Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 152 in total

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  1. Molecular characterization of Antarctic actinobacteria and screening for antimicrobial metabolite production
    Lee LH, Cheah YK, Mohd Sidik S, Ab Mutalib NS, Tang YL, Lin HP, et al.
    World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2012 May;28(5):2125-37.
    PMID: 22806035 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-012-1018-1
    The present study aimed to isolate actinobacteria from soil samples and characterized them using molecular tools and screened their secondary metabolites for antimicrobial activities. Thirty-nine strains from four different location of Barrientos Island, Antarctica using 12 types of isolation media was isolated. The isolates were preceded to screening of secondary metabolites for antimicrobial and antifungal activities. Using high-throughput screening methods, 38% (15/39) of isolates produced bioactive metabolites. Approximately 18% (7/39), 18% (7/39), 10% (4/39) and 2.5% (1/39) of isolates inhibited growth of Candida albicans ATCC 10231(T), Staphylococcus aurues ATCC 51650(T), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aurues (MRSA) ATCC BAA-44(T) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145(T), respectively. Molecular characterization techniques like 16S rRNA analysis, Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR), Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and composite analyses were used to characterize the actinobacteria strains. Analysis of 16S rRNA sequences is still one of the most powerful methods to determine higher taxonomic relationships of Actinobacteria. Both RAPD and ERIC-PCR fingerprinting have shown good discriminatory capability but RAPD proved to be better in discriminatory power than ERIC-PCR. Our results demonstrated that composite analysis of both fingerprinting generally increased the discrimination ability and generated best clustering for actinobacteria strains in this study.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  2. Fulltext Identification and characterisation of a novel anti-viral peptide against avian influenza virus H9N2
    Rajik M, Jahanshiri F, Omar AR, Ideris A, Hassan SS, Yusoff K
    Virol J, 2009;6:74.
    PMID: 19497129 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-6-74
    Avian influenza viruses (AIV) cause high morbidity and mortality among the poultry worldwide. Their highly mutative nature often results in the emergence of drug resistant strains, which have the potential of causing a pandemic. The virus has two immunologically important glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), and one ion channel protein M2 which are the most important targets for drug discovery, on its surface. In order to identify a peptide-based virus inhibitor against any of these surface proteins, a disulfide constrained heptapeptide phage display library was biopanned against purified AIV sub-type H9N2 virus particles.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  3. Fulltext Status of vaccine research and development of vaccines for Nipah virus
    Satterfield BA, Dawes BE, Milligan GN
    Vaccine, 2016 06 03;34(26):2971-2975.
    PMID: 26973068 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.12.075
    Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic, recently emerged paramyxovirus that has been responsible for sporadic outbreaks of respiratory and encephalitic disease in Southeast Asia. High case fatality rates have also been associated with recent outbreaks in Malaysia and Bangladesh. Although over two billion people currently live in regions in which NiV is endemic or in which the Pteropus fruit bat reservoir is commonly found, there is no approved vaccine to protect against NiV disease. This report examines the feasibility and current efforts to develop a NiV vaccine including potential hurdles for technical and regulatory assessment of candidate vaccines and the likelihood for financing.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  4. Isolate resistance of Blastocystis hominis to metronidazole
    Haresh K, Suresh K, Khairul Anus A, Saminathan S
    Trop Med Int Health, 1999 Apr;4(4):274-7.
    PMID: 10357863
    Isolates of Blastocystis hominis from infected immigrant workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh and infected individuals from Singapore and Malaysia were assessed for growth pattern and degree of resistance to different concentrations of metronidazole. Viability of the cells was assessed using eosin-brillian cresyl blue which stained viable cells green and nonviable cells red. The Bangladeshi and Singaporean isolates were nonviable even at the lowest concentration of 0.01 mg/ml, whereas 40% of the initial inoculum of parasites from the Indonesian isolate at day one were still viable in cultures with 1.0 mg/ml metronidazole. The study shows that isolates of B. hominis of different geographical origin have different levels of resistance to metronidazole. The search for more effective drugs to eliminate th parasite appears inevitable, especially since surviving parasites from metronidazole cultures show greater ability to multiply in subcultures than controls.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  5. Fulltext Screening of antiviral activities in medicinal plants extracts against dengue virus using dengue NS2B-NS3 protease assay
    Rothan HA, Zulqarnain M, Ammar YA, Tan EC, Rahman NA, Yusof R
    Trop Biomed, 2014 Jun;31(2):286-96.
