AIMS: The objective of this research was to evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial and potential wound-healing properties in aqueous extraction of E cottonii in order to meet the increasing demand for halal and natural cosmeceutical products.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Aqueous extract of E cottonii was investigated for active compounds by phytochemical screening and IR spectroscopy. Antioxidant activity was carried out using DPPH method, and the IC50 value was 1.99 mg/mL. Antibacterial activity was examined against Staphylococcus Aureus using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and showed 10.03 ± 0.06 mm zone of inhibition, achieved by 200 mg/mL of extracts. A wound was made by skin excision of area around 100 mm2 on each mouse. Test group was treated with aqueous extract gel (10% w/w); meanwhile, the mice that were treated with honey acted as the positive control group and the untreated mice as negative control group. Results showed that the wound contraction rate inclined to aqueous extracts as compared to untreated group (P
RESULTS: One circular chromosome and one circular plasmid were discovered in the complete genome of A. baumannii ATCC BAA1605 using whole-genome sequencing. The chromosome is 4,039,171 bp long with a GC content of 39.24%. Many AMR genes, which confer resistance to major classes of antibiotics (beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, tetracycline, sulphonamides), were found on the chromosome. Two genomic islands were predicted on the chromosome, one of which (Genomic Island 1) contains a cluster of AMR genes and mobile elements, suggesting the possibility of horizontal gene transfer. A subtype I-F CRISPR-Cas system was also identified on the chromosome of A. baumannii ATCC BAA1605. This study provides valuable genome data that can be used as a reference for future studies on A. baumannii. The genome of A. baumannii ATCC BAA1605 has been deposited at GenBank under accession no. CP058625 and CP058626.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Honey and some of its components, which include the sugars, the proteins, the hydrogen peroxide produced, and the phenolics, were exposed to cultured fibroblasts. The MTT colorimetric assay was used to assess cell viability and proliferation.
RESULTS: The stimulatory effect of honey on fibroblast proliferation was observed to be time- and dose-dependent. The continuous production of hydrogen peroxide by the honey-glucose oxidase system also acts to stimulate cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The presence of phenolics with antioxidant properties, on the other hand, renders protection to the cells against the toxic effect of hydrogen peroxide. However, the presence of a growth factor-like substance in honey could not be ascertained.
CONCLUSION: For the first time, honey and its major components were shown to exert stimulatory effects on cultured fibroblasts. Honey is therefore potentially useful in medicinal practices.
METHODS: B. subtilis was exposed to 5 to 150 μg/mL of ZnO NPs for 24 h. The parameters employed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of ZnO NPs were the growth inhibitory effect on B. subtilis, the surface interaction of ZnO NPs on the bacterial cell wall, and also the morphological alterations in B. subtilis induced by ZnO NPs.
RESULTS: The results demonstrated a significant (p <0.05) inhibition of ZnO NPs on B. subtilis growth and it was in a dose-dependent manner for all the tested concentrations of ZnO NPs from 5 to 150 μg/mL at 24 h. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectrum confirmed the involvement of polysaccharides and polypeptides of bacterial cell wall in surface binding of ZnO NPs on bacteria. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize the morphological changes, B. subtilis illustrated several surface alterations such as distortion of cell membrane, roughening of cell surface, aggregation and bending of cells, as well as, the cell rupture upon interacting with ZnO NPs for 24 h.
CONCLUSION: The results indicated the potential of ZnO NPs to be used as an antibacterial agent against B. subtilis. The findings of the present study might bring insights to incorporate ZnO NPs as an antibacterial agent in the topical applications against the infections caused by B. subtilis.