Preparation of self-preserving personal care cosmetic products using multifunctional ingredients and other cosmetic ingredients.

The development of self-preserving personal care cosmetics represents a significant advancement in the cosmetics industry, offering safer and more natural alternatives to consumers. This study focused on the preparation of such formulations using multifunctional ingredients along with other cosmetic components. Five unique multifunctional ingredients (MFIs) were identified based on their antimicrobial properties: sodium coco PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, ricinoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, raspberry ketone, and sorbitan caprylate. Through meticulous experimentation, 150 combinations of MFIs were prepared and tested to understand their synergistic actions. From these trials, three synergistic antimicrobial compositions were determined: sodium coco PG-dimonium chloride phosphate: ricinoleic acid: raspberry ketone in the ratios 1:6.3:6.3 and 1:6.3:15.7. Sodium coco PG-dimonium chloride phosphate: palmitoleic acid: sorbitan caprylate at a ratio of 1:12.5:37.5. These synergistic compositions exhibited enhanced antimicrobial efficacy compared with their individual components, as evidenced by their lower Minimum Inhibitory Concentration values. Incorporating these formulations into three distinct personal care cosmetic products, including a color protection shampoo, body wash shower gel, and skin-lightening cream, the study further validated their effectiveness. A Preservation Challenge Test study revealed that all three antimicrobial compositions successfully preserved the cosmetic formulations for up to 28 days. This method of product preservation not only ensures consumer safety and stability but also reduces the need for potentially conventional preservatives. In conclusion, the appropriate use of multifunctional ingredients in combination with meticulous formulation techniques has led to the successful development of self-preserving personal care cosmetics. These formulations offer a promising avenue for the cosmetic industry, catering to the rising demand for natural, effective, and consumer-friendly cosmetic products.

Pinhão potential and their parts (failures, shells, and almonds) in the elaboration of yogurts containing acai pulp: physicochemical, nutritional, and functional properties, antimicrobial activity, and multi-elemental profile.

This study applies natural resources, prioritizing recyclable and renewable inputs produced by pinhão cultivation, whose purpose is to use the failures, shells, and almonds as a source of bioactive compounds addition in yogurt, ensuring intelligent use of these natural resources. Thus, one açaí yogurt sample and eight yogurt formulations containing portions of pinhão byproducts between 5 % and 10 % were elaborated. These formulations were compared regarding their physicochemical, nutritional, functional properties, antimicrobial activity, and multi-elemental profile properties. Enriching açaí yogurt with pinhão byproducts does not significantly differ in protein, lipid, moisture, and mineral salt content between all samples with pinhão byproducts. Açaí yogurts enriched with pinhão byproducts had 5.71 to 26.07 % times total protein than the control sample, and total fiber also had a significant increase in samples ranging between 18.62 to 85.29 % times more than the control sample. Regarding color settings, all yogurt samples tended to be red-purple. A sample of açaí yogurt with pine nut flour and whole pine nut flour caused a biofilm mass amount of 46.58, 45.55, and 11.85 % for Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The behavior of pathogenic bacteria is related to the total polyphenol content in yogurts enriched with pinhão byproducts, which increased from 8.27 to 18.24 mg/100 g. Yogurt with açaí enriched with whole pinhão flour showed high antioxidant capacity. The sample's antioxidant activity results increased by 47.62 % and 130.38 % in the ABTS and DPPH analyses, respectively. The compounds in pinhão failure nanosuspensions, pinhão flour, whole pinhão flour, and yogurts were identified and divided into hydrophilic and lipophilic classes. Five classes (amino acids, organic acids, sugars, phenols, and cyclitols) were identified as hydrophilic. Lipophilic compounds were identified and separated into six classes (carboxylic acids, diterpenes, alcohols, Α-hydroxy acids, sterols, and triterpenes). The addition of pinhão byproducts increased the contents of Ca, Fe, K, Na, and P. Açaí yogurt with pinhão nanosuspension, pinhão flour, and whole pinhão flour had the highest Ca content (2164.38 ± 2.16 µg/L). Açaí yogurt with pinhão flour and whole pinhão flour had the highest Fe content (84.02 ± 0.08 µg/L).

Anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of CuO-ZnO bimetallic nanoparticles: green synthesised from Eryngium foetidum leaf extract.