    PMID: 25134897 MyJurnal
    Dengue virus infects millions of people worldwide and there is no vaccine or anti-dengue therapeutic available. Screening large numbers of medicinal plants for anti-dengue activities is an alternative strategy in order to find the potent therapeutic compounds. Therefore, this study was designed to identify anti-dengue activities in nineteen medicinal plant extracts that are used in traditional medicine. Local medicinal plants Vernonia cinerea, Hemigraphis reptans, Hedyotis auricularia, Laurentia longiflora, Tridax procumbers and Senna angustifolia were used in this study. The highest inhibitory activates against dengue NS2B-NS3pro was observed in ethanolic extract of S. angustifolia leaves, methanolic extract of V. cinerea leaves and ethanol extract of T. procumbens stems. These findings were further verified by in vitro viral inhibition assay. Methanolic extract of V. cinerea leaves, ethanol extract of T. procumbens stems and at less extent ethanolic extract of S. angustifolia leaves were able to maintain the normal morphology of DENV2-infected Vero cells without causing much cytopathic effects (CPE). The percentage of viral inhibition of V. cinerea and T. procumbens extracts were significantly higher than S. angustifolia extract as measured by plaque formation assay and RT-qPCR. In conclusion, The outcome of this study showed that the methanolic extract of V. cinerea leaves and ethanol extract of T. procumbens stems possessed high inhibitory activates against dengue virus that worth more investigation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods*
  6. Fulltext A high-fat diet enriched with low omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio reduced fat cellularity and plasma leptin concentration in Sprague-Dawley rats
    Tekeleselassie AW, Goh YM, Rajion MA, Motshakeri M, Ebrahimi M
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:757593.
    PMID: 24294136 DOI: 10.1155/2013/757593
    This study was aimed to investigate the effects of dietary fatty acids on the accretion pattern of major fat pads, inguinal fat cellularity, and their relation with plasma leptin concentration. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups and received the following diets for 22 weeks: (1) standard rat chow diet (CTRL), (2) CTRL + 10% (w/w) butter (HFAR), (3) CTRL + 3.33% (w/w) menhaden fish oil + 6.67% (w/w) soybean oil (MFAR), and (4) CTRL + 6.67% (w/w) menhaden fish oil + 3.33% (w/w) soybean oil (LFAR). Inguinal fat cellularity and plasma leptin concentration were measured in this study. Results for inguinal fat cellularity showed that the mean adipocyte number for the MFAR (9.2 ∗ 10⁵ ± 3.6) and LFAR (8.5 ∗ 10⁵ ± 5.1) groups was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the rest, while the mean adipocyte diameter of HFAR group was larger (P < 0.05) (46.2 ± 2.8) than the rest. The plasma leptin concentration in the HFAR group was higher (P < 0.05) (3.22 ± 0.32 ng/mL), than the other groups. The higher inguinal fat cellularity clearly indicated the ability of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and butter supplemented diets to induce hyperplasia and hypertrophy of fat cells, respectively, which caused adipocyte remodeling due to hyperleptinemia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  7. Fulltext Ligand-based virtual screening using Bayesian inference network and reweighted fragments
    Ahmed A, Abdo A, Salim N
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2012;2012:410914.
    PMID: 22623895 DOI: 10.1100/2012/410914
    Many of the similarity-based virtual screening approaches assume that molecular fragments that are not related to the biological activity carry the same weight as the important ones. This was the reason that led to the use of Bayesian networks as an alternative to existing tools for similarity-based virtual screening. In our recent work, the retrieval performance of the Bayesian inference network (BIN) was observed to improve significantly when molecular fragments were reweighted using the relevance feedback information. In this paper, a set of active reference structures were used to reweight the fragments in the reference structure. In this approach, higher weights were assigned to those fragments that occur more frequently in the set of active reference structures while others were penalized. Simulated virtual screening experiments with MDL Drug Data Report datasets showed that the proposed approach significantly improved the retrieval effectiveness of ligand-based virtual screening, especially when the active molecules being sought had a high degree of structural heterogeneity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods*
  8. Fulltext In vitro drug susceptibility of Acanthamoeba castellani to chloroquine, ivermectin and fungizon
    Rain AN, Radzan T, Sajiri S, Mak JW
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1996 Jun;27(2):319-24.
