General commentary on : alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in animals

Recent studies have evaluated the impact of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) such as phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) in vitro and in vivo. Zhou and colleagues studied the antibacterial properties of 30 herbs on pathogenic Gram-negative and positive bacteria (1). Thirteen of the 30 herbs exerted a significant effect against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (p< 0.01, n= 11 and p< 0.05, n= 2). More than 30% of the herbs exhibited activity against Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076 and Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028. These pathogenic organisms commonly infect humans and animals especially poultry such as chickens leading to loss and decrease in their market value. Additionally, Zhou reported that more than 50% of the herbal extracts (n= 16) possessed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923

Inhibition of Digestive Enzymes and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Fruits of Cornus alba, Cornus sanguinea subsp. hungarica and Cornus florida - A Comparative Study

The fruits of some Cornus species (dogwoods) are used in traditional medicine and considered potential anti-diabetic and hypolipemic agents. The aim of the study was to determine the ability of extracts from Cornus alba (CA), Cornus florida (CF), and Cornus sanguinea (CS) to inhibit digestive enzymes namely α-amylase, pancreatic lipase, and α-glucosidase, as well as isolation of compounds from plant material with the strongest effect. In addition, the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of extracts from three dogwoods were compared with HPLC-DAD-MS/MS and DPPH scavenging assay, respectively. Among the aqueous-ethanolic extracts, the activity of α-amylase was the most strongly inhibited by the fruit extract of CA (IC50 = 115.20 ± 14.31 μg/mL) and the activity of α-glucosidase by the fruit of CF (IC50 = 38.87 ± 2.65 μg/mL). Some constituents of CA fruit extract, such as coumaroylquinic acid, kaempferol, and hydroxytyrosol derivatives, were isolated. Among the three species of dogwood studied, the greatest biological potential was demonstrated by CA extracts, which are sources of phenolic acids and flavonoid compounds. In contrast, iridoid compounds or flavonoid glycosides found in fruits of CF or CS extracts do not play a significant role in inhibiting digestive enzymes but exert antioxidant activity

Determination of phytochemical contains of Prunus cerasifera cv. “Pissardi Nigra”

Kiraz veya süs erik olarak da bilinen Prunus cerasifera cv. “Pissardi Nigra, karışık ve dikenli dallara sahip küçük bir çalımsı ağaç yapısına sahiptir ve erik gibi yenilebilir meyveleri vardır. Bu çalışmada, Elazığ ilinde farklı lokalitelerden toplanan Prunus cerasifera cv. “Pissardi Nigra” örneklerinin fitokimyasal içeriği (flavanoid, resveratrol, fitosterol ve şeker), yağ asidi, element içeriği ile protein düzeyi araştırılmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda meyvelerde yüksek miktarda morin, sonra rutin, resveratrol ve naringin tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca örneklerde fitosterol olarak ergosterol, stigmasterol ve ß-sitosterol belirlenmiştir. Meyvelerin düşük oranda şeker içerdiği ve tüm örneklerde palmitik, linoleik ve lignoserik asit tespit edilmiştir. Meyvelerde en yüksek protein miktarının 1.45 mg/g ve Ca düzeyinin ise 88 ppm olduğu saptanmıştır.Prunus cerasifera known as cherry or ornamental plum, is a small shrubby tree with intricate and occasionally spiny branches, which produces plum-like edible fruits. In this study, phytochemical content ( flavonoid, resveratrol, phytosterol and sugar), fatty acid, elements amounts and protein levels of samples of Prunus cerasifera cv. “Pissardi Nigra” which were collected from different localities in the province of Elazig are researched. As a result, high amount of morin in the examples, then routine, resveratrol and naringin were determined. Additionally, ergosterol, stigmasterol and ß -sitosterol as phytosterols in samples were identified. The fruits were found to contain low levels of sugar. In all the examples palmitic, linoleic and lignoceric acid was detected. . Protein amounts in the samples were measured the highest as 1.45 mg/g, and also Ca was the highest detected element (88 ppm)

