Free Radical Scavenging, Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Activity of Acorus calamus Leaves Extract Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Background Herbal medicine, or phytotherapy, has been used for centuries in traditional healing practices to harness the therapeutic properties of different plant-derived elements. Acorus calamus, a perennial herbaceous plant, has significant historical importance in traditional medicine, specifically in Ayurveda, where it is referred to as "Vacha." This study investigates the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial characteristics of the A. calamus dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) extract. The objectives of the research are to provide valuable knowledge about the preparation of A. calamus DMSO extract and to explore its potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Materials and methods The A. calamus DMSO extract was derived from leaves, and its antioxidant activity was evaluated through the use of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay (H2O2 assay), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using the Bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation assay, egg albumin (EA) denaturation assay, and membrane stabilization assays. The antimicrobial activity was analyzed using the agar well diffusion technique and the time-kill curve assay. Results In DPPH and H2O2 tests, the DMSO extract of A. calamus showed significant antioxidant activity, near that of standard ascorbic acid. The FRAP assay demonstrated a correlation between the dose and the activity of reducing ferric ions. The A. calamus DMSO extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory properties in BSA and EA denaturation assays, similar to the standard diclofenac sodium. The anti-inflammatory potential of the A. calamus DMSO extract was further confirmed through the membrane stabilization assay. The DMSO extract of A. calamus exhibited a significant inhibition zone against the pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa during the antimicrobial evaluation, surpassing the efficacy of the standard antibiotic. The time-kill curve assay validated the antibacterial efficacy, which was dependent on the concentration. Conclusion The A. calamus DMSO extract exhibited promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, supporting its traditional use in alternative medicine. The findings suggest its potential as a natural resource of compounds with bioactive properties for use in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.

Biological Activities of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Green Synthesized Using the Aqueous Extract of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss.

BACKGROUND: Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. is known as a native medicinal plant of Iran. OBJECTIVE: In this study, aqueous extract of D. kotschyi was used to synthesize ZnO-NPs. To produce ZnO-NPs, aerial parts of D. kotschyi were powdered and then macerated for obtaining aqueous extract, after that, aqueous extract was used to reduse zinc nitrate to ZnO-NPs. METHODS: To confirm nanoparticles synthesis, SEM, TEM, UV-Vis, FTIR, and XRD were used. The synthesized ZnO-NPs were studied for antimicrobial activities by microdilution method for calculating MIC and MBC. Analysis of ZnO-NPs confirmed successful synthesis by extract of D. kotschyi. RESULTS: The sizes of ZnO-NPs were estimated 50-200 nm in diameter. Antibacterial and antifungal experiments showed potent activities against Staphylococos aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The results of the studies showed that the nanoparticles synthesized with the aqueous extract of D. kotschyi have a much greater antimicrobial effect than the aqueous extract of D. kotschyi and zinc nanoparticles, each alone (MIC values 3.7 to 7.5 mg/ml). CONCLUSION: The noteworthy point is that the inhibitory rate of synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles is higher compared to broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as chloramphenicol (MIC values 15 mg/ml). Determining the therapeutic and toxic dose of this product for humans requires further investigation and clinical trials.

Optimisation of Polyphenols Extraction from Wild Bilberry Leaves-Antimicrobial Properties and Stability Studies.

Polyphenolic extracts from natural sources have received great interest due to their beneficial properties for human health. A method to reduce their variability is to use the design of experiments which allows a limited number of experiments to be performed while exploring the experimental space. Firstly, a 23-full factorial model was used to investigate the polyphenols extraction from wild bilberry leaves. Spectrophotometric data (the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, chlorophyll and radical scavenger activity) and extraction yield were used as responses, and six statistical models were determined depending on the two numerical factors (temperature and alcohol % of ethanol-water mixture) being significant (p < 0.05) in all cases. Numerical optimisation performed by Design Expert 13 software correlates well with the chemical profile determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and the amount of the polyphenol. Afterwards, under the optimised conditions, an extract was prepared in three extraction steps for which composition, chemical stability and antimicrobial properties were evaluated. The antimicrobial potential of the extract was compared with that of the standard compounds (rutin and chlorogenic acid), and the results supported a synergistic effect of the extract components.

Biosynthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Lactobacillus spp. and Investigation of their Antimicrobial Effect.