    PMID: 9279996
    In vitro sensitivity of Acanthamoeba castellani was tested to three drugs: Chloroquine, ivermectin and fungizone (amphotericin B). Sensitivity was demonstrated to the latter two compounds but not to chloroquine. Thus ivermectin and amphotericin B show promise as therapeutic agents against this parasite.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  9. Fulltext In vitro screening of anti-lice activity of Pongamia pinnata leaves
    Anbu Jeba Sunilson JS, Suraj R, Rejitha G, Anandarajagopal K, Vimala AG, Husain HA
    Korean J Parasitol, 2009 Dec;47(4):377-80.
    PMID: 19967085 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2009.47.4.377
    Growing patterns of pediculocidal drug resistance towards head louse laid the foundation for research in exploring novel anti-lice agents from medicinal plants. In the present study, various extracts of Pongamia pinnata leaves were tested against the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis. A filter paper diffusion method was conducted for determining the potential pediculocidal and ovicidal activity of chloroform, petroleum ether, methanol, and water extracts of P. pinnata leaves. The findings revealed that petroleum ether extracts possess excellent anti-lice activity with values ranging between 50.3% and 100% where as chloroform and methanol extracts showed moderate pediculocidal effects. The chloroform and methanol extracts were also successful in inhibiting nymph emergence and the petroleum ether extract was the most effective with a complete inhibition of emergence. Water extract was devoid of both pediculocidal and ovicidal activities. All the results were well comparable with benzoyl benzoate (25% w/v). These results showed the prospect of using P. pinnata leave extracts against P. humanus capitis in difficult situations of emergence of resistance to synthetic anti-lice agents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  10. Fulltext The promise of human induced pluripotent stem cells in dental research
    Srijaya TC, Pradeep PJ, Zain RB, Musa S, Abu Kasim NH, Govindasamy V
    Stem Cells Int, 2012;2012:423868.
    PMID: 22654919 DOI: 10.1155/2012/423868
    Induced pluripotent stem cell-based therapy for treating genetic disorders has become an interesting field of research in recent years. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the applicability of induced pluripotent stem cells in dental research. Recent advances in the use of induced pluripotent stem cells have the potential for developing disease-specific iPSC lines in vitro from patients. Indeed, this has provided a perfect cell source for disease modeling and a better understanding of genetic aberrations, pathogenicity, and drug screening. In this paper, we will summarize the recent progress of the disease-specific iPSC development for various human diseases and try to evaluate the possibility of application of iPS technology in dentistry, including its capacity for reprogramming some genetic orodental diseases. In addition to the easy availability and suitability of dental stem cells, the approach of generating patient-specific pluripotent stem cells will undoubtedly benefit patients suffering from orodental disorders.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  11. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE): scavenger of peroxynitrite in vitro and in sepsis models
    Kassim M, Mansor M, Kamalden TA, Shariffuddin II, Hasan MS, Ong G, et al.
    Shock, 2014 Aug;42(2):154-60.
    PMID: 24667629 DOI: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000000179
    Excessive free radical production by immune cells has been linked to cell death and tissue injury during sepsis. Peroxynitrite is a short-lived oxidant and a potent inducer of cell death that has been identified in several pathological conditions. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is an active component of honeybee products and exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. The present study examined the ability of CAPE to scavenge peroxynitrite in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide/interferon-γ that was used as an in vitro model. Conversion of 123-dihydrorhodamine to its oxidation product 123-rhodamine was used to measure peroxynitrite production. Two mouse models of sepsis (endotoxemia and cecal ligation and puncture) were used as in vivo models. The level of serum 3-nitrotyrosine was used as an in vivo marker of peroxynitrite. The results demonstrated that CAPE significantly improved the viability of lipopolysaccharide/interferon-γ-treated RAW 264.7 cells and significantly inhibited nitric oxide production, with effects similar to those observed with an inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (1400W). In addition, CAPE exclusively inhibited the synthesis of peroxynitrite from the artificial substrate SIN-1 and directly prevented the peroxynitrite-mediated conversion of dihydrorhodamine-123 to its fluorescent oxidation product rhodamine-123. In both sepsis models, CAPE inhibited cellular peroxynitrite synthesis, as evidenced by the absence of serum 3-nitrotyrosine, an in vivo marker of peroxynitrite. Thus, CAPE attenuates the inflammatory responses that lead to cell damage and, potentially, cell death through suppression of the production of cytotoxic molecules such as nitric oxide and peroxynitrite. These observations provide evidence of the therapeutic potential of CAPE treatment for a wide range of inflammatory disorders.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods
  12. Fulltext A cell-based screening system for anti-influenza A virus agents
    Wong WY, Loh SW, Ng WL, Tan MC, Yeo KS, Looi CY, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2015;5:8672.