In the present study, green synthetic pathway was adapted to synthesize CuO-ZnO bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) using Eryngium foetidum leaf extract and their anti-cancer activity against MCF7 breast cancer cell lines, anti-microbial activity and in vitro anti-oxidant activity were evaluated. Various bio-active compounds present in leaf extract were responsible for the reduction of CuO-ZnO NPs from respective Cu2+ and Zn2+ metal precursors. In the present study, the involvement of bio-active compounds present in E. foetidum extract before and after green synthesis of BNPs were evaluated for the first time. Rod-shaped and spherical structural morphology of synthesized BNPs were revealed by using FESEM, TEM, and XRD analysis with particle size ranged from 7 to 23 nm with an average size of 16.49 nm. The distribution of Cu and Zn were confirmed by elemental mapping. The green synthesized CuO-ZnO NPs showed significant cytotoxic effect with the inhibition rate 89.20 ± 0.03% at concentration of 500 µg/mL. Again, good antioxidant activity with IC50; 0.253 mg/mL and antimicrobial activity of BNPs were also evaluated with the increasing order of MIC; E. coli (7.81 µg/mL) < B. subtilis (62.5 µg/mL) < S. aureus (31.25 µg/mL).

Fighting fire with fire: using infectious agents to treat persistent infection.

Infectious diseases lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Often, resolution of the acute stage of the disease leads to microbial persistence, resulting in chronic debilitating disease. Management of persistent infections frequently requires lifelong therapy with antimicrobial agents. These infections could be chronic viral infections like HIV, hepatitis B or chronic bacterial persistent infections like prosthetic joint infections caused by multi-drug resistant organisms. Bacteriophages have been designed specifically to target recalcitrant bacterial infections, such as prosthetic joint infections with varying success. In this review, we describe the historic evolution of scenarios and risks associated with innovative therapy using infectious agents to treat other persistent infections.

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Deciphering trends in replacing preservatives in cosmetics intended for infants and sensitive population.

The present study aims to investigate the current trends in replacing conventional preservatives with multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties for preservation of cosmetics for infants or sensitive population, to decrease their potential for contact dermatitis. We first reviewed the labels of cosmetics purchased from the Chinese market for conventional preservatives and multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties, of which the actual contents were further quantified by chromatographic methods. We identified 7 traditional preservatives (phenoxyethanol, benzoic acid (salts), methylparaben, benzyl alcohol, sorbic acid (salts), propylparaben, and methylisothiazolinone), and 11 alternative ingredients with antimicrobial activities (ethylhexylglycerin, butylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, propylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, p-anisic acid, hydroxyacetophenone, pentylene glycol, decylene glycol, caprylhydroxamic acid, and aminomethyl propanol) in descending order of prevalence. The contents of all identified preservatives and ingredients were either below regulatory limits or in the range that is generally regarded to be safe. Further challenge with microorganisms indicated irrespective of the composition of preservation systems, product preservation could be compromised under test conditions. We conclude that multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties in cosmetics have the potential to completely replace or significantly reduce the use of traditional preservatives while retaining comparative preservative efficacy. Future attentions may need to be shifted to the safety of those multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties.

Growth dynamics of Escherichia coli cells on a surface having AgNbO3 antimicrobial particles.

The morphological dynamics of microbial cell proliferation on an antimicrobial surface at an early growth stage was studied with Escherichia coli on the surface of a gel supplied with AgNbO3 antimicrobial particles. We demonstrated an inhibitory surface concentration, analogous to minimum inhibitory concentration, beyond which the growth of colonies and formation of biofilm are inhibited. In contrast, at lower concentrations of particles, after a lag time the cells circumvent the antimicrobial activity of the particles and grow with a rate similar to the case in the absence of particles. The lag time depends on the surface concentration of the particles and amounts to 2 h at a concentration of ½ minimum inhibitory concentration. The applicability of these findings, in terms of estimating inhibitory surface concentration, was tested in the case of antimicrobial polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement.

Phytochemical and biological investigation of Astragalus Caprinus L.