Comparison of components and anti-liver cancer activity in vitro between Huanglian and Yunlian

Objective: Coptidis Rhizoma is a famous Chinese medicinal herb for its potential to combat cancer, inflammation, fibrosis, viral and bacterial infections, and oxidation. Coptis chinensis Franch (Huanglian in Chinese HL) and Coptis teeta Wall (Yun Huanglian or Yunlian YHL) are two species of Coptidis Rhizoma commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Huanglian is produced from Sichuan Province, while Yunlian comes from the Yunnan Province. Both provinces are located in China. There are indications that both herbs possess similar characteristics and functions in clinical use. However, there are no signs of prior research to compare the effects of HL and YHL on hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we compared the components and anti-liver cancer effects in vitro between Huanglian and Yunlian. Methods: HPLC was introduced to analyze the active components in Huanglian and Yunlian aqueous extracts. Liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and High performance liquid chromatography with UV detector were used to identify and compare the main ingredients ratio between Huanglian and Yunlian extracts. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis affected by the two extracts on MHCC97L cell line was observed by using MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The inhibition of metastasis and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line MHCC97L by Huanglian and Yunlian were compared as well. Results: Results of phytochemical analysis showed there were no significant differences between the two herbs' ingredients and ratios. Also, there were no significant differences between Huanglian and Yunlian on cytotoxicity, apoptosis and metastasis in MHCC97L. Conclusion: Yunlian and Huanglian share great similarities in both chemical compostion and bioactivity in vitro. © 2012 To C, et al.published_or_final_versio

Lysis of Microcystis aeruginosa with Extracts from Chinese Medicinal Herbs

Boiling water extracts of 66 selected Chinese medicinal herbs were screened for their anticyanobaterial activity against Microcystis aeruginosa by the soft-agar overlayer (SAO) method. Results indicated that extracts from 16 materials could inhibit the growth of this bacterial species. Among these anticyanobacterial samples, eight extracts showed low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), including four extracts with MICs between 1 and 6 mg/mL, and four extracts with MICs < 1 mg/mL which could be considered useful to prevent the outbreak of cyanobacteria before the appearance of cyanobacterial blooms. Further study showed that three extracts with MIC values < 1 mg/mL induced intensive chlorophyll-a lysis within 7 days at the MIC. The results suggested that highly efficient anticyanobacterial compounds must be involved in the inhibitory activities. The final results indicated these three extracts (from Malaphis chinensis, Cynips gallae-tinctoriae and Fructus mume) had the potential to be developed as algicides due to their remarkably anticyanobacterial activities

Fructus mume aqueous extract's antibacterial effect on multispecies biofilm / Afzan Adilah Ayoub, Gary Shun-Pan Cheung

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of several irrigants and an aqueous extract of Fructus mume in eradicating three kinds of biofilm. Materials and Methods: A three-species biofilm of E. faecalis, P.gingivalis and F.Nucleatum were cultivated for one week on Thermanox™ plates. Each specimen was immersed for 8 minutes in various irrigants: Fructus mume solution, buffered citric acid, sodium hypochlorite and control (non-irrigated). LIVE/DEAD® BacLightTM staining and confocal light scanning microscopy were used to determine the number of viable bacteria left on the substrate. The same biofilm was then extracted and subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: Images were taken at 12 locations across the biofilm, which were then classified into four areas of concern: Bottom, which would spend the most of the experiment submerged in the solution; It was struck in the centre by the stream of irrigant.; Middle and Upper, where the impression was caused by the irrigant splattering or vaporizing. Results of the amount of viable bacteria residual indicated that Fructus mume showed no significant activity, with an effect like control and even buffered citric acid, and significantly inferior to sodium hypochlorite. Conclusion: Sodium hypochlorite (0.5%) solution was greater to buffered citric acid, Fructus mume and control group as an antimicrobial agent against three-species biofilm