MOSP - Macao Scientific Publishers

文章

Qualititative analysis of organically farmed pulse varieties using FTIR (fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy

Jyotsna Saurav, Neeraj Kumar, R. Balaji Raja*and D. Kantha Arunachalam

Abstract: Organic farming is increasing in proportion every year with almost all cash crops being produced by it. Pulses also can be produced using organic farming. Four different samples of moong dhal grown by conventional farming and organic farming were collected and analyzed qualitatively using FTIR (fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy. Samples were conventional moong dhal, cheaper and easily available in market, organic white, organic green leaf and organic green complete moong dhal have been taken. Peak difference was observed in two major areas in the composition confirming the presence of additional functional group. Peaks of wavelength 2498 cm-1 which was present in conventional moong dhal and 550 cm-1 present in organic green leaf moong dhal showed significant difference when compared with other wavelengths as they are absent in any other of the sample. The effect of organic farming in case of moong dhal seemed to make no significant difference in their composition in comparison with the moong dhal produced by conventional faming.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Moong dhal, farming, composition, ingredients, organic.

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Prevalence of extended-spectrum b-Lactamases producing Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from stool samples collected in the Limpopo province, South Africa

J. N. Ramalivhana*, C. L. Obi and S. R. Moyo

Abstract: Aeromonas producing extended-spectrum ß- lactamases (ESBLs) have been reported in many countries, but there is no information on the prevalence of ESBL-producing clinical Aeromonas in South African. A total of 230 isolates of Aeromonas hydrophila were isolated from 660 stool samples and 709 water samples collected in different municipalities in Limpopo province, South Africa over a period of three month. Isolates were screened for the production of ESBLs by the double disk diffusion test and for AmpC production by assessing resistance to cefoxitin. blaSHV, blaTEM , blaCTX-M and blaCMY-2 were isolated from all ESBL-positive and cefoxitin-resistant isolates. Only 21 isolates were found to be ESBL producers. All 21 isolates were screened for the production of blaSHV, blaTEM, blaCTX-M and blaCMY-2 ESBLs. Only (1/21) was found to produce blaTEM 63 and blaCMY-2. All transconjugants were resistant to amoxicillin, piperacillin, the cephalosporins and aztreonam but remained susceptible to cefoxitin and imipenem. Crude extracts of ß-lactamase-producing transconjugants were able to reduce the diameters of inhibition zones around disks containing penicillin, but had no effect on such zones around cefoxitin, imipenem and amoxicillin-clavulanate disks. In conclusion, the occurrence of ESBLs in A .hydrophila emphasizes the importance of constant surveillance of clinical isolates to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Extended-spectrum b-lactamases- Aeromonas hydrophilia , antibiotics , resistance.

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Occurrence and pathogenicity of various pathogenic fungi on cucurbits from Kermanshah province, Iran

K. Chehri*, S. Abbasi, K. R. N. Reddy and B. Salleh

Abstract: Cucurbits ( Cucurbitaceae) are among the important plant families providing edible products to humans worldwide. It is known fact that various pathogenic fungi can attack the plants and cause diseases and resultantly yield losses. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify the plant pathogenic fungi from cucurbit plants and to evaluate their pathogenicity on cucurbits. A total of 101 cucurbit samples infected with diseases were collected from different places in Kermanshah Province, Iran. From these samples 101 strains of various pathogenic fungi were isolated and identified through morphological characters. All strains were belongs to Fusarium oxysporum , Macrophomina phaseolina, Phytophthora melonis, Phytophthora drechsleri, Pythium aphanidermatum and two morphotypes of Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). P. aphanidermatum and Phytophthora sp. strains were recovered from the samples collected from irrigated field, while Fusarium and M. phaseolina strains from rain fed field. All these pathogenic fungi were evaluated to study their pathogenicity on cucumber (Cucumis sativum) and honeydew melon (Cucumis melo) . P. melonis, P. drechsleri, F. oxysporum and P. aphanidermatum caused the damping off within 10 - 20 days on both plants tested. The stem rot symptoms were observed on the 7th day after inoculation of F. solani and M. phaseolina on both plants tested. The inoculated fungi were re-isolated from the diseased plants to prove the Koch’s postulates. This is the first comprehensive report on identity and distribution of major plant pathogenic fungi causing root and stem rots on cucurbits in west of Iran.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Root and stem rot, pathogenicity, cucurbits, Iran.

