To elucidate the anti- Methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) effect of pomegranate alone and in combination with moxifloxacin fluoroquinolone. A total of five clinical isolates of MRSA (ATCC 43300) were used in the study. Disc diffusion method was used to determine the anti-MRSA effect of pomegranate and/or moxifloxacin by using Mueller-Hinton agar. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) of moxifloxacin and pomegranate were calculated, the dynamic picture of the bactericidal effect of pomegranate and/or moxifloxacin was determined. SPSS version 20.00 was used for data analysis. Zone of inhibition (ZOI) of moxifloxacin was 19.67±4.84mm which was not significant compared with pomegranate ZOI 14.59±2.73mm, (P=0.07). The combination of moxifloxacin and pomegranate led to more significant ZOI (26.83±4.91mm) compared with moxifloxacin (P=0.04) and pomegranate alone (P=0.0012). MIC of pomegranate was high (31.62±6.95mg/mL) compared with low MIC of moxifloxacin (2.70±0.63 mg/mL), (P<0.0001), while MIC of the combination was low (1.22±0.85mg/mL) compared MIC of moxifloxacin, (P=0.012). FIC of pomegranate was 0.038 and FIC of moxifloxacin was 0.45, therefore sFIC index was 0.488, equal to the synergistic effect. The kill rates of combination were higher than those of pomegranate or moxifloxacin, against MRSA ATCC 43300. Ellagic acid-rich pomegranate extract alone has significant antibacterial activity and synergizes the bactericidal effect of moxifloxacin against MRSA.
Seeds, beans, leaves, fruit peel and seeds of five plants (Ferula assa-foetida, Coffea robusta, Olea europaea, Punica granatum and Vitis vinifera, respectively) were extracted with four solvents (distilled water, 80% methanol, 80% acetone and a mixed solvent that included methanol, ethanol, acetone and n-butanol at proportions 7:1:1:1). Such manipulation yielded 20 extracts, which were phytochemically analyzed for total polyphenols (TP) and flavonoids (TF). The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (RSA) and DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) relative inhibition activity (RIA) were also assessed for each extract. The results revealed that mixed solvent extract of V.
... Show MoreThe development of new building materials, able of absorbing more energy is an active research area. Engineering Cementitious Composite (ECC) is a class of super-elastic fiberreinforced cement composites characterized by high ductility and tight crack width control. The use of bendable concrete produced from Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) may lead to an interest in new concrete mixes. Impact results of bendable concrete reinforced with steel mesh and polymer fibers will provide data for the use of this concrete in areas subject to impact loading. The experimental part consisted of compressive strength and impact resistance tests along with a result comparison with unreinforced concrete. Concrete samples, with dimensions of 100×
... Show MoreThe electrochemical behavior of Al-17%Si alloy is investigated in 3.5wt% NaCl solution. Many alloys with addition of the different wt% magnesium metal of 1wt%, 2%, 3wt% ,4.5wt% ,and 9wt% were prepared by gravity die casting . The microstructures of prepared alloys were examined by optical and SEM microscopes. Corrosion behavior was investigated by using potentiostat instrument under static potentials test and corrosion current was recorded to determine corrosion resistance of all prepared samples. It was found that the addition of Mg metal improves the corrosion resistance of Al-17%Si alloy in 3.5%NaCl solution. The alloy containing 1%Mg shows less corrosion rate than the others while the alloys containing 4.5%Mg, 9%Mg content have
... Show MoreThe study analyzed the current situation of public hospitals in the capital of Baghdad exclusively and diagnosed the resources available; especially after the high demand for these hospitals as a result of the citizen’s need to review the hospital to take care of them, especially after the Corona pandemic. Eight major hospitals in Baghdad were selected to determine the current reality of providing fire safety tools or equipment and what are the preventive measures needed to reduce it. The results after practical study showed many defects and weaknesses in the current situation due to their reliance on the traditional management to manage and provide all preventive measures and safet
Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a devious pathogen with the tendency to prompt many acute and serious chronic diseases. This study aims to detect novel genes (Toxins-Antitoxins II system), especially; higB and higA encoded from P. aeruginosa by PCR technique and the relation between these genes and antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa. Methods: This study detected 50 isolates of P. aeruginosa from distinct clinical sources. The most common origin of isolates was (44%) burn swabs, (22%) urine culture, (12%) wound swabs, (14%) sputum, and (8%) ear swabs. The bacteria were isolated using implantation MacConkey agar and blood agar, as well as biochemical tests including oxidase test, catalase test then VITEK-2 System of P. aerug
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