Comparative Evaluation of Medicinal Plant Extracts and Antimicrobial Magistrals.

The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the active ingredient in antimicrobial magistral drug formulations and plant extracts used in folk medicine were investigated comparatively. Borax, sulfur colloid, hydrogen peroxide, benzoic acid, rivanol, brilliant green and plant extracts as active ingredients, namely: Helianthus tuberosus tuber-H2O (aqueous extract), Cydonia oblonga leaves-H2O, Allium porrum whole plant-H2O, Cistus laurifolius leaves-EtOH, Solanum muricalum-H2O, and Fumaria cilicica leaves-EtOH were studied to determine their antimicrobial activity against different bacteria and fungi (S. pyogenes, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. faecalis, K. pneumonia, H. influenza, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, E. coli, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei) by using the microdilution method. The active ingredients and plant extracts showed different activities as MIC between 1->128 µg/mL. Brilliant green and rivanol as active ingredients had MIC values of 1 µg/mL against all tested microorganisms. C. oblonga leaves-H2O as well as C. laurifolius leaves-EtOH as plant extracts were indicated as having the highest antimicrobial effect in MIC value of 16 µg/ml against A. baumannii and S. pyogenes, respectively. On the other hand, F. cilicica leaves-EtOH and C. laurifolius leaves-EtOH showed the highest antifungal activity (MIC; 16 µg/mL).

Designing and application of a new medical instrument sterilization system using reactive oxygen species.

The aim of this study is to design and test a new medical sterilization system as an alternative to the techniques used in the sterilization of medical instruments. The designed system, which uses a new oxygen molecule allotrope (NOMA) in the reactive oxygen species, is developed as an alternative to the sterilization systems using other gases. The test was conducted on 12 different materials, each having a surface of 2 cm2, sterilized under 120 °C at 1 atm pressure for 20 min in the NUVE-OT 4060 sterilizer, and all surfaces were contaminated with a biological indicator Geobacillus stearothermophilus cultured in an incubator at 37 °C. Test samples in sterile Petri dishes were placed in a desiccator, and a sample was taken at 30-, 45-, and 60-min test periods and were placed on an agar medium and put in a Memmert incubator IN75 at 37 °C; in the controls conducted following 16-18 h of incubation period, no bacterial growth was observed in the newly designed system tested with gram positive bacilli; moreover, it was observed that the new system was 100% effective in sterilizing the microbes as no growth was observed on the samples. Within the scope of this study, a faster, low-cost, low-temperature, residue-free, and human and environmental friendly system was developed and tested for sterilization of medical devices compared to existing sterilization methods using NOMA.

Antibacterial, antifungal and enzyme inhibitory effects of selected plants from Turkey.

In this study, antibacterial, antifungal, antihyaluronidase, anticollagenase and antielastase activity of Hypericum bithynicum, Malva neglecta, Morus alba, Rubus discolor, Sambucus ebulus and Smilax excelsa were investigated. Methanol extracts of M. neglecta and R. discolor and all extracts of H. bithynicum were more active against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Similarly, water extracts of M. alba and S. ebulus were more active against Streptococcus pneumonia. Additionally, S. ebulus and S. excelsa had prominent antifungal activity on Candida albicans. Besides, methanol extract of M. neglecta and n-hexane extract of H. bithynicum were determined to have significant antihyaluronidase activity. Only R. discolor showed significant antielastase effect.

