Antimicrobial Activity and Germination Conditions of the Medicinal Plant Argemone mexicana

Commonly called the Mexican prickly poppy, Argemone mexicana is a stress-resistant member of the Papaveraceae family of plants that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries by indigenous communities in Mexico and Western parts of the United States. This plant has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including skin diseases and intestinal infections, with reported antimicrobial properties. However, these properties are poorly understood and no bioactive compounds have yet been identified in the plant to account for this antimicrobial action. Herein, we describe the growth conditions and preliminarily characterize the antibiotic effects of different parts of the A. mexicana plant. We report that 2 mg of A. mexicana methanol root extract possesses antibacterial activity against the bacteria Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, while the same concentration has no inhibitory effect on the fungus Candida albicans. Moreover, the methanol root fraction displays a stronger antibacterial effect, when compared to either the methanol seed or leaf fractions at the same concentrations and normalized to background solvent alone. Additionally, we show that when supplemented with 1000 mg/L of the phytohormone gibberellic acid (GA), germination rates of A. mexicana are significantly increased when compared to germination with either no GA or 100 mg/L GA. These preliminary results warrant further research into defining the antimicrobial properties and chemicals produced in the roots of these plants and are especially significant given the growing global concern of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ and lack of new antimicrobial drug discovery

Letter from W. S. Nunnelly to T. B. Larrimore [sic]

Letter from W. S. Nunnelly to T. B. Larrimore [sic]. The one-page typewritten correspondence is on Nunnelly\u27s business letterhead and is dated 29 October 1912

Isolation, Identification, Modification, and Biological Analysis of extracts of A. Mexicana

Argemone mexicana is a member of the Papaveraceae family of plants that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine by indigenous communities in Mexico and the United States. Through a collaborative project, we have explored separation of key components of the seeds and leaves of this plant to isolate the source of their biological activity. We have already identified two key molecules which give this plant anti-microbial properties against the gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, we have chemically modified one of these molecules to observe variations on activity. We hope this leads to the discovery of new antibiotic drugs

Antimicrobial Activity and Germination Conditions of the Medicinal Plant Argemone mexicana

Commonly called the Mexican prickly poppy, Argemone mexicana is a stress-resistant member of the Papaveraceae family of plants that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries by indigenous communities in Mexico and Western parts of the United States. This plant has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including skin diseases and intestinal infections, with reported antimicrobial properties. However, these properties are poorly understood and no bioactive compounds have yet been identified in the plant to account for this antimicrobial action. Herein, we describe the growth conditions and preliminarily characterize the antibiotic effects of different parts of the A. mexicana plant. We report that 2 mg of A. mexicana methanol root extract possesses antibacterial activity against the bacteria Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, while the same concentration has no inhibitory effect on the fungus Candida albicans. Moreover, the methanol root fraction displays a stronger antibacterial effect, when compared to either the methanol seed or leaf fractions at the same concentrations and normalized to background solvent alone. Additionally, we show that when supplemented with 1000 mg/L of the phytohormone gibberellic acid (GA), germination rates of A. mexicana are significantly increased when compared to germination with either no GA or 100 mg/L GA. These preliminary results warrant further research into defining the antimicrobial properties and chemicals produced in the roots of these plants and are especially significant given the growing global concern of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ and lack of new antimicrobial drug discovery

Mountain Brook High School Fine Arts Center: Moisture Control Case Study

Upon returning to school in the fall, significant problems became evident in the Fine Arts Center of Mountain Brook High School, located near Birmingham, Alabama. In the band department, black mold was found on ceiling tiles, marching band uniforms were damaged beyond repair by mold and mildew and even sheet music that had been stored was ruined. In the choral department, costumes worn by school choruses were badly affected by mold and mildew requiring costly cleaning. Most significant, however, was the damage done to the grand piano in the choral department by excessive moisture in the air. Estimated overall costs due to the moisture-related damage to the Fine Arts Center were estimated to be between $35,000 and$45,000. The conventional air conditioning system was not sufficient to control the humidity levels in this building. A new solution had to be found

Identifying Antimicrobial Phytocompounds to Combat ISS Superbugs

The isolation, or creation, of novel antimicrobial agents is currently at the forefront of modern healthcare due to the stark decrease in antimicrobial drug development in recent years and due to the increasing rise of superbugs, or microorganisms that are resistant to more than one type of antimicrobial treatment, which are predicted by 2050 to cause 10 million deaths/year. In addition to being a terrestrial cause for concern, antimicrobial resistant microbes are also a threat to the health of the individuals on the International Space Station (ISS). According to recent studies, a diverse population of bacteria and fungi, including several opportunistic pathogens, have colonized the ISS, and many of these strains have been found to possess antimicrobial resistance genes. Therefore, our research is focused on testing bacterial and fungal pathogens that have been isolated from the ISS against methanolic extracts from different medicinal plants, such as Argemone mexicana and Curcuma longa. Additionally, from previous work in our lab (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249704), we have identified several antibacterial compounds in A. mexicana and are attempting to determine the distribution of these phytocompounds (berberine, chelerythrine, sanguinarine) in the plant using quantitative chemistry techniques. This work highlights the importance of plants as an invaluable pharmaceutical resource at a time when antimicrobial drug discovery has plateaued

