MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanolic extract was used to synthesise copper nanoparticles. The copper nanoparticles were successfully synthesised from copper sulphate solution which was identified by the colour change from dark green colour of the extract. Thus the B.oleracea var acephala is a good source to synthesis copper nanoparticles. The synthesised copper nanoparticles were characterised using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis. The SEM image displayed the high-density nanoparticles synthesised by leaf extracts and that the nanoparticles were crystals in shape.
RESULTS: The copper nanoparticles (CNP) bind to the leaf extract. B.oleracea var acephala also has shown the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. A comparative study was done between ethanolic its crude extract and nanoparticles. Both extracts exhibited zone of inhibition and better antioxidant potential but the CuNPs shows major zone of inhibition and showed more antioxidant activity. Anticancer activity of B.oleracea var acephala against Cervical HeLa cell line was confirmed using ethanolic crude extract and CNP. The results showed that HeLa cells proliferation was inhibited with increasing concentration of ethanolic crude extract and copper nanoparticles. From the results, it was seen that percentage viability of the cancer cells decreased with increased concentration of the samples whereas cytotoxicity against HeLa cell lines increased with the increased concentration of the samples.
CONCLUSION: Thus B.oleracea var acephala possesses anticancer activity against HeLa cell lines.
OBJECTIVES: The study was undertaken to evaluate the possibility to isolate bacteriolytic bacteriophages against S.aureus from raw sewage water and examine their efficacy as antimicrobial agents in vitro.
METHODS: Bacteriophages were isolated from the raw sewage using the agar overlay method. Isolated bacteriophages were plaque purified to obtain homogenous bacteriophage isolates. The host range of the bacteriophages was determined using the spot test assay against the 25 MRSA and 36 MSSA isolates obtained from the Sarawak General Hospital. Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus sciuri and Staphylococcus xylosus were included as non-SA controls. The identity of the bacteriophages was identified via Transmission Electron Microscopy and genomic size analysis. Their stability at different pH and temperature were elucidated.
RESULTS: A total of 10 lytic bacteriophages infecting S.aureus were isolated and two of them namely ΦNUSA-1 and ΦNUSA-10 from the family of Myoviridae and Siphoviridae respectively exhibited exceptionally broad host range against >80% of MRSA and MSSA tested. Both bacteriophages were specific to S.aureus and stable at both physiologic pH and temperature.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the abundance of S.aureus specific bacteriophages in raw sewage. Their high virulence against both MSSA and MRSA is an excellent antimicrobial characteristic which can be exploited for bacteriophage therapy against MRSA.