A comparative evaluation of Juniperus species with antimicrobial magistrals.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro bioactivity of the active ingredient in selected antimicrobial magistral drug formulations and plant extracts used in folk medicine, comparatively. The active ingredients of magistrals such as; boric acid, balsam of Peru, zinc oxide, Calendula tincture, thymol, resorcinol, crystal violet were used as well as fruit or leaf extracts of Juniperus excelsa (Je), J. sabina (Js), J. foetidissima (Jf), J. communis ssp. nana (Jcsn), and J. oxycedrus spp. oxycedrus ripe (Joso) to determine the antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria (S. pyogenes, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. faecalis), gram negative bacteria (K. pneumoniae, H. influenza, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, E. coli), and fungi (Candida. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei) by using microdilution method. The inhibition end point of the minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) were determined as µ mL-1. The active ingredient and plant extracts have shown antibacterial and antifungal activities with a MIC values of 1->128µmL-1. The active ingredient crystal violet (MIC; 1 µ mL-1) as well as Je- fruit ethanol, Jf-leaf and fruit ethanol, Joso-leaf and fruit ethanol extracts (MIC; 16µ mL-1) have exhibited the highest antimicrobial activities (MIC; 16µ mL-1). Although ingredients of magistrals seem to exert similar antifungal activity against C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis (MIC; 32µmL-1), thymol and resorcinol were observed to be more active against C. krusei (MIC; 16µ mL-1). Extracts were more pronounced against P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, and S. epidermidis (MIC ranging from 16 to 32). In the mine time, the extracts showed equal antifungal activity against C. albicans and C. parapsilosis (MIC; 16µ mL-1). In our study, antimicrobial activity of the natural compounds and ingredients of selected magistrals have found to be promising with MIC values of 16-32µ mL-1. According to the results of our antimicrobial activity studies, utilization of Juniperus extracts in antimicrobial magistral formulations can be suggested.

Antibacterial, antifungal and enzyme inhibitory effects of selected plants from Turkey.

In this study, antibacterial, antifungal, antihyaluronidase, anticollagenase and antielastase activity of Hypericum bithynicum, Malva neglecta, Morus alba, Rubus discolor, Sambucus ebulus and Smilax excelsa were investigated. Methanol extracts of M. neglecta and R. discolor and all extracts of H. bithynicum were more active against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Similarly, water extracts of M. alba and S. ebulus were more active against Streptococcus pneumonia. Additionally, S. ebulus and S. excelsa had prominent antifungal activity on Candida albicans. Besides, methanol extract of M. neglecta and n-hexane extract of H. bithynicum were determined to have significant anti-hyaluronidase activity. Only R. discolor showed significant anti-elastase effect.

Antimicrobial effect of the extracts from Hypericum perforatum against oral bacteria and biofilm formation.

CONTEXT: One traditional medicines, Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae), possesses several beneficial effects against depression, ulcers, dyspepsia, abdominal pains, burns, bacterial infections, migraine headaches, and sciatica. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigates the antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract (HP-EtOH) of H. perforatum and its sub-extracts, namely n-hexane (HP-hexane), chloroform (HP-CHCl3), ethyl acetate (HP-EtOAc), n-butanol (HP-n-BuOH), and water (HP-H2O) extracts, against Streptococcus mutans, S. sobrinus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Enterococcus faecalis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity, flowering aerial parts of H. perforatum were extracted with EtOH and then this extract was fractionated to obtain five sub-extracts in different polarities. Antimicrobial activities of HP-EtOH and its sub-extracts against Streptococcus mutans, S. sobrinus, L. plantarum, and E. faecalis were assessed by using colorimetric micro-well dilution at concentration ranges of 64-0.5 µg/ml as well as resazurin microplate and modified microtiter-plate assays between the ranges of 100 and 0.78125 µg/ml. RESULTS: According to the results of the present study, HP-H2O sub-extract displayed strong antibacterial activity (MIC values 8 µg/mL) against S. sobrinus and L. plantarum, and exerted moderate activity against S. mutans and E. faecalis at 32 and 16 µg/mL concentrations, respectively. Other sub-extracts also demonstrated antimicrobial activity against S. sobrinus at a concentration of 16 µg/mL. HP-EtOAc and HP-n-BuOH showed antimicrobial activity against L. plantarum and HP-EtOAc and HP-H2O were also active against E. faecalis at the same concentrations (16 µg/mL). CONCLUSION: According to the results, we suggest that H. perforatum could be employed as a natural antibacterial agent in oral care products.