BACKGROUND: Nanoparticle biology is preferable to other common methods due to its economic efficiency and compatibility with the environment. On the other hand, the prevalence of drug-resistant bacterial strains is expanding and it is necessary to use alternative antibiotic compounds to deal with them. The aim of the present study was the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles(ZnO NPs) by Lactobacillus spp. and their antimicrobial effect. METHODS: In this study, after the biosynthesis of ZnO NPs by Lactobacillus spp, Characterization of Nanoparticulation Was performed by UV-Vis, XRD, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Additionally, Lactobacillus spp. - ZnO NPs were assessed for their antimicrobial properties. RESULTS: UV-visible spectroscopy confirmed the Lactobacillus spp. - ZnO NPs absorbed UV in the region of 300-400 nm. XRD analysis showed the presence of zinc metal in nanoparticles. SEM revealed that Lactobacillus plantarum - ZnO NPs were smaller than the others. Staphylococcus aureus showed the largest non-growth halo diameter against ZnO NPs synthesized by L. plantarum ATCC 8014 (3.7 mm). E. coli had the largest growth halo diameter against ZnO NPs synthesized by L. casei (3 mm) and L. plantarum (2.9 mm). The MIC values of ZnO NPs synthesized by L. plantarum ATCC 8014, L.casei ATCC 39392, L. fermenyum ATCC 9338, L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 were 2,8,8 and 4 µg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus. The MIC values of ZnO NPs synthesized by L. plantarum ATCC 8014, L. casei ATCC 39392, L. fermenyum ATCC 9338, L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 were 2, 4, 4, and 4 µg/ml for E. coli. The lowest MICs were 2 µg/ml for E. coli and S. aureus related to ZnO NPs synthesized by L. plantarum ATCC 8014. MIC and MBC values were equivalent to each other. CONCLUSION: The results of this research show that ZnO NPs synthesized by L. plantarum ATCC 8014 have more antimicrobial effects than other ZnO NPs used. Therefore, the ZnO NPs made with Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 have the potential to kill bacteria and can be considered a candidate for antibiotic replacement.

Eco-friendly synthesized silver nanoparticles from endophytic fungus Phyllosticta owaniana: KUMBMDBT-32 and evaluation of biomedical properties.

The primary objective of the current investigation was the biosynthesis of Phy-AgNPs by the endophytic fungus Phyllosticta owaniana (extracted from Abrus precatorius) and the evaluation of the secondary metabolites from the ethyl acetate extract of P. owaniana cultivated by submerged fermentation. Utilizing bioanalytical strategies, Phy-AgNPs were characterized. The UV-visible spectrophotometer analysis revealed an absorption spectrum with a peak at 420 nm, thus validating the Phy-AgNPs synthesis. The FTIR analysis revealed peaks correlating to various potential functional groups, suggesting that Phy-AgNPs have been reduced and capped. SEM-EDAX and HR-TEM analyses demonstrated the spherical shape of Phy-AgNPs, and the 3 keV EDAX analysis confirmed the existence of silver atoms. XRD analyses showed the Phy-AgNPs crystalline structure. The size and the stability of synthesized Phy-AgNPs (65.81 nm) were measured by DLS and Zeta potential studies. While the ethyl acetate extract was analyzed with GC-MS and FTIR for secondary metabolites. The synthesized Phy-AgNPs showed effective antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.1 ± 0.17 mm, 10 mg/mL), while the antifungal activity of Phy-AgNPs inhibited the growth of Candida albicans extremely efficiently (12.16 ± 0.28 mm, 10 mg/mL). Phy-AgNPs were evaluated for a variety of biomedical properties in which they showed significant activity. In a cell viability assay using the MTT assay, Phy-AgNPs exhibited a cytotoxic impact of up to 30.67% and 34.53% when 200 µg/mL were detected. In both in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory examinations, nanoparticles (NPs) exhibited a significant anti-inflammatory effect. These findings support the pharmaceutical and biomedical properties of the synthesized Phy-AgNPs.

Bioactive Properties of Kakadu Plum-Blended Products.

Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana), endemic to Australia, is growing in popularity due to its high levels of vitamin C and strong antioxidant properties. In this study, Kakadu plum fruit powder was used as a functional food ingredient with other plant materials to develop value-added products to enhance their nutritional and commercial value. The present study determined the bioactive properties of nine products, including three Kakadu plum fruit powder samples produced from different processing batches and five Kakadu plum-blended products. Vitamin C, the total phenolic content, and the ellagic acid content were determined. Bioactive properties such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial assays were also performed. Cytotoxicity was tested to obtain more specific product information regarding food safety. Kakadu plum-blended products showed lower cytotoxicity and lower bioactive properties (antioxidant and antibacterial activities) in comparison to Kakadu plum powder. However, overall, most of the bioactive properties were shown to be higher in the blends when compared with the commercial blueberry powder as a benchmark antioxidant product. Therefore, there is great potential for Kakadu plum to contribute to the growing functional food and ingredient markets.