BACKGROUND: cultivated and wild plants are used to treat different ailments. The Astragalus genus is found in temperate and dry climates; thus, it is found in Egypt and the arab world. Astragalus caprinus has a good amount of bioactive chemicals, which may help explain its therapeutic effects in reducing the risk of consequences from disease. METHOD: The phytochemical investigation of the herb and roots of Astragalus caprinus L. included the analytical characterization for the petroleum ether components by GC/MS, unsaponifiable matter (unsap. fraction), and fatty acids (FAME) investigation by GLC analysis. Main flavonoids were chromatographically isolated from ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts. In vitro antimicrobial activity has been tested against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans for different plant extracts, the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia, the fungus Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, and the Escherichia coli bacterium. Metabolite cytotoxicity was examined using the MTT assay against HepG-2 (human liver carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast carcinoma). RESULTS: Identifying the important components of the herb and root petroleum ether extracts was achieved. Using column chromatography, luteolin, cosmosiin (apigenin-7-O-glucoside), and cynaroside (luteolin-7-O-glucoside) were separated and identified using UV, NMR, and Mass Spectroscopy. Root extracts displayed potential antimicrobial activity against most of the tested pathogens. Both extracts (herb and roots) were active against the MCF-7 cell line and HepG-2 cell line with IC50 62.5 ± 0.64 and 72.4 ± 2.3 µg/ml, and 75.9 ± 2.5 and 96.8 ± 4.2 µg/ml, respectively. CONCLUSION: Astragalus caprinus seems to be a promising source of bioactive compounds that could potentially aid in preventing disease complications and address common health issues in developing countries. Moreover, the various parts of this plant could be utilized as natural raw materials for producing health-boosting products that could address common health issues in developing countries.

Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities of porcine cathelicidin Protegrin-1.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising alternative to antibiotics in the fight against multi-drug resistant and immune system-evading bacterial infections. Protegrins are porcine cathelicidins which have been identified in porcine leukocytes. Protegrin-1 is the best characterized family member and has broad antibacterial activity by interacting and permeabilizing bacterial membranes. Many host defense peptides (HDPs) like LL-37 or chicken cathelicidin 2 (CATH-2) have also been shown to have protective biological functions during infections. In this regard, it is interesting to study if Protegrin-1 has the immune modulating potential to suppress unnecessary immune activation by neutralizing endotoxins or by influencing the macrophage functionality in addition to its direct antimicrobial properties. This study showed that Protegrin-1 neutralized lipopolysaccharide- (LPS) and bacteria-induced activation of RAW macrophages by binding and preventing LPS from cell surface attachment. Furthermore, the peptide treatment not only inhibited bacterial phagocytosis by murine and porcine macrophages but also interfered with cell surface and intracellular bacterial survival. Lastly, Protegrin-1 pre-treatment was shown to inhibit the amastigote survival in Leishmania infected macrophages. These experiments describe an extended potential of Protegrin-1's protective role during microbial infections and add to the research towards clinical application of cationic AMPs.

Comparison of antimicrobial therapy termination in febrile and afebrile patients with acute cholangitis after drainage.

The standard treatment duration for acute cholangitis (AC) involves a 4-7-day antimicrobial treatment post-biliary drainage; however, recent studies have suggested that a ≤ 2-3 days is sufficient. However, clinical practice frequently depends on body temperature as a criterion for discontinuing antimicrobial treatment. Therefore, in this study, we assessed whether patients with AC can achieve successful outcomes with a ≤ 7-day antimicrobial treatment, even with a fever, assuming the infection source is effectively controlled. We conducted a single-center retrospective study involving patients with AC, defined following the Tokyo Guidelines 2018 for any cause, who underwent successful biliary drainage and completed a ≤ 7-day antimicrobial treatment. Patients were categorized into the febrile and afebrile groups based on their body temperature within 24 h before completing antimicrobial treatment. The primary outcome was the clinical cure rate, defined as no initial presenting symptoms by day 14 post-biliary drainage without recurrence or death by day 30. The secondary outcome was a 3-month recurrence rate. Logistic regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting was used. Overall, 408 patients were selected, among whom 40 (9.8%) were febrile. The two groups showed no significant differences in the clinical cure and 3-month recurrence rates. Notably, the subgroups limited to patients with a ≤ 3-day antibiotic treatment duration also showed no differences in these outcomes. Therefore, our results suggest that discontinuing antibiotics within the initially planned treatment period was sufficient for successful drainage cases of AC, regardless of the patient's fever status during the 24 h leading up to termination.

The physico-chemical and antimicrobial properties of nano ZnO functionalised tannic acid.