Effects of Fixed and Removable Space Maintainers on Plaque Accumulation, Periodontal Health, Candidal and Enterococcus Faecalis Carriage.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of space maintainers on plaque accumulation, periodontal health and oral microflora. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study participants comprised 38 patients aged 4-10 years requiring either fixed or removable space maintainers. Plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing index, candidal colonization and Enterococcus faecalis were recorded just before the application of space maintainers (T0) and during treatment at the 1st (T1), 3rd (T2) and 6th (T3) month. RESULTS: The gingival and bleeding on probing index scores increased significantly (gingival index from 0.20 ± 0254 to 0.54 ± 0417 and bleeding on probing index from 7.18 ± 9.946 to 18.07 ± 14.074) in the regions with fixed space maintainers at T3 (p < 0.01). The mean Candida counts also increased (for removable appliances from 1.90 ± 3.638 to 1.98 ± 3.318, p < 0.05, and for fixed appliances from 4.25 ± 4.587 to 4.52 ± 4.431, p < 0.001). The salivary E. faecalis counts at T3 also increased significantly with the use of fixed and removable appliances (for removable appliances from 5.93 ± 2.65 to 85.53 ± 34.1 and for fixed appliances from 4.95 ± 2.94 to 123.59 ± 29.51, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the plaque (r = 0.67), gingival (r = 0.76) and bleeding on probing index scores (r = 0.76) and the candidal colonization for the fixed space maintainers (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, both fixed and removable space maintainers led to an increase in the number of microorganisms in the oral cavity as well as to increases in the periodontal index scores. Patients should be informed that space maintainers may serve as a source of infection and that special attention must be given to their oral hygiene.

Evaluation of bioactivities of chlorokojic acid derivatives against dermatophytes couplet with cytotoxicity.

In an attempt to find novel antifungal agents with improved activity, a series of compounds bearing 6-chloromethyl-3-hydroxy-2-substituted 4H-pyran-4-one moiety were synthesized and examined for their cytotoxic evaluation and antifungal activities against both standard and isolated dermatophytic fungal species Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei and Epidermophyton floccosum.

Design, synthesis and in vivo/in vitro screening of novel chlorokojic acid derivatives.

A series of novel Mannich bases of chlorokojic acid (2-chloromethyl-5-hydroxy-4H-pyran-4-one) were synthesized and their biological activities were investigated. Anticonvulsant activity results according to phase-I tests of Antiepileptic Drug Development (ADD) Program revealed that compound 13 was the most effective one at 4 h against subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ)-induced seizure test. Antimicrobial activities were evaluated in vitro against bacteria and fungi by using broth microdilution method. The antitubercular activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. avium were discussed with Resazurin microplate assay (REMA). The antimicrobial activity results indicated that compounds 1 and 12 (MIC: 8-16 µg/mL) showed higher activity against Gram negative bacteria while compound 12 had MIC: 4-16 µg/mL against Gram positive bacteria. Compound 1 was the most active one with MIC values of 8-32 µg/mL against fungi. Mannich bases also exhibit significant antitubercular activity in a MIC range of 4 to 32 µg/mL, especially compound 18 against M. avium.

Assessment of antimicrobial, insecticidal and genotoxic effects of Melia azedarach L. (chinaberry) naturalized in Anatolia.

In this study, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal and genotoxic activities of the fruit and leaf extracts of Melia azedarach of Turkish origin were evaluated for the first time. The antimicrobial activity was assessed against Gram (+) and (-) bacteria, four Candida species and three dermatophytic fungus (Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum gypseum). The insecticidal activity of the methanolic fruit extract was performed against the larvae of Aedes aegpyti, Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus. The genotoxicity of this extract was evaluated against Drosophila melanogaster by somatic mutation and recombination test. The extracts showed higher antibacterial effect against Gram (-) strains (16-32 µg ml(-1) of minimal inhibition concentration, MIC), while the leaf extracts were more effective on Candida albicans (32 µg ml(-1)of MIC). The extracts did not exhibit insecticidal activity and genotoxicity. Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined spectrophotometrically, and the ethyl acetate extract of the leaves was the richest in total flavonoids.

Cytotoxicity, antiviral and antimicrobial activities of alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.