    PMID: 25728279 DOI: 10.1038/srep08672
    Emerging of drug resistant influenza A virus (IAV) has been a big challenge for anti-IAV therapy. In this study, we describe a relatively easy and safe cell-based screening system for anti-IAV replication inhibitors using a non-replicative strain of IAV. A nickel (II) complex of polyhydroxybenzaldehyde N4-thiosemicarbazone (NiPT5) was recently found to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in vivo and in vitro. NiPT5 impedes the signaling cascades that lead to the activation of NF-κB in response to different stimuli, such as LPS and TNFα. Using our cell-based screening system, we report that pretreating cells with NiPT5 protects cells from influenza A virus (IAV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection. Furthermore, NiPT5 inhibits replication of IAV by inhibiting transcription and translation of vRNAs of IAV. Additionally, NiPT5 reduces IAV-induced type I interferon response and cytokines production. Moreover, NiPT5 prevents activation of NF-κB, and IRF3 in response to IAV infection. These results demonstrate that NiPT5 is a potent antiviral agent that inhibits the early phase of IAV replication.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical*
  13. Fulltext Life-span extension by pigmented rice bran in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
    Sunthonkun P, Palajai R, Somboon P, Suan CL, Ungsurangsri M, Soontorngun N
    Sci Rep, 2019 12 02;9(1):18061.
    PMID: 31792269 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54448-9
    Benefits of whole grains as dietary supplements and active ingredients in health products have been promoted. Despite being neglected as an agricultural byproduct of polished rice, pigmented rice bran has emerged as a promising source of natural anti-aging compounds. Indeed, the extract of red rice bran Hom Dang cultivar contained rich phenolic acids and flavonoids. It displayed high antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo assays. Using yeast model, extract and bioactive compounds, quercetin and protocatechuic acid found in the rice bran pericarp, effectively reduced levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), restored plasma membrane damages and prolonged life-span of pre-treated wild-yeast cells. Importantly, these molecules modulated life span-extension through a mechanism of ROS reduction that resembles to that operated under the highly conserved Tor1- and Sir2-dependent signaling pathways, with the human homologs TORC1 and SIRT1, respectively. The key longevity factors Sch9 and Rim15 kinases, Msn2/4 regulators and a novel transcription factor Asg1, the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutases and glutathione peroxidases played important role in mediating longevity. Yeast clearly provides an instrumental platform for rapid screening of compounds with anti-aging efficacies and advances knowledge in the molecular study of ageing.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods
  14. Fulltext Resveratrol affects Zika virus replication in vitro
    Mohd A, Zainal N, Tan KK, AbuBakar S
    Sci Rep, 2019 10 04;9(1):14336.
    PMID: 31586088 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50674-3
    Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a serious public health concern. ZIKV infection has been associated with increased occurrences of microcephaly among newborns and incidences of Guillain-Barré syndrome among adults. No specific therapeutics or vaccines are currently available to treat and protect against ZIKV infection. Here, a plant-secreted phytoalexin, resveratrol (RES), was investigated for its ability to inhibit ZIKV replication in vitro. Several RES treatment regimens were used. The ZIKV titers of mock- and RES-treated infected cell cultures were determined using the focus-forming assay and the Zika mRNA copy number as determined using qRT-PCR. Our results suggested that RES treatment reduced ZIKV titers in a dose-dependent manner. A reduction of >90% of virus titer and ZIKV mRNA copy number was achieved when infected cells were treated with 80 µM of RES post-infection. Pre-incubation of the virus with 80 µM RES showed >30% reduction in ZIKV titers and ZIKV mRNA copy number, implying potential direct virucidal effects of RES against the virus. The RES treatment reduced >70% virus titer in the anti-adsorption assay, suggesting the possibility that RES also interferes with ZIKV binding. However, there was no significant decrease in ZIKV titer when a short-period of RES treatment was applied to cells before ZIKV infection (pre-infection) and after the virus bound to the cells (virus internalization inhibition), implying that RES acts through its continuous presence in the cell cultures after virus infection. Overall, our results suggested that RES exhibited direct virucidal activity against ZIKV and possessed anti-ZIKV replication properties, highlighting the need for further exploration of RES as a potential antiviral molecule against ZIKV infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  15. Fulltext Antinociceptive activities of a novel diarylpentanoid analogue, 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol, and its possible mechanisms of action in mice
    Ong HM, Azmi AFA, Leong SW, Abas F, Perimal EK, Farouk AAO, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2021 12 16;11(1):24121.