Tannic acid (TA) has been reported as an efficient plant-based compound with inhibitory activity against viruses and bacteria. The combination of TA with Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanostructures with ZnO is one of the most widely used nanoparticles for antimicrobial properties, have not yet fully elucidate especially their mechanisms of overall physicochemical and antimicrobial actions. Hence, to observe the influence of TA adsorption on ZnO, the investigations on the TA concentration and the effect of pH towards the physicochemical, optical and antimicrobial properties are demonstrated. The pure ZnO are synthesised via the chemical reduction method and the ZnO-TA nanostructures are further prepared using the dropwise methods to form variations of pH samples, which causes the formation of different mean particle size distribution, d m . The findings reveal that the performance of physicochemical and optical properties of pure ZnO and ZnO-TA are different due to the wrapped layers of TA which change the charged surface of all the particles. The protonation reactions yield strong pH dependence (pH 3 and 5), with uptake performance becoming more dominant at higher TA concentration loading (pH 3). The detailed optical energy bandgap and Urbach energy that concluded the nanoparticle growth and disorder condition of produced particles are presented. For antimicrobial efficiency, ZnO-TA shows improved effectiveness in growth inhibitions of S. aureus 99.69% compared to pure ZnO nanostructure (99.39%). This work reveals that the TA concentration increases the overall performance, and the discussion gives added support to their potential performance related to the field of ZnO compound.

An in vitro evaluation of the effect of antimicrobial treatment on bovine mammary microbiota.

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria have been an increasing problem in human medicine and animal husbandry since the introduction of antimicrobials on the market in the 1940s. Over the last decades, efforts to reduce antimicrobial usage in animal husbandry have been shown to limit the development of resistant bacteria. Despite this, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are still commonly detected and isolated worldwide. In this study, we investigated the presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in bovine milk samples using a multiple approach based on culturing and amplicon sequencing. We first enriched milk samples obtained aseptically from bovine udders in the presence of two antimicrobials commonly used to treat mastitis and then described the resistant microbiota by amplicon sequencing and isolate characterization. Our results show that several commensal species and mastitis pathogens harbor antimicrobial resistance and dominate the enriched microbiota in milk in presence of antimicrobial agents. The use of the two different antimicrobials selected for different bacterial taxa and affected the overall microbial composition. These results provide new information on how different antimicrobials can shape the microbiota which is able to survive and reestablish in the udder and point to the fact that antimicrobial resistance is widely spread also in commensal species.

Antimicrobial potentials of Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.: Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant, and molecular docking studies.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has led to an urgent need for novel antimicrobial drugs. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials in silico and in vitro of Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. ethanolic extract. The extracts were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to identify the compounds. In silico antimicrobial studies were performed to gain insights into the possible mechanism of action of the active compounds as antimicrobials. The antimicrobial activities of the ethanolic extracts were assessed using the agar well diffusion method against the Surabaya strain of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Antioxidant properties of the extract were done using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) and ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] inhibition assays. The phytochemical screening revealed that the extract has high flavonoids and polyphenols contents. The GC-MS analysis detected the presence of 52 bioactive substances, with n-hexadecanoic acid, 9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoic acid, benzofuran 2,3-dihydro-. quinic acid, neophytadiene as major compound. Molecular docking studies showed that these compounds have a high binding affinity towards the target proteins, thereby inhibiting their activities. The ethanolic extract of P. amaryllifolius Roxb. exhibited antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The IC50 were 11.96 ± 4.01 µg/ml and 26.18 ± 7.44 µg/ml for DPPH and ABTS. The diameters of inhibition zones (DIZ) and percentage of inhibition (PI) were calculated and varied for every single pathogen 16.44 ± 1.21mm/66.76 ± 4.92% (50%) and 21.22 ± 0.11mm/82.49 ± 3.91% (50%) for E. coli and S. aureus (DIZ/PI) respectively. Overall, this study provides information on the mechanism responsible for P. amaryllifolius Roxb. extract as a natural antimicrobe and lays the foundation for further studies to isolate and characterize the active compounds as antimicrobial candidates.

Preparation and properties of silver-carrying nano-titanium dioxide antimicrobial agents and silicone composite.

The characteristics of dopamine self-polymerization were used to cover the nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) surface and produce nano-titanium dioxide-polydopamine (TiO2-PDA). The reducing nature of dopamine was then used to reduce silver nitrate to silver elemental particles on the modified nano-titanium dioxide: The resulting TiO2-PDA-Ag nanoparticles were used as antimicrobial agents. Finally, the antibacterial agent was mixed with silicone to obtain an antibacterial silicone composite material. The composition and structure of antibacterial agents were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron energy spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Microscopy and the antibacterial properties of the silicone antibacterial composites were studied as well. The TiO2-PDA-Ag antimicrobial agent had good dispersion versus nano-TiO2. The three were strongly combined with obvious characteristic peaks. The antibacterial agents were evenly dispersed in silicone, and the silicone composite has excellent antibacterial properties. Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) adhesion was reduced from 246 × 104 cfu/cm2 to 2 × 104 cfu/cm2, and colibacillus (E. coli) reduced from 228 × 104 cfu/cm2 leading to bacteria-free adhesion.

