This work aimed to investigate the prevalence of pathogenic fungi and evaluate the antifungal activity of Trichoderma orientale FMR12486 crude extract against pathogenic fungi isolated from patients attending the National Center for Thoracic and Respiratory Diseases (having a history of tuberculosis) and consultant of Dermatology of Baghdad hospital, Iraq. A total of 80 clinical specimens were collected: 20 skin scrapings specimens and 60 sputum specimens. The results of direct examination by KOH 10% and culture showed that 11 (55%) cases from 20 skin specimens were positive for fungal infections, while in the sputum specimens, 28 (47%) cases from 60 were positive. Candida albicans represented the most common fungal infection isolated from sputum specimens which represented 18 cases at a rate of 64.2%, followed by Candida tropicalis 5 (17.9%), Aspergillus fumigates 2 (7.1%), Aspergillus flavus 1 (3.6%), Candida glabrata 1 (3.6%) and Candida krusei 1 (3.6%). While in the skin scrapes, Candida parapsilosis was the common which represented 3 cases at a rate of 27.3%, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophyte 2 (18.2%), Microsporium canis 2 (18.2%), C. albicans 2 (18.2%), Trichophyton rubrum 1 (9.1%), C. tropicalis 1 (9.1%). T. orientale isolates were collected from the gardens soil of the University of Baghdad and were then identified depending on the morphological feature of the colony and microscopic characteristics. To confirm identification, PCR technique was used in which DNA of T. orientale was extracted at a concentration of 54 - 294 μg/2 g wet mycelium with a purity of 1.6 - 1.8. DNA samples were amplified with primers ITS-1and ITS-4, And the results confirmed that the isolate was T. orientale strain FMR12486. This isolate was processed with ethyl acetate using a standard extraction method and the final amount of crude extract being 6 grams. Different concentrations of crude extract 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/ml were prepared and used against fungal pathogens isolated using the agar-well diffusion method. The results showed high antifungal activity against pathogenic isolates, significantly recording maximum inhibition zones of 20 and 22 mm against C. parapsilosis at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/ml, respectively. It was followed by T. mentagrophyte and C. glabrata. 16, 20, and 16, 20 mm that were recorded at concentrations of 2 and 4mg/ml, a significant maximum inhibition zone was recorded 26 mm against C. glabrata, followed by C. parapsilosis, M. canis and T. mentagrophyte (24, 26; 16, 24 and 20, 24mm respectively). Just Trichophyton rubrum fungus in this study showed resistance to all concentrations of the crude extract where the inhibition zone was zero. The results of the current study showed that T. orientale strain FMR12486 crude extract can be used to make an effective drug to treat human fungal infections.
Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory condition that primarily affects the skin, hair, and joints and is associated with significant humanistic and economic consequences. This work induced psoriasis in mice using an imiquimod 5% cream, an immune response modifier that can cause psoriasis-like skin inflammation when given orally. Paquinimod is prepared as an ointment and has been topically given to mice before imiquimod application. In this study, albino mice were allocated into five groups and treated as follows: the control group received only a daily application of cream based on shaved back (62.5mg/2cm) with a daily topical dose of ointment for 14 consecutive days with the oral vehicle. The Imiquimod group received a daily topical
... Show MoreThe use of medicinal plant preparations to clean and disinfect root canal infection is gaining popularity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioactive composition of leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera plants cultivated in Iraq (specifically Baghdad) and their antimicrobial activity against selected root canal pathogens for potential application in endodontic treatment. Materials and Methods. Moringa leaf extracts were prepared either through cold maceration or warm digestion techniques to perform an ethanolic or aqueous extraction, respectively. Phytochemical detection was performed before thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure flavonoids and phenolic compounds within both
... Show MoreDoxorubicin (DOX) is an efficient antineoplastic agent with a broad antitumor spectrum; however, doxorubicin-associated cardiotoxic adverse effect through oxidative damage and apoptosis limits its clinical application. Cafestol (Caf) is a naturally occurring diterpene in unfiltered coffee with unique antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anti-inflammatory activities by activating the Nrf2 pathway. The present study aimed to investigate the potential chemoprotective effect of cafestol on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Wistar albino rats of both sexes were administered cafestol (5 mg/kg/day) for 14 consecutive days by oral gavage alone or with doxorubicin which was injected as a single dose (15 mg/kg intraperitoneally at day 14) to i