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using lychee peel and its application in anti-bacterial properties and CR dye removal from wastewater.

In nanoscience and nanobiotechnology, using plant extracts in synthesizing metal nanoparticles (NPs) has recently come to light as an exciting opportunity with several benefits over traditional physicochemical methods. In the present work, zinc oxide (ZnO) based nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by green chemistry route using lychee peel extract to capture hazardous congo red dye from wastewater and illustrate their antimicrobial behavior. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) spectra confirm the wurtzite crystal structure, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra confirm the functional group in ZnO, which is suitable for dye adsorption. It was found that the NPs were spherical and had a size of <10 nm. The synthesized ZnO NPs could effectively remove >98% of CR dye from wastewater within 120 min of contact time at a wide pH range from 2 to 10. The primary mechanism involved in removing dye was the electrostatic interaction between ZnO adsorbent and CR dye. The antimicrobial performance of synthesized ZnO NPs was found to show 34% inhibition against Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6538), 52% against Escherichia coli (ATCC 11103), 58% against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 25668) and 32% against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) using well diffusion assay. ZnO demonstrates a suitable anti-bacterial property over both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Overall, the green synthesized method for developing ZnO NPs shows promising and significant anti-bacterial performance and is a highly potential adsorbent for removing CR dye from wastewater.

Assessment of the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Tapinanthus bangwensis leaves hosted by the branches of Persea americana.

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants represent a valuable source for new effective and safe antimicrobial drugs making them an alternative therapy. Existing antimicrobial agents are costly and mostly associated with possible side effects. The aim of the present study therefore, was to assess the antimicrobial property and phytochemical composition of hydroethanolic extract of Tapinanthus bangwensis leaves and its fractions. METHOD: T. bangwensis leaves (harvested from its host plant, Persea americana) was extracted by cold maceration with 70% ethanol and further fractionated with different organic solvents using the solvent partitioning method to obtain the crude extract, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and the resulting aqueous fractions. The phytochemical constituents of the extracts were screened and quantified. Also, the TLC of the extracts were analyzed to serve as a fingerprint. Using the agar diffusion and broth dilution methods, the antimicrobial properties of the extracts were assessed. RESULTS: The study showed that the hydroethanolic (70%) crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves and its fractions contain phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols and reducing sugars. The phytoconstituents were well extracted into the ethyl acetate fraction than the other fractions evidenced in the high levels (p < 0.0001) of saponins (66.47 ± 1.72% w/w), phenolic compounds (77.75 ± 1.06 mg/100 mg GAE) and flavonoids (44.34 ± 0.06 mg/100 mg QE) contents. From the antimicrobial studies, all the microorganisms tested exhibited varying degrees of susceptibility to the extracts with MIC values between 0.78 to 12.5 mg/mL. The crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves, its ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions also exhibited lethal antimicrobial activity with MLC between 6.25 to 50 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: The crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves and its fractions demonstrated antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Candida albicans, thereby representing a potential source of natural antimicrobial agent. Further study is required to identify and isolate antimicrobial compounds from the plant for the development of the natural bioactive antimicrobial agents.

Natural Compounds with Antimicrobial Properties in Cosmetics.

Currently, the cosmetic industry is a very intensively growing part of the economy. Consumer demands are adapted to the current lifestyle, which is based on technological innovations and awareness of the impact of various factors on human health and fitness. There is growing interest in cosmetics based on environmentally friendly natural compounds exerting health-promoting effects. Chemicals with antimicrobial properties used as ingredients in cosmetics ensure their durability and safety. Polyphenolic compounds, peptides, essential oils, and plant extracts characterized by these properties are natural ingredients that can replace synthetic components of cosmetics. The advantage of these compounds is that they exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties, enhancing the product value in addition to their antimicrobial properties. This review article describes the antimicrobial properties of natural compounds that can protect cosmetics and can replace previously used preservative agents. Various studies indicate that the use of these compounds increases consumer interest in these products and has a positive impact on the environment.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from peel extract of Chrysophyllum albidum fruit and their antimicrobial synergistic potentials and biofilm inhibition properties.

