ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Curcumin is a kind of medicinal plant, a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. As the herbal medicine has been globally demanded in recent years and due to the anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties of curcumin, the present study aimed to compare the inhibitory effect of curcumin with that of nystatin on Candida albicans growth. METHODS: In this experimental study, the antifungal effect of curcumin on Candida albicans was evaluated. Candida albicans is cultivated in Agar Sabuard medium containing chlorophenic, 10-series of curcumin extract, and one 10-series of a disc impregnated with nystatin. Inside of each plate, one disc of herbal extract, one disc of nystatin as a positive control, one disc of methanol and one empty disc as negative control were placed, after 24 hrs, the inhibitory zone diameter of the herbal extract was compared with that of positive control using Mann-Whitney. RESULTS: The mean of inhibitory zone diameter in nystatin and curcumin was 1.04±20.46 and 1.36±0.89 mm, respectively. Mann-Whitney test shows a significant difference between the inhibitory zone diameter of these materials (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that curcumin extract did not have any effect on the inhibition of Candida albicans in laboratory environment.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Health promotion is an essential strategy for reduction of health disparities. Health promotion includes all activities that encourage optimum physical, spiritual, and mental functions. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of a Health Promotion Program (HPP) on behavior in terms of the dimensions of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) in patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). METHODS & MATERIALS: In this clinical trial study, 80 patients who had undergone CABG surgery (2011-2012) were selected and randomly divided in two groups: Experimental and Control that investigated by (HPLP II). Then the experimental group was educated about diet, walking and stress management. The program process was followed up for three months and after tward whole variables were investigated again. The overall score and the scores for the six dimensions of the HPLP (self actualization, health responsibility, exercise, nutrition, interpersonal support and stress management) were measured in the pre- and post-test periods. Data were manually entered into SPSS version 21(IBM Corp, USA) by one the authors. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test and paired t-test. Mean standard deviation and standard error of the mean (with 95% Confidence Interval) were generated for each item. RESULTS: Results showed that score of stress management (p=.036), diet (p=.002), Spiritual Growth (p=.001) and interrelationship (p=002) increase in experimental group after intervention. Average scores after three months in the control group had no significant changes; except responsibility for health (p<.05). Results of the study revealed that comparison the scores of the experimental group were significantly different from the control group in all lifestyle aspects except for spiritual growth. CONCLUSION: This study showed that HPP on lifestyle and health promotion in patients who suffered from Coronary Heart Disease (CAD) could improve the patient's awareness of healthy behaviors and well-being in the quality of life.