In vitro anti-parasitic activities of Pulicaria dysenterica and Lycopus europaeus methanolic extracts against Trichomonas gallinae

Introduction: Trichomonas gallinae is the causative agent of trichomoniasis in birds. Although metronidazole is now the drug of choice for treatment of this infection, several studies reported metronidazole-resistant strains of T. gallinae. So it is important to explore for effective alternative compounds such as herbal extracts for treatment of avian trichomoniasis. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of methanolic extracts of Pulicaria dysenteric and Lycopus europaeus on the growth of T. gallinae trophozoites. Methods: The methanolic extracts were obtained from aerial parts of plants. The anti-trichomonas activities of P. dysenterica at the concentrations of 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.25 mg/mL and L. europaeus at the concentrations of 227, 113.5, 56.75, 28.37, 14.1 and 7.09 mg/ mL after 0, 1, 3, and 6 hours exposure time were evaluated. Results: The results showed that both extracts decreased the viability of T. gallinae. The methanolic extract of P. dysenteric and L. europaeus showed 10% and 60% growth inhibition (GI %) at the highest concentration immediately after exposure. P. dysenteric methanolic extract at a concentration of 6.25 mg/mL completely inhibited the growth of parasite after 6 hours which was the minimum inhibitory concentration, while the lowest concentration of L. europaeus extract that showed 100% GI was 28.37 mg/mL that affected trophozoites after 6 hours. Conclusion: Based on the results, both extracts revealed significant growth inhibitory effect on T. gallinae, suggesting the potential use of these plants in preparation of new anti-trichomonas compounds

In vitro anti-parasitic activities of Pulicaria dysenterica and Lycopus europaeus methanolic extracts against Trichomonas gallinae

Introduction: Trichomonas gallinae is the causative agent of trichomoniasis in birds. Although metronidazole is now the drug of choice for treatment of this infection, several studies reported metronidazole-resistant strains of T. gallinae. So it is important to explore for effective alternative compounds such as herbal extracts for treatment of avian trichomoniasis. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of methanolic extracts of Pulicaria dysenteric and Lycopus europaeus on the growth of T. gallinae trophozoites. Methods: The methanolic extracts were obtained from aerial parts of plants. The anti-trichomonas activities of P. dysenterica at the concentrations of 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.25 mg/mL and L. europaeus at the concentrations of 227, 113.5, 56.75, 28.37, 14.1 and 7.09 mg/mL after 0, 1, 3, and 6 hours exposure time were evaluated. Results: The results showed that both extracts decreased the viability of T. gallinae. The methanolic extract of P. dysenteric and L. europaeus showed 10% and 60% growth inhibition (GI %) at the highest concentration immediately after exposure. P. dysenteric methanolic extract at a concentration of 6.25 mg/mL completely inhibited the growth of parasite after 6 hours which was the minimum inhibitory concentration, while the lowest concentration of L. europaeus extract that showed 100% GI was 28.37 mg/mL that affected trophozoites after 6 hours. Conclusion: Based on the results, both extracts revealed significant growth inhibitory effect on T. gallinae, suggesting the potential use of these plants in preparation of new anti-trichomonas compounds

Leniency Decision-Making from a Corporate Perspective: Complex Realities

This chapter seeks to assess the robustness of the assumptions made by much of the theoretical literature on leniency programs, giving a glimpse of the uncertainties and complexities that apply in practice. First, sanctions are hard to estimate and the decision to form a cartel is not generally made by the firm as a rational monolith. Second, empirical evidence from the EU suggests an over-reliance on leniency, with only a weak threat of detection through investigations alone. Most leniency reporting may be occurring where a cartel has already ceased to operate or is very likely to be caught. Finally, the decision to come forward is not one that is taken lightly by the firm; it is fraught with uncertainties and dangers, including the challenges of ensuring cooperation from employees. The paper concludes with three recommendations for the strengthening of leniency policie

Immunization of Cattle with Tick Salivary Gland Extracts

Background: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus tick is one of the most important ectoparasite of cattle. Re­cently, several laboratories in the world have been concentrated on immunizing cattle against tick using various types of tissue extracts of ticks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of immunization of cattle with tick salivary gland extract on biological parameters of ticks and humoral immune responses of cattle. Methods: Fourteen more dominant protein bands identified as immunogenic by Western-blot analysis were eluted from polyacrylamide gel. Test and control groups were injected three times with eluted proteins and sterile PBS (pH= 7.2) respectively with equivalent amount of adjuvant. After four weeks a tick challenge was performed. Fi­nally, biological parameters of collected engorged female ticks were recorded and humoral immune responses to immunization measured by ELISA. Results: The results indicated immunization of cattle resulted in reduction in mean tick counts, attachment, en­gorgement weights, feeding index, egg mass weight, hatchability and fertility index (respectively 63.1%, 62.6%, 30.2%, 36.4%, 40%, 78.7% and 13.3%) and increased duration of feeding, pre-oviposition and incubation period of eggs (respectively 8.6%, 45 and 31.34%). All changes were statistically significant (P< 0.05). Results showed an increase in antibody production of test group from the first week after immunization. The antibody level was boosted following tick infestation. Conclusion: This investigation indicates that immunization of cattle with these antigens could induce a protective immune response against Rh. (B.) annulatus tick that would be expected to provide a safe non-chemical means of tick control