Current methods for green synthesis of metal nanoparticles often require continuous harvesting of fresh bio-materials for every synthesis cycle. Practices and procedures that economize bio-materials need to be employed if green synthesis could become a sustainable and eco-friendly method for synthesizing metal nanoparticles. This study explores Chrysophyllum albidum peels (mostly regarded as waste) to prepare silver nanoparticles (Alb-AgNPs). The technique employed in the synthesis allows repeated use of the peels, thus, reducing the heavy dependence on bio-materials. The optical and structural properties of the Alb-AgNPs were studied with Scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, UV-Vis spectrophotometer and powder X-ray diffractometer. The antimicrobial properties of the Alb-AgNPs were studied with selected microorganisms namely; S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, B. subtilis, S. mutans, P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, and Candida albicans. High inhibitory activity against the microorganisms were exhibited with MICs ranging from 15.62 to 1000 µg/mL. Again, the Alb-AgNPs showed the ability to enhance the efficacy of standard antimicrobial agents. The results of the combined interaction with standard antibacterial and antifungal agents ranged from synergistic to antagonistic effects against the tested microorganisms. In addition, the Alb-AgNPs could serve as a biofilm inhibitor with the highest percent inhibition of about 92% against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The results from this study thus provide access to the simple, sustainable, economic and eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles with efficient antimicrobial properties as drug candidates as a means of overcoming the prevailing antibiotic resistance menaces.

Are chemical compounds in medical mushrooms potent against colorectal cancer carcinogenesis and antimicrobial growth?

After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second main cause of death globally. Mushrooms have been demonstrated to contain amalgamation with properties capable of inhibiting carcinogenesis and microbial growth, principally secondary metabolites such as quinolones, steroids, terpenes, anthraquinones, and benzoic acid derivatives among others. This study aimed to substantiate their potency concerning colon cancer carcinogenesis and antimicrobial growth. A systematic search of important literature was performed considering all the articles published until April 2022. Screening was performed by searching the BMC Springer, Elsevier, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid, and MEDLINE databases. In addition, Google Scholar was used to supplement information. Titles and abstracts that matched the established criteria were selected for full-text article scrutiny and subsequently used in the updated present review. Bioactive compounds present in medicinal mushrooms such as ascorbic acid, organic acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, glycosides, phenols, linoleic acid, grifolin, and tocopherols among other compounds play a key role in suppressing the proliferation of cancerous cells and selectively act as antibacterial and antifungal agents. These metabolites actively scavenge oxygen free radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrite radicals that would otherwise increase the risks of the growth and development of cancerous cells. Mushrooms' bioactive compounds and metabolites actively inhibit nuclear factor-kappa activation, protein kinase B processes, and ultimately the expression of Cyclooxygenases 2 in cancerous cells. Medicinal mushrooms should be considered as alternative natural chemo-preventive agents in the global fight against colon cancer and the evolution of drug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms, as they exhibit robust potency. They have not been reported to exhibit adverse harmful effects compared to synthetic chemotherapies, yet they have been reported to demonstrate significant beneficial effects.

Multiple health benefits of curcumin and its therapeutic potential.

Turmeric, or Curcuma longa as it is formally named, is a multifunctional plant with numerous names. It was dubbed "the golden spice" and "Indian saffron" not only for its magnificent yellow color, but also for its culinary use. Turmeric has been utilized in traditional medicine since the dawn of mankind. Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin, which are all curcuminoids, make up turmeric. Although there have been significant advancements in cancer treatment, cancer death and incidence rates remain high. As a result, there is an increasing interest in discovering more effective and less hazardous cancer treatments. Curcumin is being researched for its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-metabolic syndrome, neuroprotective, and antibacterial properties. Turmeric has long been used as a home remedy for coughs, sore throats, and other respiratory problems. As a result, turmeric and its compounds have the potential to be used in modern medicine to cure a variety of diseases. In this current review, we highlighted therapeutic potential of curcumin and its multiple health benefits on various diseases.

Antimicrobial properties and applications of metal nanoparticles biosynthesized by green methods.

