Endophytic bacteria isolated from Urtica dioica L.- preliminary screening for enzyme and polyphenols production.

Endophytes, especially those isolated from herbal plants, may act as a reservoir of a variety of secondary metabolites exhibiting biological activity. Some endophytes express the ability to produce the same bioactive compounds as their plant hosts, making them a more sustainable industrial supply of these substances. Urtica dioica L. (common stinging nettle) is a synanthropic plant that is widely used in herbal medicine due to the diversity of bioactive chemicals it contains, e.g., polyphenols, which demonstrate anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancerous capabilities. This study aimed at isolating endophytic bacteria from stinging nettles for their bioactive compounds. The endophytic isolates were identified by both biochemical and molecular methods (16S rRNA) and investigated for enzymes, biosurfactants, and polyphenols production. Each of the isolated bacterial strains was capable of producing biosurfactants and polyphenols. However, three of the isolated endophytes, identified as two strains of Bacillus cereus and one strain of Bacillus mycoides, possessed the greatest capacity to produce biosurfactants and polyphenols. The derivatized extracts from culture liquid showed the 1.633 mol l-1 (9.691 mg l-1) concentration of polyphenol compounds. Therefore, the present study signifies that endophytic B. cereus and B. mycoides isolated from Urtica dioica L. could be a potential source of biosurfactants and polyphenols. However, further study is required to understand the mechanism of the process and achieve efficient polyphenol production by endophytic bacteria.

Microbial Diversity and Bioactive Compounds in Dried Lycium barbarum Fruits (Goji): A Comparative Study.

This study compares the microbial diversity and content of bioactive compounds in dried goji berries available on the Polish market to those of the most highly valued goji berries from the Ningxia region in China. The content of phenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids were determined, as well as the antioxidant capacities of the fruits. The quantitative and qualitative composition of the microbiota inhabiting the fruits was assessed using metagenomics by high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina platform. The highest quality was demonstrated by naturally dried fruits from the Ningxia region. These berries were characterized by a high content of polyphenols and high antioxidant activity, as well as high microbial quality. The lowest antioxidant capacity was shown by goji berries cultivated in Poland. However, they contained a high amount of carotenoids. The highest microbial contamination was found in the goji berries available in Poland (>106 CFU/g), which is important in terms of consumer safety. Despite the widely accepted benefits of consuming goji berries, both the country of cultivation and the preservation method may influence their composition, bioactivity, and microbial quality.

Santalum Genus: phytochemical constituents, biological activities and health promoting-effects.

Santalum genus belongs to the family of Santalaceae, widespread in India, Australia, Hawaii, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, and valued as traditional medicine, rituals and modern bioactivities. Sandalwood is reported to possess a plethora of bioactive compounds such as essential oil and its components (α-santalol and ß-santalol), phenolic compounds and fatty acids. These bioactives play important role in contributing towards biological activities and health-promoting effects in humans. Pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown the role of sandalwood extract as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, neuroleptic, antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and anticancer activities. Safety studies on sandalwood essential oil (EO) and its extracts have proven them as a safe ingredient to be utilized in health promotion. Phytoconstituents, bioactivities and traditional uses established sandalwood as one of the innovative materials for application in the pharma, food, and biomedical industry.

A Review on Tradescantia: Phytochemical Constituents, Biological Activities and Health-Promoting Effects.

Tradescantia is a genus of herbaceous and perennial plants belonging to the Commelinaceae family and organized into three infrageneric classifications and 12 sections. More than 80 species within the genus have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Phytochemical compounds (from various species of the genus) such as coumarins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, steroids and terpenoids have recently been characterized and described with antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer or antimicrobial properties. The objective of this review is to describe the different aspects of the genus Tradescantia, including its botanical characteristics, traditional uses, phytochemical composition, biological activities, and safety aspects.

High-throughput sequencing approach in analysis of microbial communities colonizing natural gas pipelines.

