ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ENDEMIC BALLOTA NIGRA SUBSP. ANATOLICA AGAINST SOME HUMAN EYE PATHOGENS FROM TURKEY

ABSTRACT Objective: The ethanol extracts obtained from the leaves of Ballota nigra subsp. anatolica P.H. Davis (Lamiaceae) were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against some human eye pathogens. Methods: Hospital isolates of Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus capitis, S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Moraxella nonliquefaciens, and Propionibacterium acnes were obtained. Antibacterial activity was determined in the extracts using disc diffusion method. Some antibacterial antibiotics were used as a positive reference standard to determine the sensitivity of the isolates. Results: The extracts showed strong antibacterial activity against M. nonliquefaciens and P. acnes, with inhibition zones of 18.2 mm and 19.2 mm, respectively. The extracts also exhibited moderate activity against the other isolates. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the leaf extract of the plant has significant activity and suggest that it may be useful in the treatment of eye infections. Keywords: Ballota nigra subsp. anatolica, Antibacterial activity, Eye pathogens

Antifungal Activity of Hypericum havvae Against Some Medical Candida Yeast and Cryptococcus Species

Purpose: To investigate the antifungal activities.of the individual as well as the combined hydroalcohol leaf and root extracts of endemic Hypericum havvae A. Guner (Hyperiaceae).Methods: Each dry powdered plant material (20 g) was soaked in 150 ml of aqueous ethanol (50: 50 %v/v) until complete saturation of the plant material. After the extracts were filtered and evaporated, the antifungal activity of the extracts was tested against medical yeast, Candida (C. albicans ATCC 10231, C. tropicalis ATCC 13808, C. guilliermondii ATCC 6260) and Cryptococcus (C. neoformans ATCC 90112 and C. laurentii 34142) species by visual broth microdilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was derived from the results.  Ketoconazole was used as the reference standard. Results: MIC values ranged from 3.12 to 25.00 mg/ml. The extracts exhibited strong antifungal effect against the yeast cultures but the  combination of the plant extracts (leaf + root) possessed stronger antifungal potency against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus laurentii, with the same MIC value of 1.56 mg/ml.Conclusion: Our findings support the use of Hypericum havvae in  traditional medicine for the treatment of fungal infections, especially Candidiasis.Keywords: Antifungal activity, Candida, Hypericum havvae, Candidiasi

Short communication- AN INVESTIGATION ON ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ENDEMIC ORIGANUM SOLYMICUM AND ORIGANUM BILGERI FROM TURKEY

The methanol extracts obtained from endemic Origanum solymicum   P. H. Davis and Origanum bilgeri   P. H. Davis have been investigated for their antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity was determined Escherichia coli   ATCC 11230, Stapylococcus aureus   ATCC 6538P, Klebsiella pneumoniae   UC57, Pseudomonas aeruginosa   ATCC 27853, Proteus vulgaris   ATCC 8427, Bacillus cereus   ATCC 7064, Mycobacterium smegmatis   CCM 2067, Listeria monocytogenes   ATCC 15313, Micrococcus luteus   CCM 169, Candida albicans   ATCC 10231, Rhodotorula rubra   DSM 70403 and Kluyveromyces fragilis   ATCC 8608 by disc diffusion method. The plant extracts demonstrated antimicrobial effect against bacteria and the yeast cultures used in this study at different levels

Synthesis, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of new self-assembly benzimidazole-bridged aren ruthenium rectangles in human breast cancer cells

Some novel benzimidazole-bridged aren ruthenium rectangle compounds of the general structure [{Ru-2(p-cymene)(2)(mu(4)-OO boolean AND OO)}(2)(mu(4)-bbim)](4+) (bbim = 1,1 '-butyl-2-ene-di(benzimidazole) were obtained from the corresponding double-nuclear arene ruthenium compounds [Ru-2(p-cymene)(2)(mu(4)-OO boolean AND OO)Cl-2] (OO boolean AND OO = 2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzoquinonato (dobq), 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinonato (dClbq), 2,5-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinonato (dBrbq), oxalato (oxa), and 5,8-dioxido-1,4-naphtoquinonato (donq) via reaction with the bbim molecule and AgCF3SO3. The antiproliferative activity and anti-cancer properties of the tetranuclear arene ruthenium compounds were evaluated against the human breast cancer cell line (MDA-231-MB). Compound 2 showed the highest antiproliferative effect among the compounds during 24- and 48-h administration. In addition, all other compounds exhibited very good cancer cell selectivity and very low micromolar cytotoxicity. The antimicrobial activities of the synthesized compounds were also determined against various test microorganisms. Evaluations were carried out using the disk diffusion method and the dilution method. In particular, the compounds exhibited more potential antibacterial effects against Gram negative bacteria than against Gram positive bacteria and showed a superior antifungal effect against Candida species. The results revealed the benzimidazole-bridged aren ruthenium rectangle compounds to be very strong and potent inhibitors.Scientific Research Projects Unit of Duzce UniversityDuzce University [2017.05.03.600, 2017.05.03.620]This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Unit of Duzce University (Project Number: 2017.05.03.600 and 2017.05.03.620).WOS:0006906961000012-s2.0-8511381087

Chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of endemic Cephalaria tuteliana

Introduction: The genus Cephalaria, belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family, is a rich source of secondary metabolites, including mainly saponins which display a variety of biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancerous effects. This study was carried out to observe the biochemical composition and to evaluate the biological activities of Cephalaria tuteliana Kus & Gokturk. Methods: The composition of endemic C. tuteliana was determined through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) studies. Antimicrobial effect were determined by the disk diffusion and dilution methods for test bacteria and test fungi. The antioxidant potential of the ethanol extract was also investigated. Cell proliferation and apoptosis analysis were investigated by WST-1 and ELISA methods. The migration level of PC-3 prostate cancer cells after plant extract application was examined by wound healing assay. Also, molecular docking experiments were performed to investigate the anticancer activity of the major component found in the C.tuteliana extract. Results: GC–MS analysis showed that the predominant compounds were Phenol, 2,2′-methylenebis [6-(1,1dimethyl ethyl)-4-methyl- (23.54 %), 9,12,15-octadecatrien-1-ol, (Z,Z,Z)-(6.06 %) and n-Hexadecanoic acid (3.03 %). The ethanolic extract of C. tuteliana displayed moderate antimicrobial activity against a spectrum of tested microorganisms. Also, it exhibited significant antiproliferative effects on PC-3 human prostate cancer cells while having no harmful effects on healthy control HUVEC cells. Furthermore, enhanced expressions of Caspase-3, 8, and 9 were observed in PC-3 cells after plant extract treatment. Also, cell migration level was notably reduced, especially at a dose of 400 µg/mL in PC-3 cells. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extracts of C. tuteliana showed higher activity than ascorbic acid. Molecular docking experiments showed potential binding of the major aromatic compound in C.tuteliana extract to human androgen receptor 1E3G protein. Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of C. tuteliana as a valuable natural resource and pave the way for further in vivo prostate cancer investigations

Antimicrobial effects of curcumin against L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, S. Typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 pathogens in minced meat

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial efficacy of curcumin, one of the active components of the Curcuma longa (turmeric) plant, against food pathogens in a minced meat medium. Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 33150 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 strains were used as food pathogens. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the macrodilution method. MIC values for curcumin were found to be 125 mu g/ml for L. monocytogenes and S. aureus, and 250 mu g/ml for S. Typhimurium and E. coli O157: H7. Food pathogens were added to the minced meat at 104 CFU/g (including the control group) and curcumin at doses of 0.5%, 1% and 2% (except the control). The curcumin-supplemented minced meat and control were analysed 0-7 days later. At the end of seven days, it was seen that the 2% dose of curcumin had lowered L. monocytogenes and S. aureus counts by approximately 3 log CFU/g, and E. coli O157: H7 and S. Typhimurium counts by approximately 2 log CFU/g; the 1% dose had lowered L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, E. coli O157: H7 and S. Typhimurium counts by approximately 2 log CFU/g; and that the 0.5% curcumin dose had lowered L. monocytogenes and S. aureus count by approximately 2 log CFU/g, and E. coli O157: H7 and S. Typhimurium count by approximately 1 log CFU/g. Changes in bacterial counts were found to be statistically significant (P = 0.05). It was observed that antibacterial effect increased in direct proportion to dose, while sensory approval decreased. In this study, 0.5% and 1% curcumin doses were determined to be sensorily acceptable. It was concluded that, in view of the scientific benefits and antimicrobial efficacy of curcumin, it may be used instead of, or in smaller doses together with preservative additives in foods where colour change is not important