There is a growing interest in the potential and application of metal nanoparticles across many fields. A vast array of techniques for metal nanoparticle synthesis has been discovered; however, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental concerns favor the green biological approach, using various plant and microbial sources. This review describes the diversity in green methods for nanoparticle biosynthesis, antimicrobial properties of metal nanoparticles and their potential applications. Metal nanoparticle biosynthesis by extracts and solutions obtained from plants, bacteria, fungi and templates such as viruses are discussed. As biosynthesized nanoparticles have been proven to possess antibacterial, antifungal, and even antiviral properties, these are discussed in detail, with silver and gold nanoparticles as the most studied and with the highest potential for medical application. The focus on prospective antimicrobial applications of nanoparticles stems from the arising resistance of many serious pathogens to traditional disinfectants and antibiotics. Other fields for the application of biosynthesized nanoparticles are also stated briefly, such as in agriculture as pesticides, in wastewater treatment and bioremediation. Finally, the limitations and safety issues connected with widespread use of nanoparticles are discussed.

Antimicrobial Activities Evaluation and Phytochemical Screening of Some Selected Plant Materials Used in Traditional Medicine.

Plant extracts are a source of valuable ingredients that can be used in many industries. This paper presents research on the content of selected bioactive compounds in extracts obtained from various plant materials. Raw materials have a documented use in traditional medicine not only in Poland. The tested plants were: bitter melon (fruit), elderberry (flowers, fruit, leaves), wild rose (fruit, flesh, seeds), mountain ash (fruit), guelder rose (fruit), and sea buckthorn (fruit, leaves, pomace). The main goal of these tests is to indicate the potential raw materials that may constitute an alternative source of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial activity. The plant material was tested for the content of bioactive antioxidant compounds and possible antimicrobial activity. The content of polyphenols (phenolic acids and flavonoids) was analyzed using UPLC/PDA, sterols, organic acids, and other bioactive compounds. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The total free phenolic acids (TPC) and total free flavonoids (TFC) of all plant raw materials was varied and ranged from 0.21 (mg RUTE/1 g of extract) to 38.30 mg RUTE/1 g of extract) for TFC. The concentration of sterols was, on average, about 10 mg/1 g of extract. The value of approx. 20 mg/1 g of the extract was recorded for bitter melon and beach rose. The content of organic acids was about 1.5 mg/1 g of the extract to even 13 mg/1 g of the extract for sea buckthorn berries. The most sensitive to the extracts' activity were the following bacteria: M. luteus, P. mirabilis, P. fragii, S. enteritidis, and E. coli. The tested plant materials can be used in various industries as a source of bioactive compounds of an antibacterial nature.

Skincare application of medicinal plant polysaccharides - A review.

Polysaccharides are macromolecules with important inherent properties and potential biotechnological applications. These complex carbohydrates exist throughout nature, especially in plants, from which they can be obtained with high yields. Different extraction and purification methods may affect the structure of polysaccharides and, due to the close relationship between structure and function, modify their biological activities. One of the possible applications of these polysaccharides is acting on the skin, which is the largest organ in the human body and can be aged by intrinsic and extrinsic processes. Skincare has been gaining worldwide attention not only to prevent diseases but also to promote rejuvenation in aesthetic treatments. In this review, we discussed the polysaccharides obtained from plants and their innovative potential for skin applications, for example as wound-healing, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, and anti-aging compounds.

Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Application as Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents.

The importance and need for eco-oriented technologies has increased worldwide, which leads to an enhanced development of methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles using biological agents. This review de-scribes the current approaches to the preparation of biogenic silver nanoparticles, using plant extracts and filtrates of fungi and microorganisms. The peculiarities of the synthesis of particles depending on the source of biocomponents are considered as well as physico-morphological, antibacterial and antifungal properties of the resulting nanoparticles which are compared with such properties of silver nanoparticles obtained by chemical synthesis. Special attention is paid to the process of self-assembly of biogenic silver nanoparticles.

Influence of Elicitation and Drying Methods on Anti-Metabolic Syndrome, and Antimicrobial Properties of Extracts and Hydrolysates Obtained from Elicited Lovage (Levisticum officinale Koch).

This research aims to investigate the influence of elicitation and drying methods (natural, convection, microwave, and freeze-drying), with jasmonic acid (JA) and yeast extract (YE) on the biological activity of extracts and hydrolysates from lovage (Levisticum officinale Koch) leaves. The results indicate that the highest TPC was determined for hydrolysates obtained from JA-elicited microwave-dried lovage (24.96 mg/gDW). The highest ACE and lipase inhibitory activity was noted for PBS extract obtained from JA-elicited lovage after microwave drying (EC50 = 0.16 and 0.12 mg/mL, respectively). Ethanolic extract from JA-elicited lovage after freeze-drying was characterized by the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity (EC50 = 3.92 mg/mL) and the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (EC50 = 1.43 mg/mL) was noted for hydrolysates from control plants subjected to freeze-drying. The highest antimicrobial activity towards C. albicans yeasts was observed for microwave ethanolic extracts with minimal inhibition (MIC) and lethal (MLC) concentrations of 0.625 and 1.25 mg/mL, respectively.

Investigation of ellagic acid rich-berry extracts directed silver nanoparticles synthesis and their antimicrobial properties with potential mechanisms towards Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans.

The essential goals of this present study are to elucidate the formation mechanism of ellagic acid rich-blackberry, BBE, (Rubus fruticosus L.) and raspberry, RBE, (Rubus idaeus L.) extracts directed silver nanoparticles and to investigate thier antimicrobial properties towards model dental pathogens E. faecalis and C. albicans compared to BBE, RBE, NaOCl, CHX and EDTA. Both %5 w/w of BBE and RBE reacted with 5 mM Ag + ions at room temperature (25 °C) under mild-stirring, the formation of BBE and RBE directed b@Ag NP and r@Ag NP was monitored over time by using an Uv-vis spectrophotometer. Both b@Ag and r@Ag NPs were also complementarily characterized with SEM and FT-IR. In terms of the antimicrobial studies, b@Ag NP, r@Ag NP, %5 BBE and RBE, 5 mM AgNO3, %5 NaOCl, %1,5 CHX and %15 EDTA were separately incubated with E. faecalis and C. albicans suspensions. The results were evaluated with student t-test using GraphPad Prism 8.0.1 statistical software (P < 0.05). While formation of b@Ag NP was confirmed with characteristic absorbance at ~435 nm in 20 min (min) of incubation, r@Ag NP did not give absorbance till 80 min owing to concentration of ellagic acid acted as a reducing and stabilizng agent for formation of the Ag NPs. Intrestingly, 50 ppm r@Ag NP inactivated ∼89% and ∼99% of E. faecalis and C. albicans cell, respectively, ∼25% and ∼40% cell inactivations for E. faecalis and C. albicans were observed respectively with 50 ppm b@Ag NP. We showed that 50 ppm r@Ag NP has effective antimicrobial property as much as mostly used %5 NaOCl and %1,5 CHX solutions.

Incorporation of Natural Blueberry, Red Grapes and Parsley Extract By-Products into the Production of Chitosan Edible Films.

The aim of the research was to produce edible packaging based on chitosan with the addition of various concentrations of extracts of blueberry, red grape and parsley marcs. Packaging was made from extrudate extracts, which were subsequently analyzed by physicochemical methods: zeta-potential, gas barrier properties, thickness, water content, solubility, swelling degree, textural properties, total polyphenol content (TPC), polyphenols by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), antioxidant activity, attenuated total reflectance Fourier-Transform spectroscopy (FTIR), antimicrobial activity and determination of migration of bioactive substances. The results indicate that a higher content of plant extracts have a statistically significant (p < 0.05) influence on properties of experimentally produced edible films. Edible films produced with the highest concentrations of red grapes marc extracts showed the most advantageous properties since antimicrobial activity against E. coli were the highest in this kind of produced film. The physical properties of edible films were also improved by the addition of extracts; gas permeability toward oxygen can be defined as advantageous, as can swelling degree, which decreased with higher concentrations of extracts. The research emphasized the possibility to use plant foodstuffs by-products in the production of edible/biodegradable films, helping in the overall sustainability and eco-friendliness of food/package production.

A General Overview on the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Applications, Mechanisms and Translational Opportunities.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) consists of using of pure oxygen at increased pressure (in general, 2-3 atmospheres) leading to augmented oxygen levels in the blood (Hyperoxemia) and tissue (Hyperoxia). The increased pressure and oxygen bioavailability might be related to a plethora of applications, particularly in hypoxic regions, also exerting antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and angiogenic properties, among others. In this review, we will discuss in detail the physiological relevance of oxygen and the therapeutical basis of HBOT, collecting current indications and underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, potential areas of research will also be examined, including inflammatory and systemic maladies, COVID-19 and cancer. Finally, the adverse effects and contraindications associated with this therapy and future directions of research will be considered. Overall, we encourage further research in this field to extend the possible uses of this procedure. The inclusion of HBOT in future clinical research could be an additional support in the clinical management of multiple pathologies.