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.
The plant Borago officinalis, which belongs to the Boraginaceae family and Celebrated as borage, is one of the useful medicinal plants cultivated in Iraq. It was used in olde medicine in Iraq, Irane, Syria and Europe for management of various diseases. It is commonly used as an atonic, tranquilliser, management of cough, sore throat, pneumonia, swelling, inflammatory diseases, antioxidant, and anticancer. This project provides the first comprehensive research done in Iraq to study the phytochemicals and the methods of extraction and isolation of active constituents from Borago officinalis cultivated in Iraq. The plant was harvested in spring from AL-Rifai, Nassiriyah city, IRAQ in February 2019.were w
... Show MoreMethotrexate (MTX) is a folate antagonist widely used in the treatment of neoplastic diseases; its biotransformation in the liver produced active metabolites that promote hepatotoxicity. The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of aqueous extract of Camellia sinensis (Green tea) against MTX-induced liver damage in rats. A model of liver injury in rats was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 20mg/kg MTX as a single dose followed by saline and 1.25% and 2.5% aqueous extract of green tea (GTE) were orally administered 7 days prior and 5 days after MTX-intoxication as a sole source of drinking water. After killing the animals, blood samples were obtained for evaluation of serum levels of alanine and
... Show MoreThe paper discusses the structural and optical properties of In 2 O 3 and In 2 O 3-SnO 2 gas sensor thin films were deposited on glass and silicon substrates and grown by irradiation of assistant microwave on seeded layer nucleated using spin coating technique. The X-ray diffraction revealed a polycrystalline nature of the cubic structure. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) used for morphology analysis that shown the grain size of the prepared thin film is less than 100 nm, surface roughness and root mean square for In 2 O 3 where increased after loading SnO 2 , this addition is a challenge in gas sensing application. Sensitivity of In 2 O 3 thin film against NO 2 toxic gas is 35% at 300 o C. Sensing properties were improved after adding Tin Oxi
... Show MoreThe current trend worldwide is searching plant extracts towards prevention of neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of Alpinia galanga leaves (ALE), Alpinia galanga rhizomes (ARE), Vitis vinifera seeds (VSE), Moringa oleifera leaves (MLE), Panax ginseng leaves (PLE) and Panax ginseng rhizomes (PRE) ethanolic extracts on human neuroblastoma (SHSY5Y) cells. The 1‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging of VSE and MLE were 81% and 58%, respectively. Ferric‐reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of ALE and MLE (33.57 ± 0.20 and 26.76 ± 0.30 μmol Fe(ΙΙ)/g dry wt., respectively) were higher than for the other extracts. Liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐fli
... Show MoreBiologically active natural compounds are molecules produced by plants or plant-related microbes, such as endophytes. Many of these metabolites have a wide range of antimicrobial activities and other pharmaceutical properties. This study aimed to evaluate (in vitro) the antifungal activities of the secondary metabolites obtained from Paecilomyces sp. against the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani. The endophytic fungus Paecilomyces was isolated from Moringa oleifera leaves and cultured on potato dextrose broth for the production of the fungal metabolites. The activity of Paecilomyces filtrate against the radial growth of Rhizoctonia solani was tested by mixing the filtrate with potato dextrose agar medium at concentrations of 15%,
... Show MoreBiologically active natural compounds are molecules produced by plants or plant-related microbes, such as endophytes. Many of these metabolites have a wide range of antimicrobial activities and other pharmaceutical properties. This study aimed to evaluate (in vitro) the antifungal activities of the secondary metabolites obtained from Paecilomyces sp. against the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani. The endophytic fungus Paecilomyces was isolated from Moringa oleifera leaves and cultured on potato dextrose broth for the production of the fungal metabolites. The activity of Paecilomyces filtrate against the radial growth of Rhizoctonia solani was tested by mixing the filtrate with potato dextrose agar medium at concentrations of 15%,
... Show MoreGinger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is a traditional plant that is widely used as a spice or folk medicine. Lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) is a synthetic pyrethroid that is widely used to control insecticide. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential protective effect of ginger ethanolic extract (GEE) on liver toxicity experimentally induced by LCT in albino rats. The experiment involved thirty adult male rats (Rattus norvegicus), randomly allocated to one of three groups (n=10/group: control group, administered distilled water orally for 12 weeks; LCT-treated group, received 5.43 mg/kg BW (1/15 LD50 dose calculated in this study as 81.5 mg/kg BW) orally, for 12 weeks; LCT-GEE-treated group, received t
... Show MoreBackground: For decades, the use of naturally accessible materials in treating human disease has been widespread. The goal of this study was to determine the anti-fungal effectiveness /of the lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) versus Candida albicans (C. albicans) adhesion to polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) materials. Material and methods: LGEO's anti-fungal activity was tested against C. albicans adhesion using the following concentration of LGEO in PMMA monomer (2.5 vol. %, 5 vol. % LGEO) selected from the pilot study as the best two effective concentrations. A total of 40 specimens were fabricated for the candida adherence test and were subdivided into four equal groups: negative control 0 vol. % addition, experimental with 2.5 vol. % and
... Show MoreA total of 258 voluntary blood donors (males 101; females 157) in the age range of 18-52 yr among males and 18-55 yr among females were examined for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (IgG), and (IgM) by immunological technique (Enzyme linked Immunosorbant Assay) during the period from March 2009 to April 2010. This study covered a wide range of factors including immunological, age ,sex , place of residence and symptoms that may have a possible relationship with toxoplasmosis. Results presented in this study showed clearly that 38 (14.7%) of individuals participated in this study having IgG Toxoplasma Ab, among those 10 samples (9.9%) were males and 28 samples (17.8%) were females. Moreover, we found the prevalence of IgM seropositivity in th
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