Biotreatment of air containing triethylamine (TEA) vapor in biotrickling filter

Background: Treatment of waste air containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using cheap and environmentally friendly methods is one of active fields in air pollution control. Objective: The aim of this study was to treat air containing triethylamine (TEA) vapor using biotrickling filter inoculated with microbial species decomposing TEA. Methods: This experimental study was conducted in the School of Health affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Biotreatment was performed with biotrickling filter inoculated with microbial species decomposing TEA for two months. The biotrickling filter was set up with air containing TEA as the sole source of carbon, at Empty Bed Residence Times (EBRT) of 36 sec, and inlet concentration of 84 ppm. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings: Treatment of TEA contaminated air was made after an adaptation period of 11 days. Despite an increase in mass loading to 111 g/m3 /h, TEA was eliminated with 109 g/m3 /h capacity and 94-100% removal efficiency by zero order kinetics.Elimination capacity and removal efficiency were close to each other and confirmed109 g/m3/h as loading region with critical elimination capacity. Conclusion: With regards to the results, it is possible to treat air containing TEA vapor in biotrickling filter. Keywords: Air pollution, Biotreatment, Biotrickling filter, Triethylamin

Antioxidant and scolicidal activities of four Iranian Mentha species (Lamiaceae) in relation to phenolic elements

Introduction: There is a growing interest of industry to replace synthetic chemicals by natural products with bioactive properties from plant origin. The present study reported the antioxidant activity and scolicidal effects of the crude extracts from Mentha spicata, M. aquatica, M. longifolia, and M. × piperita var. citrata growing in Iran. Methods: Total phenolic, flavonoid and flavonol contents of the four Mentha taxa were examined. Two antioxidant assays i.e. free radical scavenging activity (DPPH assay) and reducing power assay were used for determining the antioxidant capacity of the alcoholic extracts. Scolicidal activity of serial dilutions (15–200 mg/mL) of Mentha extracts was evaluated after 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes of exposure time. Results: Methanol was the solvent yielding the highest values of total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC) and flavonol contents (TFvC). On the other hand, the extracts from M. × piperita var. citrata gave the highest total phenolic content (191.6 mg gallic acid equivalent per g; GAE/g), total flavonoid content (57.0 mg quercetin per g; QE/g) and total flavonol content (15.3 mg QE/g) values. The methanol extracts of M. × piperita var. citrata also gave the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity (83.2%), whereas the reducing power yielded absorbance values between 0.189 in M. spicata and 1.16 in M. × piperita var. citrata. The highest scolicidal activity (99.54%) was observed in 200 mg/mL methanol extract of M. aquatica after 30 minutes of application. Conclusion: Overall, M. × piperita var. citrata and M. aquatica could be the taxa of choice for future supplementary studies

The implications of Brexit for UK competition law and policy

Brexit raises particular issues for competition law and policy because it is a field in which the European Commission is a major direct actor, and where national authorities—with the UK's playing a notably strong role—operate in a European network. To foster public debate and inform government policy, the authors established the Brexit Competition Law Working Group, and the article that follows is the text of their final report of July 2017. The report has two main themes. First, Brexit should not jeopardise the legislative or institutional continuity of UK competition law. The main pillars of UK competition law—the Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002—do not require radical reform because of Brexit, though some amendments will be needed. The second theme, however, is the problematic nature of transition to the environment post-Brexit, and of how to secure effective international coordination and cooperation within it. With an end to the “one-stop shop” for merger assessment, the demands on the UK's Competition and Markets Authority could rise sharply, and unless its resources and capabilities are enhanced, UK competition policy could be weakened just when it needs strengthening

Biotrickling Filter of Contaminated Air with Methy Tert Butyl Ether Using Lava Rock Media

Abstract: Many studies have focused on problems created by emissionsto the atmosphere of gaseous effluents containing pollutants compounds. Biological treatment of contaminated air is an emerging technology for air pollution control. Over the recent decades, suchstudies have led to the development of various bioreactors such as the bioscrubber, the biotrickling filter and the biofilter. This paper presents the results of a study on the biotrickling filter of MTBE contaminated stream air. The biotrickling employed being operated at the laboratory-scale for a continuous system. The focus of this particular study has been the development of a new filter-bedmaterial, lava rock,. Degradation was determined by MTBE removal in stream air. Degradation rates were by 1.478 mg MTBE h -1 g -1 (wet biomass) and did not change with MTBE concentration up to 500 mg L -1 . The results would be used as the guideline for the design and operation of industrial biotrickling filter