Comparison of Ethanolic and Aqueous Populus balsamifera L. Bud Extracts by Different Extraction Methods: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities.

The balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) buds that grow in Lithuania are a polyphenol-rich plant material with a chemical composition close to that of propolis. In order to potentially adapt the extracts of this plant's raw material for therapeutic purposes, it is important to carry out detailed studies on the chemical composition and biological activity of balsam poplar buds. An important step is to evaluate the yield of polyphenols by different extraction methods and using different solvents. According to our research, extracts of balsam poplar buds collected in Lithuania are dominated by p-coumaric (496.9-13,291.2 µg/g), cinnamic acid (32.9-11,788.5 µg/g), pinobanksin (34.9-1775.5 µg/g) and salicin (215.3-1190.7 µg/g). The antioxidant activity of poplar buds was evaluated by the ABTS (2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power) methods, all extracts showed antioxidant activity and the obtained results correlated with the obtained amounts of total phenolic compounds in the extracts (ABTS r = 0.974; DPPH r = 0.986; FRAP r = 0.955, p < 0.01). Studies of antimicrobial activity have shown that ethanolic extracts have an antimicrobal activity effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. The extracts showed a better antimicrobal activity against gram-positive bacteria.

DETERMINATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF CHLORHEXIDINE GEL.

Many researchers have advocated in recent times that antiseptic use in healing wounds should be discouraged. Antiseptics have been found to retard healing of wounds. Poloxamer 407 shows thermoreversible properties, which are of the utmost interest in optimizing drug formulation (fluid state at room temperature facilitating administration and gel state above sol-gel transition temperature, at body temperature, promoting prolonged release of pharmacological agents). Chlorhexidine, a commonly used antiseptic, is known to be less toxic on granulation cells. Acting as an antiseptic, it is an effective bactericidal agent against the most categories of microbes, including bacteria, yeast, and viruses. Objective of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial activ- ity of chlorhexidine containing poloxamer gel to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro. Chlorhexidine gels and chlorhexidine aqueous solutions have different antibacterial activity to S. amis, E.faecalis, E. coli and P. aemginosa strains in vitro. It depends on concentration and dosage form of antiseptic. Study results confirmed that antimicrobial activity of gel depends on active ingredient concentration in antiseptic. The best inhibition effect for both of reference and wild-type bacteria was obtained for 1% chlorhexidine gel. Summarizing the results and assessing the characteristics of the gel ingredients, it can be suggested using chlorhexidine gels in veterinary medicine.

Detection and molecular characterization of canine babesiosis causative agent Babesia canis in the naturally infected dog in Lithuania.

Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis is an emerging infectious disease in Europe. Although previously uncommon, canine babesiosis has become quite frequent in Lithuania during the past decade. In the last few years an increasing number of cases with a wide variety of clinical signs have been recorded throughout the country. In Lithuania the identification of the disease agent in veterinarian clinics is based on a microscopic analysis of size and morphology. To date, no data on the genetic characterization of Babesia species in dogs have been documented for Lithuania. A total of 123 blood samples from dogs showing clinical signs of babesiosis on the basis of veterinary examination were tested for the presence of babesial parasites. Babesia isolated from dogs were detected and characterized by nested-PCR and sequence analysis of a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. Babesia parasites were detected in blood smears of 94 dogs (76.4%). The molecular analysis revealed the presence of B. canis in 108 dogs (87.8%). Two genotypes of B. canis were distinguished on the basis on two nucleotide (GA → AG) substitutions observed in 18S rRNA gene sequences. The results of the present study provide knowledge of the distribution of B. canis genotypes in dogs in Lithuania, and show the necessity to use a molecular analysis for an accurate diagnosis of canine babesiosis.