    PMID: 34916536 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02961-1
    A novel synthetic compound from the 2-benzoyl-6-benzylidenecyclohexanone analogue, namely 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol (BBHC), showed pronounced nitric oxide inhibition in IFN-γ/LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Based on this previous finding, our present study aimed to investigate the antinociceptive effects of BBHC via chemical and thermal stimuli in vivo. The investigation of the antinociceptive activity of BBHC (0.1, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg, i.p.) was initiated with 3 preliminary screening tests, then BBHC was subjected to investigate its possible involvement with excitatory neurotransmitters and opioid receptors. The potential acute toxicity of BBHC administration was also studied. Administration of BBHC significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions, formalin-induced paw licking activity and developed notable increment in the latency time. BBHC's ability to suppress capsaicin- and glutamate-induced paw licking activities, as well as to antagonise the effect of naloxone, had indicated the possible involvement of its antinociception with TRPV1, glutamate and opioid receptors, respectively. The antinociceptive activities of BBHC was not related to any sedative action and no evidence of acute toxic effect was detected. The present study showed that BBHC possessed significant peripheral and central antinociceptive activities via chemical- and thermal-induced nociceptive murine models without any locomotor alteration and acute toxicity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods
  16. Fulltext New Hybrid Hydrazinyl Thiazole Substituted Chromones: As Potential α-Amylase Inhibitors and Radical (DPPH & ABTS) Scavengers
    Salar U, Khan KM, Chigurupati S, Taha M, Wadood A, Vijayabalan S, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2017 12 05;7(1):16980.
    PMID: 29209017 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17261-w
    Current research is based on the identification of novel inhibitors of α-amylase enzyme. For that purpose, new hybrid molecules of hydrazinyl thiazole substituted chromones 5-27 were synthesized by multi-step reaction and fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques such as EI-MS, HREI-MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. Stereochemistry of the iminic bond was confirmed by NOESY analysis of a representative molecule. All compounds 5-27 along with their intervening intermediates 1-4, were screened for in vitro α-amylase inhibitory, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. All compounds showed good inhibition potential in the range of IC50 = 2.186-3.405 µM as compared to standard acarbose having IC50 value of 1.9 ± 0.07 µM. It is worth mentioning that compounds were also demonstrated good DPPH (IC50 = 0.09-2.233 µM) and ABTS (IC50 = 0.584-3.738 µM) radical scavenging activities as compared to standard ascorbic acid having IC50 = 0.33 ± 0.18 µM for DPPH and IC50 = 0.53 ± 0.3 µM for ABTS radical scavenging activities. In addition to that cytotoxicity of the compounds were checked on NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line and found to be non-toxic. In silico studies were performed to rationalize the binding mode of compounds (ligands) with the active site of α-amylase enzyme.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods
  17. Fulltext Compositions and antimicrobial properties of binary ZnO-CuO nanocomposites encapsulated calcium and carbon from Calotropis gigantea targeted for skin pathogens
    Govindasamy GA, Mydin RBSMN, Sreekantan S, Harun NH
    Sci Rep, 2021 01 08;11(1):99.
    PMID: 33420110 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79547-w
    Calotropis gigantea (C. gigantea) extract with an ecofriendly nanotechnology approach could provide promising antimicrobial activity against skin pathogens. This study investigates the antimicrobial capability of green synthesized binary ZnO-CuO nanocomposites from C. gigantea against non-MDR (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and MDR (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant S. aureus) skin pathogens. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed the size and shape of B3Z1C sample. Results of X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy analyses confirmed the presence of mixed nanoparticles (i.e., zinc oxide, copper oxide, carbon and calcium) and the stabilising phytochemical agents of plant (i.e., phenol and carbonyl). Antimicrobial results showed that carbon and calcium decorated binary ZnO-CuO nanocomposites with compositions of 75 wt% of ZnO and 25 wt% CuO (B3Z1C) was a strong bactericidal agent with the MBC/MIC ratio of ≤ 4 and ≤ 2 for non-MDR and MDR pathogens, respectively. A significant non-MDR zone of inhibitions were observed for BZC by Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion test. Further time-kill observation revealed significant fourfold reduction in non-MDR pathogen viable count after 12 h study period. Further molecular studies are needed to explain the biocidal mechanism underlying B3Z1C potential.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  18. Fulltext Histological changes in the kidneys of experimental diabetic rats fed with Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) extract
    Teoh SL, Abd Latiff A, Das S
    Rom J Morphol Embryol, 2010;51(1):91-5.