Bacterial synthesis of metal nanoparticles as antimicrobials.

Nanoscience, a pivotal field spanning multiple industries, including healthcare, focuses on nanomaterials characterized by their dimensions. These materials are synthesized through conventional chemical and physical methods, often involving costly and energy-intensive processes. Alternatively, biogenic synthesis using bacteria, fungi, or plant extracts offers a potentially sustainable and non-toxic approach for producing metal-based nanoparticles (NP). This eco-friendly synthesis approach not only reduces environmental impact but also enhances features of NP production due to the unique biochemistry of the biological systems. Recent advancements have shown that along with chemically synthesized NPs, biogenic NPs possess significant antimicrobial properties. The inherent biochemistry of bacteria enables the efficient conversion of metal salts into NPs through reduction processes, which are further stabilized by biomolecular capping layers that improve biocompatibility and functional properties. This mini review explores the use of bacteria to produce NPs with antimicrobial activities. Microbial technologies to produce NP antimicrobials have considerable potential to help address the antimicrobial resistance crisis, thus addressing critical health issues aligned with the United Nations Sustainability Goal #3 of good health and well-being.

Osseointegrative and antimicrobial properties of graphene oxide nano coated dental implants: A systematic review.

Introduction: Osseointegration stands as a pivotal concept within the realm of dental implants, signifying the intricate process through which a dental implant integrates with the adjoining bone tissue. Graphene oxide (GO) has been shown to promote osseointegration, the process by which the implant fuses with the surrounding bone. The objective of this study was to assess the osseointegrative and antimicrobial properties of GO nano coated dental implants. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using electronic databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) to identify relevant studies published. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies that evaluated the effects of GO nano coating on osseointegrative and antimicrobial characteristics of dental implants. Studies not written in English and published before 2012 were excluded. Results: The initial search yielded a total of 127 potential studies, of which six met the inclusion criteria and five were included in the review. These studies provided data on GO nano coated dental implants and their osseointegrative and antimicrobial properties. All the included studies showed moderate risk of bias. None of the studies provided information related to sample size calculation or sampling technique. Discussion: The findings from the included studies demonstrated that GO nano coating had a positive impact on osseointegrative properties of dental implants. Enhanced bone-implant contact and increased bone density were observed in animals and humans receiving GO nano coated implants. Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of GO nano coating were found to inhibit bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on the implant surface, reducing the risk of implant-associated infections. Conclusion: The findings indicate that GO nano coating holds promise in enhancing the success rate and longevity of dental implants. However, more studies with larger sample sizes, are needed to further strengthen the evidence and determine the long-term effects of GO nano coated dental implants.

Benzimidazole-Oxadiazole Hybrids-Development in Medicinal Chemistry: An Overview.

To increase the success rate of drug discovery, one practical strategy is to begin molecular hybridisation. The presence of two or more pharmacophores in a single unit leads to a pharmacological potency greater than the sum of each individual moiety's potency. Heterocyclic compounds are very widely distributed in nature and are essential for life activities. Benzimidazole and oxadiazole are privileged structures in medicinal chemistry and are widely used in drug discovery and development due to their vast biological properties. The drug-like properties (like pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics) of the individual scaffolds can be improved by benzimidazole-oxadiazole chimeric molecules via a molecular hybridisation approach. Benzimidazole and oxadiazole cores can either be fused or incorporated using either functional groups/bonds. Over the last few decades, drug discovery scientists have predicted that these moieties could be interconnected to yield a novel or modified hybrid compound. Benzimidazole and oxadiazole hybrids were identified as the most potent anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antihypertensive and antitubercular agents. In this context, the present review describes the biological properties of benzimidazole-oxadiazole (1,3,4 and 1,2,4) hybrids, their possible structure-activity relationship and the mechanism of action studies presented. This review article is intended to stimulate fresh ideas in the search for rational designs of more active and less toxic benzimidazole-oxadiazole hybrid prospective therapeutic candidates, as well as more effective diagnostic agents and pathologic probes.