OBJECTIVE: Some natural products consisting of the alkaloids yohimbine and vincamine (indole-type), scopolamine and atropine (tropane-type), colchicine (tropolone-type), allantoin (imidazolidine-type), trigonelline (pyridine-type) as well as octopamine, synephrine, and capsaicin (exocyclic amine-type); the flavonoid derivatives quercetin, apigenin, genistein, naringin, silymarin, and silibinin; and the phenolic acids namely gallic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and quinic acid, were tested for their in vitro antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activities and cytotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antiviral activity of the compounds was tested against DNA virus herpes simplex type 1 and RNA virus parainfluenza (type-3). Cytotoxicity of the compounds was determined using Madin-Darby bovine kidney and Vero cell lines, and their cytopathogenic effects were expressed as maximum non-toxic concentration. Antibacterial activity was assayed against following bacteria and their isolated strains: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus subtilis, although they were screened by microdilution method against two fungi: Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. RESULTS: Atropine and gallic acid showed potent antiviral effect at the therapeutic range of 0.8-0.05 µg ml(-1), whilst all of the compounds exerted robust antibacterial effect. CONCLUSION: Antiviral and antimicrobial effects of the compounds tested herein may constitute a preliminary step for further relevant studies to identify the mechanism of action.

Inhibitory effects of various essential oils and individual components against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae and their chemical compositions.

In the current study, in vitro inhibitory activity of several essential oils obtained from the cultivated plants, Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha piperita and M. spicata, Ocimum basilicum, Origanum majorana, O. onites, O. vulgare, Satureja cuneifolia, and a number of individual essential oil components of terpene and aromatic types were screened against 10 isolated strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) enzyme, which makes this microorganism quite resistant against the antibiotics: trimetoprime-sulfametoksazol, sulbactam-ampicilin, clavulonate-amoxicilin, ceftriaxon, cefepime, imipenem, ceftazidime, tobramicine, gentamisine, ofloxacin, and ciprofloksasin. All of the essential oils and the components exerted a remarkable inhibition ranging between 32 and 64 µg/mL against all of these strains as strong as the references (ampicilin and oflaxocin) inhibiting at 32 µg/mL. Besides, chemical compositions of the essential oils were elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oils and the pure components widely found in essential oils screened herein have shown remarkable inhibition against ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae strains, which leads to the suggestion that they may be used as food preservatives for this purpose. Practical Application: The essential oils obtained from Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha piperita and M. spicata, O.cimum basilicum, Origanum majorana, O. onites, O. vulgare, and Satureja cuneifolia as well as common essential oil components have shown notable inhibitory effects against 10 isolated strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) enzyme and they might be used as food preservative or ingredient.

A study of cytotoxicity of novel chlorokojic acid derivatives with their antimicrobial and antiviral activities.

A series of 6-chloromethyl-3-hydroxy-2-substituted 4H-pyran-4-one derivatives were synthesized and tested for their antimicrobial and antiviral activities. Mannich base derivatives were prepared through the reaction of substituted piperazine or piperidine derivatives on chlorokojic acid and formaline. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR, ESI-MS, and elemental analysis. According to the activity studies, compounds 2-7 (MIC: 1-2 microg/mL) were found to be highly active against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, while compounds 3, 5 and 6 showed significant activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. Also, compounds 2-7 were more remarkably active against Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis (MIC: 4-8 microg/mL). Additionally, compound 2 was the most active one against RNA virus PI-3.

Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities of some flavonoids.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of six plant-derived flavonoids representing two different structural groups were evaluated against standard strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis and their drug-resistant isolates, as well as fungi (Candida albicans, C. krusei) using the microdilution broth method. Herpes simplex virus Type-1 and Parainfluenza-3 virus were employed for antiviral assessment of the flavonoids using Madin-Darby bovine kidney and Vero cell lines. Ampicillin, gentamycin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, fluconazole, ketoconazole, acyclovir, and oseltamivir were used as the control agents. All tested compounds (32-128 microg/ml) showed strong antimicrobial and antifungal activities against isolated strains of P. aeruginosa, A. baumanni, S. aureus, and C. krusei. Rutin, 5,7-dimethoxyflavanone-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 5,7,3'-trihydroxy-flavanone-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (0.2-0.05 microg/ml) were active against PI-3, while 5,7-dimethoxyflavanone-4'-O-[2''-O-(5'''-O-trans-cinnamoyl)-beta-D-apiofuranosyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (0.16-0.2 microg/ml) inhibited potently HSV-1.