    PMID: 20191126
    Momordica charantia (MC) or bitter gourd is widely known for its antidiabetic properties. The aim of the present study was to observe the protective effect of MC extract on the kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=18) weighing 200+/-50 g were taken for the study. The study comprised of three groups i.e. a non-diabetic, diabetic untreated and diabetic treated with MC extract, with each group comprising of six (n=6) rats. Diabetes was induced in the overnight fasted rats by intramuscular injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight). The MC extract (50 mg/kg body weight) was administered via oral gavage. Both the kidneys were collected on the tenth day following treatment. Histological study using Verhoeff's van Gieson (VvG) and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stains were performed. The kidneys of the diabetic rats showed thickening of the basement membrane of the Bowman's capsule, edema and hypercellurarity of the proximal tubules, necrosis and hyaline deposits. These features were found to be reversed when the MC extract was administered to the experimental animals. The MC extract acted as an antioxidant thereby preventing the oxidative damage involved in the diabetic kidney. The administration of MC extract prevents oxidative damage in diabetic nephropathy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  19. A study on Candida biofilm growth characteristics and its susceptibility to aureobasidin A
    Munusamy K, Vadivelu J, Tay ST
    Rev Iberoam Micol, 2018 03 12;35(2):68-72.
    PMID: 29544734 DOI: 10.1016/j.riam.2017.07.001
    BACKGROUND: Biofilm is known to contribute to the antifungal resistance of Candida yeasts. Aureobasidin A (AbA), a cyclic depsipeptide targeting fungal sphingolipid biosynthesis, has been shown to be effective against several Candida species.

    AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate Candida biofilm growth morphology, its biomass, metabolic activity, and to determine the effects of AbA on the biofilm growth.

    METHODS: The biofilm forming ability of several clinical isolates of different Candida species from our culture collection was determined using established methods (crystal violet and XTT assays). The determination of AbA planktonic and biofilm MICs was performed based on a micro-broth dilution method. The anti-biofilm effect of AbA on Candida albicans was examined using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis.

    RESULTS: A total of 35 (29.7%) of 118 Candida isolates were regarded as biofilm producers in this study. Candida parapsilosis was the largest producer, followed by Candida tropicalis and C. albicans. Two morphological variants of biofilms were identified in our isolates, with 48.6% of the isolates showing mainly yeast and pseudohyphae-like structures, while the remaining ones were predominantly filamentous forms. The biofilm producers were divided into two populations (low and high), based on the ability in producing biomass and their metabolic activity. Candida isolates with filamentous growth, higher biomass and metabolic activity showed lower AbA MIC50 (at least fourfold), compared to those exhibiting yeast morphology, and lower biomass and metabolic activity. The observation of filament detachment and the almost complete removal of biofilm from AbA-treated C. albicans biofilm in FESEM analysis suggests an anti-biofilm effect of AbA.

    CONCLUSIONS: The variability in the growth characteristics of Candida biofilm cultures affects susceptibility to AbA, with higher susceptibility noted in biofilm cultures exhibiting filamentous form and high biomass/metabolic activity.

    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  20. Screening of microfilaricidal effects of plant extracts against Dirofilaria immitis
    Merawin LT, Arifah AK, Sani RA, Somchit MN, Zuraini A, Ganabadi S, et al.
    Res Vet Sci, 2010 Feb;88(1):142-7.
    PMID: 19500810 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2009.05.017
    Canine dirofilariasis is a common tropical parasitic disease of companion animals, caused by infestation of Dirofilaria immitis filarids within the pulmonary arteries and extending into the right heart. Increased reports of adverse reactions elicited by current microfilaricidal agents against D. immitis such as neurological disorders, circulatory collapse and potential resistance against these agents, warrant the search for new agents in forms of plant extracts. The use of plant extracts in therapeutic medicine is commonly met with scepticism by the veterinary community, thus the lack of focus on its medical potential. This study evaluated the presence of microfilaricidal activities of the aqueous extracts of Zingiber officinale, Andrographis paniculata and Tinospora crispa Miers on D. immitisin vitro at different concentrations; 10mg/ml, 1mg/ml, 100 microg/ml, 10 microg/ml and 1 microg/ml within 24h, by evaluation of relative microfilarial motility as a measure of microfilaricidal activity. All extracts showed microfilaricidal activity with Z. officinale exhibiting the strongest activity overall, followed by A. paniculata and T. crispa Miers. It is speculated that the microfilaricidal mechanism exhibited by these extracts is via spastic paralysis based upon direct observation of the microfilarial motility.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
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