic acid. The final compounds were obtained by ketene-imine synthesis of β-lactam using chloroacetyl chloride. The designed chemicals’ synthesis has been completed successfully. Physical parameters (melting points and Rf values), Fourier transfo
... Show MoreThe purpose of the study was to determine the in-vitro antitumor and antioxidant activity of Aloe vera gel extract by evaluating the cytotoxic effect of extract and Zoladex (goserelin) on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and prostate cancer cell line (PC-3), in addition to measure the antioxidant activity to find out this kind of anticancer drug, which is a cheap, safe, less toxic, and more active drug contrasted to chemotherapy drug. The cytotoxic effect evaluated by cytotoxicity assay (MTT assay), while the activity of the Aloe Vera gel as antioxidant was tested using a scavenging test of free radical (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity)(ORAC).
... Show MoreThe study aimed to survey mushroom species from fields among herbs, palm trunks, and trees in central Iraq and to identify them on the basis of morphological and molecular characteristics. As a molecular identification result with polymerase chain reaction six species were recorded (with eight isolates): Agaricus bitorquis (Quéllt) Saccardo. 1887 (SHA14); Candolleomyces candolleanus (Fr.) D. Wächter & Melzer, 2020 (SHA15); Cyclocybe cylindracea (D.C.) Vizzini & Angelini, 2014 (SHA13); Leucoagaricus hesperius Vellinga, 2010 (SHA16); Volvariella sp. (SHA17), and Volvopluteus gloiocephalus (D. C.) Vizzini, Contu & Justo, 2011 (SHA10, SHA101 and SHA12), belonging to four families of Basidiomycetes: Agaricaceae, Pluteaceae,
... Show MorePeroxidase is a class of oxidation-reduction reaction enzyme that is useful for accelerating many oxidative reactions that protect cells from the harmful effects of free radicals. Peroxidase is found in many common sources like plants, animals and microbes and have extensive uses in numerous industries such as industrial, medical and food processing. In this study, P. aeruginosa was harvested to utilize and study its peroxidases. P. aeruginosa was isolated from a burn patient, and the isolate was verified as P. aeruginosa using staining techniques, biochemical assay, morphological, and a sensitivity test. The gram stain and biochemical test result show rod pink gram-ne
... Show MoreIn this work a study was made in centrifugal fan blower to investigate the effect of impeller blade design on sound pressure level (SPL). Shroud and unshroud impeller of nine blades are used. The sound generation from flow inside the test rig at different positions was displayed by using spectral analyzer. The experiments were carried out in anechoic chamber with small holes in its walls, under ambient condition about (25-27) C ° to avoid the effect of temperature on the sound pressure level. The results showed that (SPL) decreased with the increase of distance from the source about (3-4)dB when distance varied about (0.8-1.06)m, and the (SPL) decreased with the decrease of velocity about (8-12)dB when velocity varied between (13000-260
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