This study provides a deep modern insight into the phylogenetic diversity among bacterial consortia found in working and nonworking high-methane natural gas pipelines located in Poland. The working pipeline was characterized by lower biodiversity (140-154 bacterial genera from 22 to 23 classes, depending on the source of the debris) in comparison to the off-gas pipeline (169 bacterial genera from 23 classes). The sediment recovered from the working pipeline contained mostly DNA identified as belonging to the phylum Firmicutes (66.4%-45.9% operational taxonomic units [OTUs]), predominantly Bacillus (41.4%-31.1% OTUs) followed by Lysinibacillus (2.6%-1.5% OTUs) and Clostridium (2.4%-1.8% OTUs). In the nonworking pipeline, Proteobacteria (46.8% OTUs) and Cyanobacteria (27.8% OTUs) were dominant. Over 30% of the Proteobacteria sequences showed homologies to Gammaproteobacteria, with Pseudomonas (7.1%), Enhydrobacter (2.1%), Stenotrophomonas (0.5%), and Haempohilus (0.4%) among the others. Differences were noted in terms of the chemical compositions of deposits originating from the working and nonworking gas pipelines. The deposits from the nonworking gas pipeline contained iron, as well as carbon (42.58%), sulphur (15.27%), and oxygen (15.32%). This composition can be linked to both the quantity and type of the resident microorganisms. The presence of a considerable amount of silicon (17.42%), and of aluminum, potassium, calcium, and magnesium at detectable levels, may likewise affect the metabolic activity of the resident consortia in the working gas pipeline. All the analyzed sediments included both bacteria known for causing and intensifying corrosion (e.g., Pseudomonas, Desulfovibrio, Shewanella, Serratia) and bacteria that can protect the surface of pipelines against deterioration (e.g., Bacillus). Biocorrosion is not related to a single mechanism or one species of microorganism, but results from the multidirectional activity of multiple microbial communities. The analysis presented here of the state of the microbiome in a gas pipeline during the real gas transport is a particularly valuable element of this work.

Dust at Various Workplaces-Microbiological and Toxicological Threats.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relation between the chemical (analysis of elements and pH) and microbiological composition (culture and metagenomics analysis) of the dust at various workplaces (cement plant, composting plant, poultry farm, and cultivated area) and the cytotoxicity effect on the human adenocarcinoma lung epithelial adherent cell line A-549 (MTT assay test). Analysis of the Particulate Matter (PM) fraction showed that the dust concentration in cultivated areas exceeded the OELs. For the remaining workplaces examined, the dust concentration was lower than OELs limits. The number of microorganisms in the dust samples was 3.8 × 10²â»1.6 × 108 CFU/g bacteria and 1.5 × 10²â»6.5 × 106 CFU/g fungi. The highest number of microorganisms was noted for dust from cultivated areas (total number of bacteria, actinomycetes, P. fluorescens) and composting plants (xerophilic fungi and staphylococci), while the least number of microorganisms was observed for dust from cement plants. Many types of potentially pathogenic microorganisms have been identified, including bacteria, such as Bacillus, Actinomyces, Corynebacterium, Prevotella, Clostridium, and Rickettsia, and fungi, such as Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. The most cytotoxic to the human lung cell line A-549 was dust from cultivated areas (IC50 = 3.8 mg/mL after 72 h). The cytotoxicity of the tested dust samples depends on the PM concentration, the number of microorganisms, including potentially pathogenic genera, and the exposure time.

Unusual Use of Gd-EOB-DTPA in MRCP in Order to Reveal the Source of Bile Leakage in a Patient with Neuroendocrine Tumor - Case Report.

