Atherosclerosis: Process, indicators, risk factors and new hopes

Background: Atherosclerosis is the major cause of morbidities and mortalities worldwide. In this study we aimed to review the mechanism of atherosclerosis and its risk factors, focusing on new findings in atherosclerosis markers and its risk factors. Furthermore, the role of antioxidants and medicinal herbs in atherosclerosis and endothelial damage has been discussed and a list of important medicinal plants effective in the treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis is presented. Methods: The recently published papers about atherosclerosis pathogenesis and herbal medicines effective in the treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis were searched. Results: Inflammation has a crucial role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The disease is accompanied by excessive fibrosis of the intima, fatty plaques formation, proliferation of smooth muscle cells, and migration of a group of cells such as monocytes, T cells, and platelets which are formed in response to inflammation. The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) to Ox-LDL indicates the first step of atherosclerosis in cardiovascular diseases. Malondialdehyde factor shows the level of lipoperoxidation and is a sign of increased oxidative pressure and cardiovascular diseases. In special pathological conditions such as severe hypercholesterolemia, peroxynitrite concentration increases and atherosclerosis and vascular damage are intensified. Medicinal plants have shown to be capable of interacting these or other pathogenesis factors to prevent atherosclerosis. Conclusions: The pathogenesis factors involved in atherosclerosis have recently been cleared and the discovery of these factors has brought about new hopes for better prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis

Investigation of Antileishmanial Effect of Alcoholic Extract and Essential Oil of Medicinal Plant Leaf Black Alfalfa (Medicago Lupulina), on The Number of Clinical Isolates of Leishmania Major Promastigotes in Vitro

Introduction: Leishmaniasis has created enormous global health problems. Side effects, drug resistance and the lack of effective vaccines had led to the new effective compounds effective of plants. The aim of this study was to introduce a traditional medicinal plant called Black alfalfa (Medicago Lupulina) that can be used as a valuable resource against cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods: In this experimental study, alcoholic extract was prepared by maceration and essential oil by distillation water method. Leishmania major promastigotes were cultured at 25 ± 2° C in N.N.N culturemedium, then in Schneider and next were cultured in RPMI- 1640. afterward, using MTT (Methyl Thiazole Tetrazolium), the IC50 (Inhibitory Concentrations 50%) for extracts, essence and Glucantime were determined. The results using Tukey and t-test were analyzed and were presented by software SPSS16. MTT assay were repeated. 3 times for each sample. Results: IC50 for alfalfa leaf extract and essential oil of black alfalfa and Glucantime against L. major promastigotes was determined after 24, 48 and 72 hours, 240, 130 and 69 micrograms per ml, and 801, 340 and 190 micrograms per ml, also 26, 19 and 11 micrograms per ml , respectively. There was a significant differences between the IC50 plant extract and essential oil and Glucantime after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Conclusion: Alcoholic extracts and essential oil the plant had significant anti leishmaniasis effects in vitro. In this way, it can be considered as an anti-leishmaniasis among the herbs

Comparing the synergic effects of nanocopper particles and Melissa officinalis L. essential oil on growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus

Background: Using the plants to treat the diseases, which has increased around the world, does not have any side effects. This study aimed to examine the antimicrobial effects of Melissa officinalis L. essential oil and Nanocopper particles on growth inhibition of S.aureus (MRS). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, Inhibition zone diameter of the materials was measured using the Agar disk diffusion method. Different concentrations of Melissa officinalis L. essential oil and Nanocopper particles were prepared. Then, the antimicrobial activity of the materials 24 hour after the treatment was evaluated for Nanocopper particles in concentration of 100 and 500 ppm and essential oil 12.5 to 50.Results: Results of this study showed that Nanocopper particles does not have any inhibitory effect on S.aureus (MRS) growth 24 hour after the treatment. Inhibition zone diameter for different concentrations of Melissa officinalis L. oil was 19/91±0.13mm. Mixture of 500ppm Nanocopper particles and different concentrations of Melissa officinalis L. oil after 24 hour showed that mixture of the two substances does not have any synergic effect on growth inhibition of S.aureus (MRS). Conclusion: Nanocopper particles and Melissa officinalis L. oil do not have any synergic effect on S.aureus (MRS) growth in vitro condition. This Melissa officinalis L. essential oil can be used as antimicrobial agent for inhibition of bacterial diseases in human

Antibiotic resistance in isolated bacteria from urban sewage and copper smeltery industrial wastewater

Background and Objective: Pollution due to the heavy metals is a problem that may have negative consequences on the hydrosphere. Identification of microorganisms resistant to heavy metals plays an important role in relation to environmental pollution bioremediation. This study was done to assess the antibiotic resistance in isolated bacteria from urban sewage and copper smeltery industrial wastewater. Materials and Methods: This laboratory study was done on the wastewater samples from urban sewage and copper smeltery in Isfahan-Iran, during 2011-12. Heavy metal resistant microorganisms were isolated and enumerated after serial dilution and culturing on PHG agar plates supplemented with 0.5 mM of each heavy metal. The pattern of resistance was assigned by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Antibiotic resistance toward following medicines Ofloxacine, Penicilline, Sulfometoxasole, Lincomycin, Kanamycin, Streptomycin, Clindamycin, Vancomycin, Cefradin and Neomycin were subsequently investigated. Results: The greatest resistance in isolated bacteria has been related to the Ni (MIC: 24 mM) that’s related to the genus of Klebsiella and its minimum MIC is 2mM that’s of Acinetobacter lwoffi, Providencia stuartii, Branhamella. The minimum degree of resistance is related to Cu. Its Maximum MIC related to this metal in swage is 2 mM that’s of Klebsiella pneumoniae and its minimum degree of resistance in copper smeltery effluent is arranged as 1mM related to genus of Pseudomonas alkaligenes. In examining multi metal resistance pattern, the greatest resistance with 8 mM MIC has been related to the Cd, that’s of Ni resistant Moraxella osloensis in Copper smeltery effluent. The highest portion of isolated bacteria were resistant to Pb (P<0.05). The highest resistance of refirary wastewater was to Ni (MIC: 2 mM), which belong to Klebsiella (P<0.05). The lowest belong to Acine to bacter Lwoffi providencia Stuartii, Branhamella (MIC: 2mM) (P<0.05). In urban sewage: the highest resistance belong to copper, which was seen in Klebsiella Pneumoniae (MIC: 2mM). In Antibiogram tests of Klebsiella, Moraxella and Escherichia, it was demonstrated that the metal resistant bacteria were also resistant toward Lincomycin, Kanamycin, Streptomycin, Clindamycin, Vancomycin, Cefradin and Neomycin, as well. Conclusion: Increasing heavy metal resistance in the environment leads to increased antibiotic resistance toward microorganisms

