Leishmania is one of the protozoan parasites that are transferred to human by infected sand flies and gives rise to a range of diseases entitled as Leishmaniasis. More than 20 known species of Leishmania can infect humans and cause various clinical symptoms. Three most known clinical manifestations are Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (MCL) and Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) (kala-azar or black fever). The difference in the clinical form dependent on several factors: species of Leishmania, type of vector that transmits the Leishmania, and the immune status of an infected individual. The current drugs which are used as anti-leishaminial treatment are characterized by enormous side effects, including their toxicity to human, long term treatment, liver problems and huge cost. Therefore, there is a necessity to find an alternative treatment marked as low cost, more specific against parasite’s stages, and metabolic pathways, and non-toxicity to human. Plants are considered one of the important sources for the remedy of the tropical diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Cymbopogon Citratus (lemon grass) is a herbal medicine used as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-malarial, anti-protozoal and for gastrointestinal problems remedy. In order to detect the effects of C. Citratus against Leishmaniasis, in this study, serial dilution for the essential oil of C.citratus (1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.5 and 31.25) µg/ml were used against L. donovani Promastigotes. Viability was also evaluated at 24, 48 and 72 hours post-treatment. The results revealed that high concentrations (1000, 500 and 250) µg/ml were more effective than other concentrations during all time intervals, and IC50 values were 640, 492 and 442 µg/ml at 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively. In conclusion, this current study is one of a persistent search to find new treatments characterized by its high activity and low adverse effects to treat protozoa parasites for instance, Leishmania, and displays the effectiveness of the essential oils as a promising alternative
Codes of red, green, and blue data (RGB) extracted from a lab-fabricated colorimeter device were used to build a proposed classifier with the objective of classifying colors of objects based on defined categories of fundamental colors. Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors namely red, green, orange, yellow, pink, purple, blue, brown, grey, white, and black, were employed in machine learning (ML) by applying an artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm using Python. The classifier, which was based on the ANN algorithm, required a definition of the mentioned eleven colors in the form of RGB codes in order to acquire the capability of classification. The software's capacity to forecast the color of the code that belongs to an ob
... Show MoreCodes of red, green, and blue data (RGB) extracted from a lab-fabricated colorimeter device were used to build a proposed classifier with the objective of classifying colors of objects based on defined categories of fundamental colors. Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors namely red, green, orange, yellow, pink, purple, blue, brown, grey, white, and black, were employed in machine learning (ML) by applying an artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm using Python. The classifier, which was based on the ANN algorithm, required a definition of the mentioned eleven colors in the form of RGB codes in order to acquire the capability of classification. The software's capacity to forecast the color of the code that belongs to an object under de
... 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 MoreThis paper involved the registration of 1,936 cases of infection of the Leishmania tropica parasite observed at hospitals and health centers in Ramadi, Fallujah, Baghdadi, and Hit during 2017. The results revealed that the highest rates of infection were found in Ramadi and Fallujah. The 1-10 years age group recorded the highest rate at 35.5%. There was no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) between the sexes. December and January saw the highest rate of infection, where the rate in rural townships was found to be 65.5%, higher than in urban regions which saw a rate of 34.4%. Facial lesions were the most prominent area of infection, recorded at a rate of 41.3%. The study also included an examination of 180 rodents (94 mice and 86 black r
... Show MoreFifty of urine samples were collected from patients with urinary tract infection
(UTI). The samples were collected from AL- Yarmuk hospital in Baghdad. All of
the isolates were diagnosed using biochemical test and vitek. The result showed that
30 (60%) isolates identified as E.coli from 50 urine samples. The colicinogenic
isolates were determined using cup assay methods. The results showed that 10 out of
30 isolates (33.3%) were detect as colicin producers from 30 isolate identified as
E.coli depending on the clear zone that observed against the sensitive isolate.
Colicin was extracted from the efficient isolate. Colicin activity (320 U/ml) was
determined by well assay method. The protein concentration (520 μg /m
Giardia lamblia is one of most common protozoan cause diarrheas, and the most health problem in development countries worldwide. Our work aimed to assess activity and toxicity of metronidazole loaded silver nanoparticles in treatment of acute giardiasis in mice. After inoculated mice with Giardia cysts in a dose of 105 cyst for acute infection, treatments were given for eight days. Number Giardia cysts in stool were discovered. Toxicity nanoparticles was estimated by Measurement oxidative stress markers (GSH) and (MDA) in liver, kidney tissue homogenate. The results showed single therapy was better effect by silver nanoparticles, highest percentages of reduction in number of cysts Giardia lamblia of infected mice treated with silver nanopar
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is to evaluating the antibacterial activity of Laurus nobilis leaves extract on E. coli isolates. Maceration and Soxhlet apparatus were used to prepare aqueous and methanolic extracts; total phenolic content and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) were conducted to determine the active compounds in the extracts. The results showed that both Laurus nobilis methanolic and aqueous extracts have a noticeable effect on scavenging free radicals. Free radical scavenging activity. The total phenolic contents were 28.60 ±0.12 and 16.58 ±0.11mg/g in 50 mg/ml, in methanolic and aqueous extracts respectively. The antibacterial activity of Laurus nobilis leaves extracts showed that the methanolic extract was more effective than
... Show MoreStimulative effect of 10 mW He-Ne laser on the phagocytic activity of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes( PMNs) has been studied in vitro. Normal polymorphonuclear leucocytes were isolated from the human peripheral blood. A mixture of 0.25 ml of Hanks solution, 0.25 ml of serum, 0.25 ml of Candida albicans suspension and 0.25 ml of PMNs suspension was prepared. The samples of mixture of PMNs and Candida were subdivided in 1 ml ependrof tubes and irradiated to He-Ne laser for 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20 min. The diameter of the irradiated area was 0.8 cm. For calculation of Phagocytic index before and after irradiation, the samples were incubated (37°C) at 5, 15, 30, 60 min. The slides of samples were prepared and stained using Giemsa stain. The
... Show MoreBackground: The potential use of zinc oxide and other metal oxide nanoparticles in biomedical are gaining interest in the scientific and medical communities, largely due to the physical and chemical properties of these nanomaterials. The present work revealed the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on the total salivary peroxidase enzyme activity of human saliva in comparison to de-ionized water. Materials and methods: Forty eight unstimulated saliva samples were collected from dental students/University of Baghdad 18-22 years. Then measure the total salivary peroxidase activity first without any addition to human saliva as a control, second with dilution the saliva with de-ionized water, and third with zinc oxide nanoparticles in c
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