... Show MoreThe synthesis of zeolite NaX from locally available kaolin has been studied. The operating conditions for zeolite NaX production from kaolin with good crystallinity were as follows; a gel formation step of metakaolin in alkaline medium in presence of additional silica to crystallize the zeolite was achieved at 60 oC for 1 hr,and with stirring. In ageing step of the reactants at room temperature for 5 days and crystallization step at 87±2 oC for 24 hr. The catalytic activity of catalyst prepared from local kaolin was studied by using cumene cracking as a model for catalytic cracking and compared with standard HY zeolite and HX zeolite catalysts. The activity test was carried out in a laboratory continuous flow unit with fixed bed reactor
... Show MoreThe study investigates the possibility of utilizing public interactive sculptures to enhance physical activity in Saudi Arabia. The paper uses a descriptive-analytical methodology to identify the characteristics of interactive sculptures promoting physical activity in public areas as follows: The size and space of the work area are appropriate to the type of physical activity that is achieved, and the importance of the work site in the city and its relation to the surrounding space, identifying participants at the same time and their relationship to ensure safe interaction, as well as the relationship between the esthetic and intellectual concept of working in the community. The study concludes that three technical proposals were present
... Show MoreIn this work, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and sawdust/epoxy composite (20:80) were mixed using a simple molding method with different ZnONPs concentrations of (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 %). The samples of the nanocomposites were characterized by the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technique to demonstrate the homogeneity of the prepared ZnONPs/nanocomposites. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was examined using the methylene blue (MB) dye as a pollutant solution, through evaluation of the efficiency of the prepared compound in the treatment of organic pollutants under illumination by sunlight. The photocatalytic results showed that after 240 minutes of exposure to sunlight, the sample prepared using (0.5 vol.% of ZnON
... Show MoreThis study was designed to evaluate the ability of bioemulsifier to inhibit the growth of some pathogenic microorganisms. Fourteen isolates belonged to Serratia sp. were collected and tested for their ability to produce bioemulsifier. Results showed that Serratia marcescens S10 (isolated from the gut of the American cockroach) had the highest ability to produce bioemulsifier, among 14 isolates belong to Serratia spp. and it had the ability to inhibit the growth of some microorganisms. The production of bioemulsifier was detected by determination of emulsification index (E24%), qualitative drop-collapse test, emulsification activity (E.A) and measuring the surface tension (S.T). The results of bioemulsifier produced by Serratia marcescens S1
... Show MoreThe synthesis of zeolite NaX from locally available kaolin has been studied. The operating conditions for zeolite NaX production from kaolin with good crystallinity were as follows; a gel formation step of metakaolin in alkaline medium in presence of additional silica to crystallize the zeolite was achieved at 60 oC for 1 hr,and with stirring. In ageing step of the reactants at room temperature for 5 days and crystallization step at 87±2 oC for 24 hr. The catalytic activity of catalyst prepared from local kaolin was studied by using cumene cracking as a model for catalytic cracking and compared with standard HY zeolite and HX zeolite catalysts. The activity test was carried out in a laboratory continuous flow unit with fixed bed re
... Show MoreThe new Schiff base 1‐[(2‐{1‐[(dicyclohexylamino)‐methyl]‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl}‐ethylimino)‐methyl]naphthalen‐2‐ol (HL) was prepared from 1‐{[2‐(1H‐Indol‐3‐yl)‐ethylimino] methyl}‐naphthalen‐2‐ol and dicyclohexyl amine. From this Schiff base, monomeric complexes [M (L)n (H2O)2 Cl2] with M = Cr, Fe, Mn, Cd, and Hg were synthesized and characterized based on elemental analysis (EA), FT‐IR, mass(MS), UV‐visible, thermal analysis, magnetic moment, and molar conductance. The results showed that the geometrical structural were octahedral geometries for the Cr(III) and Fe(III) complex