Antibacterial Effects of Gold Nanoparticles on Multi-sdrug Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae and Escherichia Coli and Its Effect on the Liver of Balb/C mice

Introduction: The gold nanoparticles as other nanoparticles have catalytic, magnetic, optical, and biological (antimicrobial) properties. On the other hand, resistance to antibiotics is one of the greatest public health problems posed in the world. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the antibacterial effects of gold nanoparticles on multi-drug resistant klebsiella pneumoniae as well as escherichia coli and its effect on the liver of balb/c mice. Methods: In this study, multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli bacteria clinical samples were utilized that were isolated from several hospitals in Isfahan and then the toxic effects of nanoparticles were investigated on the Balb / C mice. Colloidal gold nanoparticles were also applied with spherical shape and a concentration of 200 ppm in size of 10 nm, using two wells and disk agar diffusion method. Antibacterial properties of the nanoparticles were evaluated within 1-3 days with 37 ˚c temperature, and diameter of inhibitory zone of growth was measured every day. Tissue and liver enzymes of the mice were examined, as well. Results: The greatest diameter of inhibitory zone was detected in multi drug resistant E. coli. Most of the MIC and MBC were found in multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria .Gold nanoparticles did not reveal any significant changes on the weight, liver enzymes and liver tissue of Balb / C mice after one month. Conclusion: As the findings of the current study revealed, inhibitory effect of gold nanoparticles was observed on the axamined microorganism. Although the laboratories findings are promising, more studies should be conducted in regard with therapeutic standardization

Comparing the antifungal effects of gold and silver nanoparticles isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis in-vitro

Background: In recent years the emergence of resistance to opportunistic fungi (e.g. Candida albicans) has dramatically increased worldwide. The toxicity of antibacterial drugs and the occurrence of resistance to fungi and the resultant drug interactions make it necessary to assess new drugs. The aim of this study was to compare the antifungal effects of gold and silver nanoparticles on patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis. Materials and Methods: In order to identify the samples, the conventional mycological methods (morphology on corn meal/chrome agar and germ tube production) were utilized. To evaluate the antifungal effects of spherical silver and gold nanoparticles the diameter of inhibitory zone was measured using disk diffusion method. In addition, the minimum fungicidal concentration (MIC) and Minimum inhibitory concentration (MFC) of samples were determined by microdilution method. Results: Among the total identified isolates of Candida albicans (C. albicans), 58 samples were inhibited using spherical silver and gold nanoparticles with 10 nm diameter. The inhibitory zone diameter was between 0-19 mm. The MIC and MFC for silver and gold nanoparticles were 21.31&plusmn;11.40; 32.15&plusmn;25.77 ppm and 16.68&plusmn;9.37; 7.93&plusmn;4.72 ppm, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the present investigation showed that spherical gold and silver nanoparticles with 10 nm diameter have some antifungal effects against the Candida albicans. Probably in future the silver and gold nanoparticles have the potential of treating the vulvovaginal candidiasis

The synergic effect of alcoholic eucalyptus and nanosilver on colony count of Aspergilus Niger

Background and Objective: Nanosilver particles are one of functional nanotechnology filed. These nanoparticles have antibacterial and antifungal characteritic. Combination therapy is one of new and specific method for therapy of diseases in medicine and pharmacology. Some plants are useful in growth inhibition of Aspergilus Niger. This study was done to evaluate the synergic effect of alcoholic eucalyptus and nanosilver on colony count of Aspergilus Niger. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study PAN were cultured in PDA medium. Five experimental and one control group were designed for the comparison of synergic effect of alcoholic eucalyptus and nanosilver, nanosilver 50ppm, nanosilver 12.5ppm, eucalyptus ethanolic extract 100%, eucalyptus ethanolic extract 100% mixed with nanosilver 12.5ppm, eucalyptus ethanolic extract mixed with 50ppm, and double distilled water were given to group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and control group respectively. Morphological, diameter, and colony numbers in various culture media were compared subsequently. The repeated number of Aspergilus Niger were 24, and they were chosen randomly. Data were analyzed using SPSS-15 and ANOVA test. Results: The Aspergilus niger colony were reduced 8 days following treatment from 200 colony in control group to 90, 75, 55 and 43 in nanosilver group in 12.5 ppm, nanosilver group in 50 ppm, nanosilver group in 50 ppm mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract and finally eucalyptus ethanolic extract group, respectivley (P<0.05). The colony count 24 day following treatment were reduced from 200 colony in control group to 42, 14 and 2 in eucalyptus ethanolic extract group, nanosilver group in 12.5 ppm mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract and finally nanosilver group in 50 ppm mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract, respectivley (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that nanosilver with 50 ppm concentration mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract have synergic effect on reducing the Aspergilus niger growth rate