Objective:The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract of the Auklandia (Saussurea lappa) root plant was investigated to verify its medicinal use in the treatment of microbial infections. Methods:The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract was tested against clinical isolates of some multidrug-resistant bacteria using the agar well diffusion method. Commercial antibiotics were used as positive reference standards to determine the sensitivity of the clinical isolates. Results:The extracts showed significant inhibitory activity against clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactemase, Acinetobacter baumannii. The minimum inhibitory concentration values obtained using the agar dilution test ranged from 2.0 μg/μL-12.0 μg/μL. In the contrary the water extract showed no activity at all against the tested isolates. Furthermore, the results obtained by examining anti-resistant activity of the plant ethanolic extract showed that at higher concentration of the plant extract (12 μg) all tested bacteria isolates were inhibited with variable inhibition zones similar to those obtained when we applied lower extract concentration using the well diffusion assay. Conclusion:The results demonstrated that the crude ethanolic extract of the Auklandia (Saussurea lappa) root plant has a wide spectrum of activity suggesting that it may be useful in the treatment of infections caused by the above clinical isolates (human pathogens).

Background: and Purpose Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the cerebellar hemisphere represents a new option in treating essential tremor (ET) patients. We aimed to determine the efficacy of cerebellar rTMS in treating ET using different protocols regarding the number of sessions, exposure duration, and follow-up duration. Methods: A randomized sham-controlled trial was conducted, in which 45 recruit patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups. The first (active group) comprised 23 patients who were exposed to 12 sessions of active rTMS with 900 pulses of 1-Hz rTMS at 90% of the resting motor threshold daily on each side of the cerebellar hemispheres over 4 weeks. The second group (sham group) comprised 22 patients who were exposed to 12 sessions of sham rTMS. Both groups were reassessed at baseline and after 1 day, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin tremor-rating scale (FTM). Results: Demographic characteristics did no differ between the two groups. There were significant reductions both in FTM subscores A and B and in the FTM total score in the active-rTMS group during the period of assessment and after 3 months (p=0.031 and 0.011, respectively).However, subscore C did not change significantly from baseline when assessed at 2 and 3 months (p=0.073 and 0.236, respectively). Furthermore, the global assessment score was significantly higher in the active-rTMS group (p>0.001). Conclusions Low-frequency rTMS over the cerebellar cortex for 1 month showed relative safety and long-lasting efficacy in patients with ET. Further large-sample clinical trials are needed that include different sites of stimulation and longer follow-ups.

Aims: This study was aimed to produce biodegradable cellulose acetate films impregnated with bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances to be used in food packaging. Methodology and results: Bacterial isolates were isolated from different sources and tested for their antimicrobial activity by agar well diffusion assay. The isolate that showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Escherichia coli ATCC 51659, Pseudomonas aeruginosa MG847103 and Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 was identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain N1 (OM019104) based on 16S rRNA based method of identification. The extracted bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances were partially purified with acetone precipitation and SP-Sephroase cation exchange chromatography. There was no change in the antimicrobial activity after treatment with the catalase enzyme, but there was a total loss in the activity after treatment with proteolytic enzymes. The obtained bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances showed pH stability over a wide range of pH values and thermal stability as it recovered 95% of its antimicrobial activity even after autoclaving for 15 min. Different concentrations of cellulose acetate (3 to 12%) were tested to develop the active antimicrobial films. The most flexible concentrations for food packaging were prepared and impregnated with partially purified bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances. The prepared films showed promising antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This study highlights the usage of active packaging in food preservation. Cellulose acetate films activated with the partially purified bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances have anti-staphylococcal activity, which can potentially be used in food packaging to prolong the shelf-life of perishable foo

Aim:This study aims to assess the wet market wastewater efficiency as Scenedesmussp. biomass production medium based on the physical and chemical characteristic as well as the biomass compositions. Methodology and results:The experiments were set up in transparent glass tank (40 L) containing 20 L of wastewater. The efficiency of different concentrations (10, 15, 20 and 25%) of wet market wastewater diluted with distilled water was compared to Bold Basal Medium (BBM). The biomass was harvested after 12 days of the incubation period by centrifugation. The quantity of biomass yielded was estimated based on the microalgae cell concentrations, while quality of biomass yield was determined by GC-MS. The nutrient contents of the raw wet market wastewater were in the range required for microalgae growth. The wastewater with 20% of dilution exhibited high efficiency for Scenedesmussp. growth in comparison to BBM (4×107vs.1 ×106cell/mL respectively). The main compounds in the microalgae biomass included cycloheptane, cyclododecanol, 1-ethenyl-acetate, 2-trifluoroacetoxypentadecane and 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester.Conclusion, significance and impact of study:Scenedesmussp. biomass can be produced using the wet market wastewate

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant and antidiabetic mechanism(s) of ethyl acetate extract fraction of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) leaves on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: A total of 24 adult male rats were segregated randomly into four groups (6 rats each group). Streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats were given (oral gavage) ethyl acetate extract fraction of M. oleifera (200 mg/kg b.w.) for 30 d. The rats of control and experimental groups were sacrificed after 24 hours of final dose of treatment, to extract blood and pancreatic tissue for biochemical and histopathological analysis. Results: The ethyl acetate extract fraction of M. oleifera significantly reversed (P<0.05) the manifestation of streptozotocin on the levels of serum glucose & insulin, lipid profile, hepatic damage markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase), malondialdehyde formation, antioxidants (glutathione, Vitamin C & Vitamin E), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 β , TNF- α & IL-6). Histopathological analysis of pancreatic tissues was in concurrence with the biochemical results. Conclusions: These findings support that M. oleifera leaves have potent therapeutic effect on diabetes mellitus via increasing antioxidant levels and inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators.