Therapeutic Potential of Selected Medicinal Plant Extracts against Multi-Drug Resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is Gram negative, rod shaped, facultative anaerobic bacterium, belongs to enterobacteriaceae family that causes typhoid fever in humans. This bacterium has become a super bug due to acquisition of multi drug resistance. Bacteria is transmitted through food and water contaminated with human feaces. Present study reports the screening of Adhatoda vasica, Amaranthus hybridus and Aloe barbadensis and their evaluation against multi-drug resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. Qualitative analysis of ten phytochemicals was conducted using chemical method and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). Antibacterial activity of plants was carried out by agar well diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar. Total tannins, total alkaloids and total flavonoids of different parts of three plants were estimated through spectrophotometer. Total tannins content in different parts of plants was present in the given order Amaranthus hybridus leaf > Aloe barbadensis leaf > Adhatoda vasica leaf > Adhatoda vasica flower > Adhatoda vasica stem. Whereas, the order of total flavonoid concentration was Amaranthus hybridus leaf > Aloe barbadensis leaf > Adhatoda vasica leaf > Amaranthus hybridus seed. Total alkaloids have order, Adhatoda vasica leaf > Amaranthus hybridus leaf > Adhatoda vasica flower > Amaranthus hybridus seed > Aloe barbadensis leaf. Results of phytochemical analysis suggested that plants have strong profile of antioxidants, total phenolic contents and various enzymes proposing them best alternate to cure bacterial infections. GC-MS analysis further confirmed stronger phytochemical profile that can be utilized as antagonists to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi.

Effect of Application of Treadmill Training on Metabolic Control and Vitamin D Level in Saudi Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus type 2 and vitamin D deficiency are both prevalent in the Saudi Arabia. Vitamin D deficiency treatment with supplements carries a risk of intoxication. AIM: The present study is aimed at elucidating the effect of exercise on modulation of metabolic status and vitamin D level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A sum of 110 type 2 diabetic patients were voluntarily enrolled for the present investigation by dividing them into two separate groups (55 individuals for each group), the diabetic study group and diabetic control group. The diabetic study group was engaged in the training program using treadmill exercise. Laboratory parameters were monitored before and after the training program. RESULTS: There were significant elevation in the diabetic study group compared to diabetic control group regarding postexercise vitamin D level, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (p value ≤ 0.001, 0.045; respectively). In addition, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly decreased (p value < 0.001 for all mentioned parameters). Moreover, there were significant higher level in postexercise parameters as compared to preexercise level in the diabetic study group. CONCLUSION: The exercise training program improved the metabolic control and vitamin D level after three months of intervention.

Attenuating effect of Prosopis cineraria against paraquat-induced toxicity in prepubertal mice, Mus musculus.

Several herbicides, especially paraquat, are persistent organic pollutants which cause damage to humans and animals through reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce exhibits antioxidant activity and can effectively manage tremors. Therefore, the present research assessed the preventive effect of Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce ethanolic extract (PCDE) against paraquat-induced toxicity in prepubertal mice. The plant extract was chemically characterized by a high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The PCDE was orally administered to prepubertal mice for continuous 21 days, 2 h before paraquat exposure (2 mg/kg for consecutive 3 days per week for 3 weeks). The changes in behavior, motor coordination, memory, muscle movement, anxiety, and neurotransmitter levels in the brain were assessed. Histopathology and estimation of oxidative stress parameters in the brain, liver, kidney, and heart tissues were also carried out. HPLC-DAD analysis showed a high amount of quercetin, kaempferol, and ellagic acid derivatives in the plant extract. The PCDE showed improved muscle coordination, muscle movement and memory, and reduced anxiety in prepubertal mice. Moreover, levels of dopamine and noradrenaline were increased in the brain. It successfully ameliorated the oxidative stress in different organs by increasing the level of glutathione and superoxide dismutase and by reducing malondialdehyde. The histopathological assessment showed the plant extract effectively mitigated paraquat-induced pathological lesions in the neurons, neuroglia, hepatocytes, and kidney tissues. It is concluded from the present study that the treatment with PCDE had prevented the paraquat-induced toxicity in the brain, liver, kidney, and heart through the reduction of oxidative stress possibly due to the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids.

Effect of Application of Different Exercise Intensities on Vitamin D and Parathormone in Children with Down's Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Children with Down's syndrome are more liable to vitamin D deficiency. Treating this deficiency with supplements is associated with the risk of intoxication. AIM: The study is aimed at comparing the effect of two exercise intensities on the modulation of vitamin D and parathormone levels in children with DS. METHODS: Forty-four DS male children aged from 8 to 12 years participated in the study. They were assigned randomly into two equal groups. Group I received high-intensity treadmill aerobic exercises, and group II received moderate-intensity T-AE, three times per week for three months. The blood samples were collected from both groups before the intervention, after one month of intervention, then after three months of intervention to assess serum 25(OH)D and PTH levels. RESULTS: Repeated measure MANOVA revealed that the high-intensity T-AE induced a significant increase in 25(OH)D after one month and after three months while it significantly decreased PTH only after three months. Moderate-intensity T-AE had a nonsignificant effect on both hormones. CONCLUSION: The current study concluded that the high-intensity T-AE improved both vitamin D and parathormone serum levels after three months of intervention.

Photocatalytic degradation of congo red dye using nickel-titanium dioxide nanoflakes synthesized by Mukia madrasapatna leaf extract.

Semiconductor photocatalysts are efficient degraders of organic and inorganic waste water pollutants. Herein, we synthesized nickel-titanium dioxide (Ni-TiO2) nanoflakes using Mukia maderaspatana leafs with the aim of analyzing their photocatalytic degradation potential. Morphological analyses revealed that the nanoflakes were highly agglomerated with an average size of 100 nm. Further, elemental analysis confirmed the presence of Ti, O, and Ni, whereas Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction established the presence of TiO2 and NiO. We found that photocatalytic degradation of congo red under UV illumination increased with increasing incubation period, demonstrating that Ni-TiO2 nanoflakes can be used as optimal photocatalysts for the degradation of dyes in waste water.

The impact of vitamin E and/or selenium dietary supplementation on growth parameters and expression levels of the growth-related genes in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Broilers are continuously stressed because of the rapid growth rate and the environmental issues associated with industrialized poultry production systems, which lead to higher susceptibility for infection with pathogens. It is well known that vitamin E (Vit. E) and selenium (Se) supplementation have protective functions in such stressful conditions. This protocol was to investigate the impact of Vit. E and/or Se on the production performance, some serum biochemistry, and expression of some growth-related gene in the liver tissue of the broilers. The day-old chicks were allotted into four groups according to the supplement; Control group and groups supplemented with Vit. E and/or Se into Vit. E group (100 mg Vit. E/kg diet), Se group (0.3 mg sodium selenite/kg diet), and Vit E + Se group that supplemented with both Vit. E and Se. RESULTS: The data of the present experiment showed that dietary inclusion of Vit. E and/or Se significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved the production parameters without any side effect on the general health status of the broilers, which indicated by normal serum biochemical parameters. Moreover, the treatments positively affected the expression of some genes related to growth performance including growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in the liver tissue of broilers. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation of Vit. E and/or Se improved the production parameters and upregulate the growth-related genes without effect on the general health status of the broilers.

Ephedra sinica mitigates hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation via suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in fipronil-treated rats.

Ephedra sinica (ES) is a promising medicinal plant with a wide range of pharmacological aspects, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Fipronil (FN) is a popularly used systemic insecticide in agriculture and veterinary applications. FN exposure can result in a variety of negative health consequences. The study aimed to explore the prophylactic effects of Ephedra sinica extract (ESE) against hepatotoxicity in FN-treated rats by following the TLR4/ MyD88/ NF-κB pathway. ESE was tested for polyphenolic and antioxidant activity. Forty rats were separated into four groups and given orally by FN (10 mg/kg B.W.) and/or ESE (150 mg/kg B.W.). Blood and tissue samples were collected at the end of the experiment and prepared for pathophysiological, gene expression, and pathological analysis. ESE showed strong antioxidant activity, as well as reduced levels of hepatic MDA and oxidative stress markers (H2O2, NO). Hepatic SOD and CAT activities were increased even further. Furthermore, in FN-treated rats, ESE improved liver functions (ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH) and recovered the lipid profile (Cho, TriG, HDL, and LDL). Moreover, by inhibiting TLR4/ MyD88/ NF-κB induction, ESE alleviated hepatic pathological changes and decreased FN-induced elevations of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß mRNA/protein levels. These findings suggested that ESE mitigated FN-induced hepatotoxicity via combating oxidative stress and relieving inflammation.

Hepato and nephroprotective activity of methanol extract of Hygrophila spinosa and its antibacterial potential against multidrug resistant Pandoraea sputorum.

This research was aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile, bactericidal activity of Hygrophila spinosa against multidrug resistant Pandoraea sputorum and assess their antioxidant competence against various radicals and studied their hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activity on HepG2 and HEK 293 cell line. The results showed that the methanol extract has various phytochemical components with reasonable quantity. Fortunately, the multidrug-resistant P. sputorum was sensitive (22.8 ± 0.2 mm of the zone of inhibition) at 15 mg mL-1 concentration of methanol extract. The higher concentration of phenolic and other phytochemical components, showed significant antioxidant activity against ferric, DPPH, hydroxyl, and ABTS radicals, with IC50 values of 71.09, 64.333, 91.157, and 104.931 g mL-1, respectively. Surprisingly, the methanol extract possesses hepato and nephroprotective activity against CCl4 and cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity on HepG2 and HEK 293 cell lines, respectively. It maintains the cell viability as up to 90.48% and 90.35% of HepG2 and EK 293 cell line at the concentration of 20 µg mL-1. The FTIR analysis states that the methanol extract possesses a significant functional group responsible for these multi-potential activities. These results suggest that, the methanol extract of H. spinosa might contain the most significant bioactive components with outstanding medicinal properties.