In-vivo and in-vitro toxicity evaluation of 2,3-dimethylquinoxaline: An antimicrobial found in a traditional herbal medicine.

2,3-dimethylquinoxaline (DMQ) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial phytochemical. This study aims to assess its toxicological profile. In vitro studies conducted in appropriate cell cultures, included assessment of cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity. An in vivo study was conducted in mice to determine acute oral toxicity (AOT), and subacute oral toxicity (SAOT). Acute dermal toxicity (ADT) was conducted in rats. All in-vitro toxicity studies of DMQ had negative results at concentrations ≤100 µM except for a non-significant reduction in the ATP in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell culture. The median lethal dose of DMQ was higher than 2000 mg/kg. All animals survived the scheduled necropsy and none showed any alteration in clinical signs. Biochemistry analysis revealed a significant difference between the satellite and control groups, showing an increase in platelet counts and white blood cell counts by 99.8% and 188.8%, respectively. Histology revealed enlargement of renal corpuscles; hyperplasia of testosterone-secreting cells; and dilatation of coronaries and capillaries. The present data suggests an acceptable safety profile of DMQ in rodents except for thrombocytosis, leukocytosis, and histological changes in high doses that need further investigation.

Perspectives and Possibilities for New Antimicrobial Agents in the Treatment and Control of Mastitis Induced by Algae of the Genus Prototheca spp.: A Review.

Innovative approaches in nanotechnology provide a potentially promising alternative to untreatable cases of mastitis caused by genus Prototheca spp. algae infections. Drying of the teats of the affected animals or culling are typically the outcomes of mastitis in dairy cattle caused by these pathogens. A major issue in both veterinary medicine and animal breeding is the Prototheca species' widespread resistance to the current methods of managing infections and the available drugs, including antibiotics. Commercial antifungal preparations are also ineffective. Nanotechnology, an emerging discipline, has the potential to create an effective alternative treatment for protothecal mastitis. The aim of the paper is to combine the literature data on the use of nanotechnology in the control of mastitis, taking into account data on combating mastitis caused by Prototheca spp. infections. The databases employed were PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, focusing on literature from the last 20 years to ensure relevance and currency. Studies conducted in vitro have demonstrated that nanomaterials have significant biocidal activity against mastitis infections of different etiologies. Analyzed research papers show that (NPs), such as AgNPs, CuNPs, AuNPs, etc., may not negatively impact various cell lines and may be effective agents in reducing the pathogens' viability. However, it is also critical to assess the risks involved in using nanomaterials.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of flavonoid and phenolics extracted from Sepia pharaonis ink (Mollusca: Cephalopoda).

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been reported previously on the bioactivities of different extracts of marine molluscs. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of S. pharaonis ink as a highly populated species in the Red Sea. We extracted the flavonoids from the ink and analyzed their composition. Then we evaluated systematically the cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of this extract. A pharmacokinetic study was also conducted using SwissADME to assess the potential of the identified flavonoids and phenolic compounds from the ink extract to be orally active drug candidates. RESULTS: Cytotoxic activity was evaluated against 5 cell lines (MCF7, Hep G2, A549, and Caco2) at different concentrations (0.4 µg/mL, 1.6 µg/mL, 6.3 µg/mL, 25 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL). The viability of examined cells was reduced by the extract in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest cytotoxic effect of the extract was recorded against A549 and Hep G2 cancer cell lines cells with IC50 = 2.873 and 7.1 µg/mL respectively. The mechanistic analysis by flow cytometry of this extract on cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction indicated that the extract arrests the cell cycle at the S phase in Hep G2 and MCF7, while in A549 cell arrest was recorded at G1 phase. However, it causes G1 and S phase arrest in Caco2 cancer cell line. Our data showed that the extract has significant antimicrobial activity against all tested human microbial pathogens. However, the best inhibitory effect was observed against Candida albicans ATCC 10,221 with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.95 µg/mL. Pharmacokinetic analysis using SwissADME showed that most flavonoids and phenolics compounds have high drug similarity as they satisfy Lipinski's criteria and have WLOGP values below 5.88 and TPSA below 131.6 Å2. CONCLUSION: S. pharaonis ink ethanolic extract showed a promising cytotoxic potency against various cell lines and a remarkable antimicrobial action against different pathogenic microbial strains. S. pharaonis ink is a novel source of important flavonoids that could be used in the future in different applications as a naturally safe and feasible alternative of synthetic drugs.