BACKGROUND: MRCP is the method of choice in diagnosing pathologies of the biliary system. One of them is bile fistulae. They are uncommon but tend to cause many diagnostic problems. The possible way to improve MRCP is using it with intravenous injection of hepatobiliary-specific contrast agents. As it is eliminated via the hepatobiliary system, it can be visualized in the bile ducts and may help to reveal disorders undetected by a standard MRCP. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 36-year-old woman with leakage in the biliary system which led to creation of a subcutaneous bile reservoir. By means of a regular MRCP protocol it was impossible to reveal any disorders of the biliary system and thus a decision to inject Gd-EOB-DTPA was taken. As a result, a fistula with its opening in the fundus of the gall bladder was revealed. Patient was qualified for treatment with somatostatin analogues in order to stop bile secretion. CONCLUSIONS: The Gd-EOB-DTPA in combination with regular T2-weighted MRCP may be helpful in detecting anomalies of the biliary system. Although a high price of the procedure restricts its accessibility, such advantages as lower risk of complications, lower costs of hospitalization, and less traumatic nature make it a technique that may take precedence over ERCP in ambiguous cases.

Prebiotics and age, but not probiotics affect the transformation of 2-amino-3-methyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) by fecal microbiota - An in vitro study.

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are carcinogens which are formed in meat cooked using high-temperature methods. The human gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining health in humans of different ages, and especially in the elderly. However, the GI microbiota, whose metabolism and composition changes with age, may also be responsible for the activation of mutagenic substances reaching the colon with diet. Probiotics and prebiotics are promising in terms of reducing the destructive effects of HAAs. The aim of the study was to determine if fecal microbiota derived from the feces of 27 volunteers: infants (up to 18 months), adults (aged 23-39 years), the sub-elderly (aged 64-65 years), and the elderly (aged 76-87 years), and the presence of probiotics or prebiotics, affected the transformation of IQ (2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline) to 7-OH-IQ (2-amino-3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-7H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline-7-one). The compounds were identified using LC-MS(n), NMR, and FTIR. Their genotoxicity was compared in the comet assay. Individual strains capable of IQ transformation were also identified. 7-OH-IQ was detected in six persons (two children and four elderly individuals). The degree of IQ conversion ranged from 26% (4-month-old girl) to 94% (81-year-old woman) of the initial quantity. Four Enterococcus isolates: two Enterococcus faecium and two Enterococcus faecalis strains, as well as one Clostridium difficile strain (LOCK 1030, from the culture collection) converted IQ to 7-OH-IQ. The genotoxicity of samples containing 7-OH-IQ was even three times higher (P < 0.05) than those with IQ and was correlated with the degree of IQ conversion and 7-OH-IQ concentration.

The Impact of Ozone Treatment in Dynamic Bed Parameters on Changes in Biologically Active Substances of Juniper Berries.

The development of the parameters of ozone decontamination method assuring the least possible losses of biologically active substances (essential oils and polyphenols) and their activity in common juniper (Juniperus communis (L.)) berries was studied. Ozone treatment in dynamic bed was conducted 9 times. The process was conducted under different ozone concentrations (100.0; 130.0; 160.0 g O3/m3) and times (30, 60, 90 min). After each decontamination, the microbiological profile of the juniper berries was studied, and the contaminating microflora was identified. Next to the microbiological profile, the phenolic profile, as well as antioxidant activity of extracts and essential oils were determined. The total polyphenol content (TPC), composition of essential oils, free radical-scavenging capacity, total antioxidant capacity, ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), beta-carotene bleaching test (BCB) and LC-MS polyphenol analysis were carried out. The study reveals that during short ozone contact times, higher amounts of TPC, 15.47 and 12.91 mg CE/g of extract, for samples 100/30 and 130/30, respectively, were demonstrated. Whereas samples 100/60, 130/60, 100/90, and 160/90 exhibited the lowest amount of phenolics. The highest antioxidant activity was found in the methanol extract obtained from ozonated berries which exhibited the lowest IC50 in all the antioxidant assays, such as DPPH, FRAP, and BCB assays. Ozone treatment showed noteworthy potential and its usage in food manufacturing and as an alternative decontamination method should be considered.