In vitro biological activity screening of Lycopodium complanatum L. ssp. chamaecyparissus (A. Br.) Doll.

This article reports the results of selected biological activities, including anticholinesterase, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, of the petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts as well as the alkaloid fraction of Lycopodium complanatum L. ssp. chamaecyparissus (A. Br.) Doll (LCC, Lycopodiaceae) growing in Turkey. Anticholinesterase effect of the extracts was tested against both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) at concentrations of 0.2 and 1 mg mL(-1) using microplate-reader assay based on Ellman method. Antioxidant activity of the LCC extracts was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging method at 0.2 mg mL(-1) using microplate-reader assay. Both DNA virus Herpes simplex (HSV) and RNA virus Parainfluenza (PI-3) were employed for antiviral assessment of LCC exracts using Madin-Darby Bovine Kidney and Vero cell lines. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extracts were screened against the bacteria: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Acinobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis as well as the fungi: Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis. Only the petroleum ether extract of LCC possessed remarkable activity against both AChE and BChE at 1 mg mL(-1) (76.5 and 69.6%, respectively), whereas LCC extracts showed low free radical-scavenging activity. All of the extracts were found to be more effective against the ATCC strains than isolated ones, particularly S. aureus, while the extracts had moderate antifungal activity. On the other hand, we found that only the petroleum ether extract was active against HSV. In addition, we also analysed the content of the alkaloid fraction of the plant by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and identified lycopodine as the major alkaloid (60.8%).

Antibacterial effect of silver-zeolite containing root-canal filling material.

The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro antibacterial effect of two experimental glass ionomer cements (GICs) on Streptococcus milleri, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis after 24 and 48 h incubation by using the agar diffusion inhibitory test. Silver zeolite (SZ) was added at 0.2 and 2% mass fraction concentration to GIC (Endion). The control group was Endion with no SZ. Each of them were prepared to uniform size using a custom-made Teflon mold, and the GIC materials were prepared to form disks (n = 5 per group). The effect of these materials on the growth of three bacteria associated with endodontic infections was determined using the agar diffusion inhibitory test. The amounts of silver ion release from these materials were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometry at 10 min, 24- and 48-h periods. The pH of samples was measured with a pH-meter at 10 min, 24- and 48-h periods. After the incubation period, the agar plates were evaluated and the degrees of bacterial inhibition were measured in millimeters. A comparison of the mean of the test materials was statistically different in each group of specimens (p < 0.05). Between the two tested materials 2% SZ containing GIC showed the largest zone of inhibition on the agar plates of all the tested strains (p < 0.05). The most inhibition in bacterial growth occurred in E. faecalis. Adding 2% SZ to GIC resulted in a significant increase in the silver release into deionized water. This study demonstrated that GIC had an inhibitory affect on Streptococcus milleri, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis and that adding SZ increases that affect proportional to its concentration.

Antiviral and antimicrobial activities of three sesquiterpene lactones from Centaurea solstitialis L. ssp. solstitialis.

Three sesquiterpene lactones (centaurepensin = chlorohyssopifolin A, chlorojanerin and 13-acetyl solstitialin A) isolated from the aerial parts of Centaurea solstitialis L. ssp. solstitialis (Asteraceae) were investigated for antimicrobial and antiviral activities. For the antimicrobial activity assessment, both standard and isolated strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis were employed by the microdilution method. Herpes simplex type-1, a DNA virus, and Parainfluenza, an RNA virus, were employed for the determination of the antiviral activity of these three sesquiterpene lactones using Vero cell lines. Ampicilline, ofloxocine, ketoconazole, fluconazole, acyclovir and oseltamivir were used as the reference drugs. 13-Acetyl solstitialin A displayed remarkable antibacterial activity against isolated strains of E. faecalis at 1 microg/ml concentration, which was close to the effective concentrations of ampicillin. The same compound also showed significant activity against the DNA virus, being as potent as the reference compound acyclovir at maximum and minimum concentrations of 16-<0.00006 microg/ml. This is the first report showing that 13-acetyl solstitialin A possesses significant antiviral activity.