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Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Ballota acetabulosa

Basaran Dulger* and Alper Sener

Abstract: The ethanol extracts obtained from Ballota acetabulosa (L.) Benth (Lamiaceae) were investigated for their antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus ATCC 7064, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Stapylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P, Escherichia coli ATCC 10538, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 6899, Salmonella typhimurium CCM 5445, Psuedomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Debaryomyces hansenii DSM 70238, Kluyveromyces fragilis ATCC 8608 and Rhodotorula rubra DSM 70403 by disc diffusion method and micro dilution method. The extracts showed strong antibacterial activity against E. coli, with inhibition zones of 18.6 mm and with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of 16 (32) µg/mL, respectively. K. fragilis is among the most susceptible in the yeast cultures, with inhibition zone of 18.2 mm and with MICs and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) of 16 (32) µg/mL, respectively. Also, the extracts exhibited moderate activity in the other test of micro -organisms. The results demonstrate that the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of B. acetabulosa has significant activity and suggest that it may be useful in the treatment of infections.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Ballota acetabulosa, ethanol extract, antimicrobial activity.

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Correlation analysis of inhibin B, follistatin and activin A in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Shen ZongJi, Chen Xiao-Ping*, Wang WanXiang, Liu HongMei and Ren XinPing

Abstract: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a term used to describe women who have a tendency, because of abnormal ovulation to develop multiple small cysts on their ovaries. In this study, we investigated the abnormal levels of serum inhibin B, follistatin and activin A in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Serum levels of inhibin B, follistatin and activin A on cycle day 3 were measured both in PCOS group and in controls (women with regular cycle). The difference between the two groups and relationship of inhibin B, follistatin and activin A with other sex hormone, body mass index (BMI), insulin and fast glucose were analyzed. Levels of serum inhibin B in PCOS were higher (P[...] Read More.

Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome, follistatin, activin, hyperinsulinemia.

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Molecular prevalence for Bovine immunodeficiency virus infection in Iranian cattle population

Elahe Tajbakhsh*, Gholamreza Nikbakht Borujeni, Hassan Momtazan and Nour Amirmozafari

Abstract: Bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), a member of the family Retroviridae, is an infectious pathogenic lentivirus in cattle. Although, BIV induced cattle infections are reported in several countries of the world, its prevalence in Iran is not clearly known. In this investigation, we report the detection of proviral DNA sequence of BIV in 300 blood samples of cattle by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using oligonucleotiode primers specific for the gag gene region of the virus. Blood samples were taken from Chaharmahale Bakhtiary province. According to the PCR results, infection rate in the cattle population were 60%. This is the first report for the presence of BIV in cattle and sheep population of Chaharmahale Bakhtiary province, and the first evidence for sheep infection.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Bovine immunodeficiency virus, cattle, Chaharmahale Bakhtiary province, Iran, PCR.

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Combined effects of dry matter content, incubation temperature and final pH of fermentation on biochemical and microbiological characteristics of probiotic fermented milk

Gelareh Shafiee, Amir Mohammad Mortazavian*, Mohammad Amin Mohammadifar, Mohammad Reza Koushki, Abdorreza Mohammadi and Reza Mohammadi

Abstract: Combined effects of milk non-fat dry matter content (4, 8 or 12%), incubation temperature (37, 40 or 44°C) and final pH of fermentation (4.2 or 4.5) on biochemical and microbiological characteristics of probiotic fermented milk (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5, Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12, and yogurt bacteria) during and immediately after fermentation were investigated. Treatments containing higher dry matter contents had slower pH and redox potential decline rates, faster acidity increase rate, longer incubation time and greater final titrable acidity. Treatments fermented at higher temperatures with lower final pH displayed longer fermentation time and greater final titrable acidity. Treatments with higher dry matter non-fat contents, lower incubation temperatures and higher final pH of fermentation possessed greater viability of probiotic bacteria. The concentration of lactic acid in treatments increased in parallel with the titrable acidity and the concentration of acetic acid were proportional to the viability of bifidobacteria.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Bifidobacteria, fermented milk, Lactobacillus acidophilus, probiotic, viability.