Prostate and Bladder Cancer Coexistence in Patients Undergoing Radical Cystoprostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: According to the Polish National Cancer Registry, bladder cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the male population (7.0%), while prostate cancer takes 2nd place (14.0%). In the case of both cancer types, prognoses are precarious and depend on many factors, such as the size of the primary tumor, infiltration of regional lymph nodes, histological grade and occurrence of distant metastases. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this work is to verify the coincidence of prostate cancer and bladder cancer in patients who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy in Wroclaw Medical University, Department of Urology and Oncological Urology, as well as to indicate factors that may influence the peri- and post-operative course. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy for muscular-invasive bladder cancer between 2009 and 2014, which comprised of 116 male patients. We managed to establish telephone and personal contact with the patients. RESULTS: Seventeen of the 116 patients were diagnosed with coincidental prostate cancer in post-operative histological examination (14.6%). This result is lower than in other series of cystoprostatectomy cases (range 23-68%). The mean age of patient was 68.9 years and the median was 69.5 years. Factors influencing the peri- and post-operative periods were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PSA level and DRE should be performed more often on patients prepared for radical cystoprostatectomy. An accurate pre-operative assessment of cancer infiltration is required for both types of tumors. Complete resection of prostate prevents residual neoplasm infiltration. It is important to take into account the possibility of primary prostate tumor occurrence in patients qualified for radical cystectomy. The post-operative supervision should be focused not only on bladder carcinoma but on the prostate carcinoma, too.

Antigenotoxic activity of lactic acid bacteria, prebiotics, and products of their fermentation against selected mutagens.

Dietary components such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and prebiotics can modulate the intestinal microbiota and are thought to be involved in the reduction of colorectal cancer risk. The presented study measured, using the comet assay, the antigenotoxic activity of both probiotic and non-probiotic LAB, as well as some prebiotics and the end-products of their fermentation, against fecal water (FW). The production of short chain fatty acids by the bacteria was quantified using HPLC. Seven out of the ten tested viable strains significantly decreased DNA damage induced by FW. The most effective of them were Lactobacillus mucosae 0988 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12, leading to a 76% and 80% decrease in genotoxicity, respectively. The end-products of fermentation of seven prebiotics by Lactobacillus casei DN 114-001 exhibited the strongest antigenotoxic activity against FW, with fermented inulin reducing genotoxicity by 75%. Among the tested bacteria, this strain produced the highest amounts of butyrate in the process of prebiotic fermentation, and especially from resistant dextrin (4.09 µM/mL). Fermented resistant dextrin improved DNA repair by 78% in cells pre-treated with 6.8 µM methylnitronitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Fermented inulin induced stronger DNA repair in cells pre-treated with mutagens (FW, 25 µM hydrogen peroxide, or MNNG) than non-fermented inulin, and the efficiency of DNA repair after 120 min of incubation decreased by 71%, 50% and 70%, respectively. The different degrees of genotoxicity inhibition observed for the various combinations of bacteria and prebiotics suggest that this effect may be attributable to carbohydrate type, SCFA yield, and the ratio of the end-products of prebiotic fermentation.

[Amygdalin - structure and clinical significance]. / Amigdalina - budowa i znaczenie kliniczne.

In this publication we described amygdalin. It was isolated for the first time in the 19th century. Amygdalin is called interchangeably vitamin B17 or laetrile. Since more than a hundred years, there has been reports about its unique anticancer properties. We tried to introduce the present knowledge about therapeutic efficacy of laetrile. Most of these studies has been made in the in vitro environment. The lack of appropriate studies forced scientists to examine the positive influence of amygdalin on many diseases like: bladder cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, promyelocytic leukemia, chronic kidney disease, psoriasis and other.

[Betatrophin - the turn in diabetes treatment]. / Betatrofina - przelom w leczeniu cukrzycy.

The topic of the present work is the appearance of the newest research in diabetes treatment. Till now, the patients were forced to inject insulin or take oral medicines to maintain proper glucose level. Introduction of the incretin group of medicines to the market turned out to be a breakthrough in diabetes treatment. It defers the necessity of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes. Studies connected with amyline were the next step in diabetes therapy. The new research connected with peptide betatrophin seems to comes as the biggest surprise and hope for diabetics. The hormone stimulates B-cells proliferation, which leads to increase in endogenous insulin production. It generates a chance for a fewer number of injections, which will result in better quality of life.