Antibiotic resistance is the major growing threat facing the pharmacological treatment of bacterial infections. Therefore, bioprospecting the medicinal plants could provide potential sources for antimicrobial agents. Mimusops, the biggest and widely distributed plant genus of family Sapotaceae, is used in traditional medicines due to its promising pharmacological activities. This study was conducted to elucidate the antimicrobial effect of three unexplored Mimusops spp. (M. kummel, M. laurifolia and M. zeyheri). Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying such antibacterial activity were studied. The Mimusops leaf extracts revealed significant antibacterial activities against the five tested bacterial strains with a maximum inhibition zone diameter of 22.0 mm against B. subtilis compared with standard antibiotic ciprofloxacin. The minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentration values against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains ranged from 3.15-12.5 µg/ml. However, weak antifungal effect was recorded against Candida albicans with MIC value ˃25 µg/ml. The 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay showed that M. caffra was the best antioxidant (IC50=14.75±0.028 µg/ml), while M. laurifolia was the least one (IC50=34.22±0.014 µg/ml). The phenolics in plant leaves extracts were identified and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) which revealed the presence of seven phenolic acids and four flavonoids. The abundant phenolic compounds were rutin (5.216±0.067 mg/g dried wt.) and gallic acid (0.296±0.068 mg/g) followed by myricetin (0.317±0.091 mg/g) then kaempferol (0.113±0.049 mg/g) as flavonoids. The antibacterial mechanism of M. laurifolia extract, as a representative species, induces ultrastructural changes in the model bacterium Staphylococcus aureus with cell wall and plasma membrane lysis as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Overall, Mimusops species (M. laurifolia, M. kummel and M. zeyheri) are promising natural alternative sources for antimicrobial agents.
Abstract
Corrosion-fatigue occurs by the combined actions of cyclic loading and corrosive environment. The effect of shot peening on cumulative corrosion-fatigue life of 1100-H12 Al alloy was investigated. Before fatigue testing, specimens were submerged in 3.5%NaCl solution for 71 days. Constant fatigue tests were performed with and without corrosive environment. Cumulative corrosion-fatigue tests were also carried out in order to determine the fatigue life before and after shot peening. The constant fatigue life was significantly reduced due to corrosive environment and the endurance fatigue limit was reduced by 13% compared with dry fatigue. In case of shot peening the cumul
... Show MoreAbrus precatorius L. is an important medicinal plant belonging to family Fabaceae. The present study was conducted to perform pre-clinical safety evaluation and study the pharmacological effects of the ethanolic seeds extract of A. precatorius in management of pain, psychiatric and neurological conditions. Acute toxicity was performed to study the general behavioural pattern of mice after treatment with the test extract (single doses of 1000, 2000, 3000,4000,5000 mg/kg, body weight) and sub-acute toxicity studies were performed to study the toxic effects of the test extract (1000,2000,3000 mg/kg, per os for 14 days) on different haematological parameters, body and organ weight and histopathology of liver and kidney. The toxicological evalua
... Show MoreLithium–Manganese ferrites having the chemical formula (Li0.5-0.5x Mnx Fe2.5-0.5x O4), (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) were prepared by double sintering powder processing. The density of the ferrite increased with Mn content while the porosity was noticed to decrease. The dielectric constant was found to increase at high frequencies more rapidly than the low ones. The dielectric constant found to decrease with Mn content. The decrease in loss factor with frequency agreed with Deby’s type relaxation process. A maximum of dielectric loss factor was observed when the hopping frequency is equal to the external electric field frequency. Manganese substitution reduced the dielectric loss in ferrite. The variation of tanδ with frequency shows a similar na
... Show MoreThe current research addressed (the manifestations of selfhood and otherness in Indian schools of photography) through studying the concept of selfhood and otherness and their manifestations in Indian miniatures scenes for the period (1625-1790). The researcher, in the first chapter, sought to clarify the research problem, importance, and the need for it, in addition to the objective of the study represented by the following: "how did selfhood and otherness manifest in the Indian schools of photography?". The researcher, then, concluded the aforementioned chapter by defining the terms that have direct relation to the title and the objectives of the research. As for the second chapter, it consists of an overview for the theoretical framew
... Show MoreThis paper examines the use of one of the most common linguistic devices which is hyperbole. It shows how hyperbolic devices are used as an aspect of exaggeration or overstatement for an extra effect in which the speaker can use hyperbole to add something extra to a situation in order to exaggerate his idea or speech. It is, like other figures of speech, used to express a negative or positive attitude of a specific unit of language. Thus, this paper is set against a background of using hyperbole concerning two main fields (advertisements and propaganda). So, the use of hyperbole will be implied by analyzing them concerning their meaning) literal and non-literal). Methodology of this
... Show MoreA field trial was conducted in Experimental Station of The Field Crops Department – College Of Agriculture In Abu Ghraib, University of Baghdad to assess the effect of sulphur applications and the time after application on pH and EC of soil sample solutions ,and on the growth and yield of rape seed (Brassica napus L.)A split plot design was used with four replications , The main plot included four sulphur applications levels (0,2000,3000,4000Kg S/ha) the sub plot were the time after application (0,1,2,and 3 moths) .Sulphur application significantly decreased soil pH value ,although that decrease reached minimum parameter after two months from application date .Rather increment of sulphur application level significantly raised soil EC val
... Show MoreThe main objective of this study is to develop predictive models using SPSS software (version 18) for Marshall Test results of asphalt mixtures compacted by Hammer, Gyratory, and Roller compaction. Bulk density of (2.351) gm/cc, at OAC of (4.7) % was obtained as a benchmark after using Marshall Compactor as laboratory compactive effort with 75-blows. Same density was achieved by Roller and Gyratory Compactors using its mix designed methods.
A total of (75) specimens, for Marshall, Gyratory, and Roller Compactors have been prepared, based on OAC of (4.7) % with an additional asphalt contents of more and less than (0.5) % from the optimum value. All specimens have been subjected to Marshall Test. Mathematical model
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