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In vitro effect of Melaleuca alternifolia and Eucalyptus globulus essential oils on mycelia formation by oral Candida albicans strains

Emira Noumi*, Mejdi Snoussi, and Amina Bakhrouf

Abstract: Several mechanisms can inhibit mycelium formation which is an essential step for Candida albicans virulence. In this study, two essential oils of Melaleuca alternifolia and Eucalyptus globulus were tested for their ability to inhibit the mycelium formed on Lee medium by oral C. albicans. Lee medium was added with different concentrations of M. alternifolia essential oil ranging from 0.156 to 10 mg/ml and from 0.039 to 10 mg/ml for E. globulus. The results obtained showed that 5/17 of C. albicans strains were strongly mycelium producers, nine strains were moderately mycelium producers and three isolates were unable to form hyphae after 2 h of incubation in the same medium. M. alternifolia essential oil has an antimycelial activity against C. albicans isolates than E. globulus essential oil. In fact, only 1/2 minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (0.312 mg/ml) of M. alternifolia was able to inhibit total mycelium in C. albicans isolate while 2 MIC (0.312 mg/ml) of the second essential oil was necessary to inhibit germ tube formation in the same strain.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Candida albicans, Melaleuca alternifolia, Eucalyptus globulus, mycelium, lee medium.

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Comparative susceptibility of in vitro biofilm and planktonic cells of Staphylococcus aureus to antimicrobials

T. Mahami*, A. Adu-Gyamfi and C. Owulah

Abstract: This study evaluated the effect of frequently used veterinary wound antimicrobials for their efficacy in killing mature in vitro Staphylococcus aureus biofilms and inhibiting planktonic cells. The predictiveness of the minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) assay as a tool for antibiotic susceptibility testing was also assessed. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and MBEC of tetracycline, tetracycline-based commercial wound spray, silver nitrate, gentian violet, iodine tincture, sucrose and a laboratory mixture of sucrose and gentian violet were determined. Whereas low concentrations of all these antimicrobials except sucrose inhibited planktonic S. aureus, only silver nitrate eradicated the biofilm phenotype. Silver nitrate at a Ag+ concentration of 4 x MIC showed 100% efficiency of removal or 7.70-log reduction of S. aureus biofilm cells, 1% gentian violet gave a significant reduction (55% or 0.35- log, P = 0.046) and 120% sucrose in gentian violet also showed a significant percentage reduction of 89.71% (0.98-log, P = 0.001). However, 120% sucrose and 2% iodine tincture reduced biofilms insignificantly (28.26% or 0.14-log, P = 0.098) and (34.78% or 0.18-log, P = 0.065), respectively. Based on the national committee for clinical laboratory brake-points, S. aureus biofilms lacked sensitivity to tetracycline and the tetracycline base wound spray. In conclusion, the antibiofilm properties of Ag+ observed in this study may improve the success rate in treating clinical biofilm-associated S. aureus wound infections if the MBEC assay is applied to select appropriate concentrations.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, biofilms, planktonic, antimicrobials, wound, infections.

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Anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of extract from Plumbago zeylanica

Kantha D. Arunachalam , P. Velmurugan and R. Balaji Raja*

Abstract: Plumbago species (Family-Plumbaginaceae) are one of the most important medicinal plants which are used for anti- inflammatory, antimicrobial diseases. Our work involves the study of anti inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of Plumbago zeylanica. The root of P. zeylanica extracted with methanol was used for determining the anti inflammatory effects. The methanolic extracts at 300 and 500 mg/kg produced 31.03 and 60.3% inhibition of acute inflammation, respectively, in Carrageenin induced raw paw oedema confirming that P. zeylanica roots are effective against acute inflammation. For the evaluation of cytotoxicity, the crude dichloromethane extract was subjected to silica gel column chromatography and 120 fractions were collected. Their structures were elucidated with the help of spectroscopic techniques. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to determine the purity of gugultetrol-18-ferrulate in crude extract and the structure of betasitosterol and gugultetrol-18-ferrulate was identified using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis (1H and 13C NMR), Infra red and mass spectroscopy. The lethal concentration (LC50) value was observed for crude extract, betasitosterol, gugultetrol-18- ferrulate and it was found to be 90, 75 and 65 ppm, respectively. The use of Plumbago species as an effective anti inflammatory agent and its cytotoxic effects have been ascertained and proved.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Plumbago zeylanica, anti inflammatory, cytotoxicity, betasitosterol, gugultetrol-18-ferrulate, high performance liquid chromatography.

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