Designing for Humidity Control in the Operating Rooms: Desiccant Dehumidification Case Study for HEALTHSOUTH Medical Center

Battling for control of the humidity within the operating rooms, this HEALTHSOUTH retrofitted the existing chilled water-based Air Handling Unit with a desiccant-based Air Handler in their flagship medical center. This case study shows results, design parameters and practical options for hospitals

Characterizing the Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities and Several Associated Bioactive Compounds of Argemone mexicana

Commonly called the Mexican prickly poppy, Argemone mexicana is a stress-resistant member of the Papaveraceae family of plants that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries by indigenous communities in Mexico and Western parts of the United States. This plant has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including skin diseases and intestinal infections, with reported antimicrobial and anticancer properties. However, these properties are poorly understood, with few associated bioactive compounds yet identified. Herein, we describe the germination conditions of A. mexicana and preliminarily characterize the antimicrobial and anticancer activities of different parts of the plant. We show that when comparing 1 mg of each sample normalized to background solvent alone, the A. mexicana methanol outer root and leaf extracts possess the strongest antimicrobial activity, with greatest effects against the gram-positive bacteria tested, and less activity against the gram-negative bacteria and fungi tested. Additionally, we report that when using the MTT colorimetric assay, the outer root and leaf methanol extracts and the seed hexane extract have pronounced inhibitory effects against T84 human colon cancer cells. Using normal-phase column chromatography and subsequent mass spectrometry analysis of the outer root and leaf methanol fractions, we have begun to chemically characterize several candidate antibacterial compounds. These preliminary results warrant further research into defining the bioactive chemicals produced in the roots, leaves and seeds of A. mexicana and are especially significant given the growing global concern of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ and lack of new antimicrobial and anticancer drug discovery

St18 specifies MGE lineage parvalbumin expressing prototypic neurons of the globus pallidus pars externa

The medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) is a progenitor domain in the subpallium that produces both locally-projecting interneurons which undergo tangential migration in structures such as the cortex as well as long-range projection neurons that occupy subcortical nuclei. Very little is known about the transcriptional mechanisms specifying the migratory behavior and axonal projection patterns of these two broad classes of MGE-derived neurons. In this study, I identify St18 as a novel transcriptional determinant specifying projection neuron fate in the MGE lineage. St18 is transiently expressed in the MGE subventricular zone (SVZ) and mantle, and I assessed its function using an ES cell-based model of MGE development. Induction of St18 is sufficient to direct ES-derived MGE neurons to adopt a projection neuron-like identity as defined by migration and morphology. Through gene expression analysis I identified a downstream effector of St18, Cbx7, which is a component of Polycomb repressor complex 1. I find that Cbx7 is essential for projection neuron-like migration and is not involved in St18-mediated projection neuron-like morphology. Using genetic loss-of-function in mice, I find that St18 is required for the production of globus pallidus pars externa (GPe) prototypic projection neurons. Single cell RNA sequencing revealed that St18 regulates MGE output of specific neuronal populations: in the absence of St18, I observe a large expansion of cortical interneurons at the expense of putative GPe neurons. I also find that, following St18 genetic loss of function, mouse walk cycles are disrupted downstream of a loss of a critical neuronal projection from the GPe to the sub thalamic nucleus (STN). These results characterize a novel transcriptional determinant that directs GPe prototypic projection neuron identity within the MGE lineage. Further, I have identified a downstream target of St18, Cbx7, which regulates only the migratory behavior of long-range projection neurons, suggesting that specific features of MGE projection neuron identity may be governed in a compartmentalized fashion by distinct transcriptional modules downstream of St18. I’ve also demonstrated the role of the GPe PV+ prototypic neurons in the production and maintenance of mouse locomotor gait

Characterizing the Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities and Several Associated Bioactive Compounds of Argemone mexicana

Commonly called the Mexican prickly poppy, Argemone mexicana is a stress-resistant member of the Papaveraceae family of plants that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries by indigenous communities in Mexico and Western parts of the United States. This plant has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including skin diseases and intestinal infections, with reported antimicrobial and anticancer properties. However, these properties are poorly understood, with few associated bioactive compounds yet identified. Herein, we describe the germination conditions of A. mexicana and preliminarily characterize the antimicrobial and anticancer activities of different parts of the plant. We show that when comparing 1 mg of each sample normalized to background solvent alone, the A. mexicana methanol outer root and leaf extracts possess the strongest antimicrobial activity, with greatest effects against the gram-positive bacteria tested, and less activity against the gram-negative bacteria and fungi tested. Additionally, we report that when using the MTT colorimetric assay, the outer root and leaf methanol extracts and the seed hexane extract have pronounced inhibitory effects against T84 human colon cancer cells. Using normal-phase column chromatography and subsequent mass spectrometry analysis of the outer root and leaf methanol fractions, we have begun to chemically characterize several candidate antibacterial compounds. These preliminary results warrant further research into defining the bioactive chemicals produced in the roots, leaves and seeds of A. mexicana and are especially significant given the growing global concern of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ and lack of new antimicrobial and anticancer drug discovery