A clinical and microbiological comparative study of deep carious lesion treatment in deciduous and young permanent molars.

The aim of this study was to compare one-visit indirect pulp treatment (IPT), two-visit IPT, and direct complete excavation (DCE) of deciduous and young permanent molars with deep carious lesions from clinical and microbiological points of view. One hundred thirty-five teeth (83 deciduous molars and 52 young permanent molars) were included in the study. The teeth were randomly selected and treated either with one-visit IPT, two-visit IPT, or DCE. For two-visit IPT, the final excavation was performed after a period of 3 months. The color, consistency, and humidity of the dentin at the cavity floor were recorded for clinical assessment, and dentin samples were obtained from all teeth. Dentin samples were microbiologically investigated for the total number of colony forming units, mutans streptococci, and lactobacilli. The results showed bacterial growth in 63.8% of the dentin samples in one-visit IPT, while in two-visit IPT, bacterial growth was observed in all of the samples (100%) after the first excavation. When the cavities were reopened before the final excavation, the number of samples with positive growth had decreased significantly (44.4%), and after the final excavation, the number of the samples with positive growth had decreased to 2.2%. In the DCE group, only 25.6% of the samples revealed bacterial growth. No statistical difference was found between deciduous and permanent molars in any of the treatment groups in terms of microbiologic results (p > 0.05). In conclusion, although none of the treatment methods completely eliminated the viable microorganisms during the initial excavations, a dramatic reduction in bacterial growth was detected during the treatment stages of two-visit IPT.

In vitro activities of voriconazole as a triazole derivative and caspofungin as an echinocandin were compared with those of some antifungal agents against Candida species isolated from clinical specimens.

We evaluated the in vitro activity of ketoconazole (KET), fluconazole (FLU), amphotericin B (AmpB), and flucytosine (FCU) in comparison to voriconazole (VOR) as a triazole derivative and caspofungin (CAS) as an echinocandin against 114 Candida spp. isolated from different cultures (blood, urine, sputum). The most common species of identified Candida were C. albicans (88), followed by C. parapsilosis (8), C. glabrata (7), C. tropicalis (6), C. famata (2), C. kefyr (2), and C. sake (1). The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M 27-A method was used to evaluate the activity of antifungal agents. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the strains were evaluated by RPMI 1640 medium using a microdilution method. Of 114 isolates, 100% were sensitive to AmpB, VOR, and CAS, 1.75% showed intermediate resistant to FCU also 0.87% showed intermediate resistant to FLU, and 2.63% were fully resistant to FLU and FCU. These results suggest that KET, AmpB, CAS, and VOR demonstrated excellent activity against all Candida spp. Taken together; these antifungal agents should be effective in the treatment of a broad range of Candida infections.

Antiviral and antimicrobial profiles of selected isoquinoline alkaloids from Fumaria and Corydalis species.

In the current study, 33 isoquinoline alkaloids belonging to protopine-, benzylisoquinoline-, benzophenanthridine-, spirobenzylisoquinoline-, phthalideisoquinoline-, aporphine-, protoberberine-, cularine-, and isoquinolone-types as well as 7 derivatives of them obtained from some Fumaria and Corydalis species growing in Turkey have been evaluated for their in vitro antiviral and antimicrobial activities. Both DNA virus Herpes simplex (HSV) and RNA virus Parainfluenza (PI-3) were employed for antiviral assessment of the compounds using Madine-Darby bovine kidney and Vero cell lines and their maximum non-toxic concentrations (MNTC) and cytopathogenic effects (CPE) were determined using acyclovir and oseltamivir as the references. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the alkaloids were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans by the microdilution method and compared to ampicilline, ofloxacine, and ketocanazole as the references. The alkaloids did not present any notable antibacterial effect, while they had significant antifungal activity at 8 microg/ml concentration. On the other hand, the alkaloids were found to have selective inhibition against the PI-3 virus ranging between 0.5 and 64 microg/ml as minimum and maximum CPE inhibitory concentrations, whereas they were completely inactive towards HSV.