ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF BACILLUS SPP. ISOLATED FROM CALOTROPIS PROCERA AIT. RHIZOSPHERE AGAINST CANDIDA ALBICANS

 Objective: This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of a microbial strain isolated from a non-exploited habitat (southeast region ofMorocco) against Candida albicans.Methods: The antifungal producing strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of Calotropis procera Ait. The isolate (Cp-LMA-9) was selected basedon the primary antimicrobial screening. The optimization of the culture media for an antifungal production, and the extraction of bioactive metaboliteswere performed. The bioautography and a partial characterization of these metabolites were also done.Results: Based on the molecular identification, it was identified as Bacillus spp. with a similarity percentage of 98% with Bacillus tequilensis andBacillus subtilis. The maximum antifungal production against C. albicans was observed with malt extract-yeast extract-agar by solid-state fermentationand malt extract-yeast extract-broth under stationary conditions. Antifungal fraction was extracted successfully from the solid-state fermentation byacetone and methanol. It maintained the anti-Candida activity after heat treatment (autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes and boiling for 30 minutes),within a pH range of 2-10, and after treatment with proteolytic enzymes.Conclusion: The bacterium isolated and selected exhibit a remarkable antifungal effect against C. albicans. The resistance of the antifungal metabolitesextracted to heat, alkaline, and acidic conditions and to proteolitic enzymes making theme a promising antifungal compounds for the control ofCandida infections.Keywords: Antifungal activity, Bacillus spp, C. albicans, Rhizosphere, Molecular identification

Boosted Antioxidant Effect Using a Combinatory Approach with Essential Oils from Origanum compactum, Origanum majorana, Thymus serpyllum, Mentha spicata, Myrtus communis, and Artemisia herba-alba: Mixture Design Optimization

Several studies have demonstrated the possible synergistic effect as an effective strategy to boost the bioactivity of essential oils. Using this framework, this study was conducted to effectively establish the ideal combination of six essential oils from different plants (Origanum compactum, Origanum majorana, Thymus serpyllum, Mentha spicata, Myrtus communis, and Artemisia herba-alba) that would express the best antioxidant activity. Each mixture was optimized using a mixture design approach to generate the most effective blend. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method was used as a reference method to assess the antioxidant activity. Each essential oil’s composition was identified using the GC/MS method. The single essential oil activities demonstrated variable antioxidant effects, and following the mixture design approach, the optimal antioxidant blend was revealed, as two mixtures demonstrated the best antiradical activity with 79.46% obtained with the mixture of O. majorana (28%) and M. spicata (71%) and 78.8% obtained with the mixture O. compactum (64%), O. majorana (13%), and T. serpyllum (21%). This study proposes a practical way to elaborate mixtures in the search for a boosting effect that can be oriented for the food or pharmaceutical industry

Boosted Antioxidant Effect Using a Combinatory Approach with Essential Oils from Origanum compactum, Origanum majorana, Thymus serpyllum, Mentha spicata, Myrtus communis, and Artemisia herba-alba: Mixture Design Optimization

Several studies have demonstrated the possible synergistic effect as an effective strategy to boost the bioactivity of essential oils. Using this framework, this study was conducted to effectively establish the ideal combination of six essential oils from different plants (Origanum compactum, Origanum majorana, Thymus serpyllum, Mentha spicata, Myrtus communis, and Artemisia herba-alba) that would express the best antioxidant activity. Each mixture was optimized using a mixture design approach to generate the most effective blend. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method was used as a reference method to assess the antioxidant activity. Each essential oil’s composition was identified using the GC/MS method. The single essential oil activities demonstrated variable antioxidant effects, and following the mixture design approach, the optimal antioxidant blend was revealed, as two mixtures demonstrated the best antiradical activity with 79.46% obtained with the mixture of O. majorana (28%) and M. spicata (71%) and 78.8% obtained with the mixture O. compactum (64%), O. majorana (13%), and T. serpyllum (21%). This study proposes a practical way to elaborate mixtures in the search for a boosting effect that can be oriented for the food or pharmaceutical industry

Optimized Antibacterial Effects in a Designed Mixture of Essential Oils of Myrtus communis, Artemisia herba-alba and Thymus serpyllum for Wide Range of Applications

Nowadays, the combination of molecules influences their biological effects, and interesting outcomes can be obtained from different component interactions. Using a mixture design method, this research seeks to simulate the efficacy of essential oil combinations against various bacteria and forecast the ideal combination. The chemical compositions of Myrtus communis, Artemisia herba-alba and Thymus serpyllum essential oils were analyzed using CG/MS. Then, the combined antibacterial effects were evaluated by testing mixture design formulations using the microdilution bioassay. The main compounds detected for M. communis essential oil were myrtenyl acetate (33.67%), linalool (19.77%) and 1,8-cineole (10.65%). A. herba-alba had piperitone as a chemotype, representing 85%. By contrast, the T. serpyllum oil contained thymol (17.29%), γ-terpinene (18.31%) and p-cymene (36.15%). The antibacterial effect of the essential oils studied, and the optimum mixtures obtained were target strain-dependent. T. serpyllum alone ensured the optimal inhibition against S. aureus and E. coli, while a ternary mixture consisting of 17.1%, 39.6% and 43.1% of M. communis, A. herba-alba and T. serpyllum respectively, was associated with optimal inhibitory activity against B. subtilis. The outcome of this research supports the idea of the boosting effect of essential oil combinations toward better activities, giving better understanding of the usefulness of mixture designs for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical applications

Optimized Antibacterial Effects in a Designed Mixture of Essential Oils of Myrtus communis, Artemisia herba-alba and Thymus serpyllum for Wide Range of Applications

Nowadays, the combination of molecules influences their biological effects, and interesting outcomes can be obtained from different component interactions. Using a mixture design method, this research seeks to simulate the efficacy of essential oil combinations against various bacteria and forecast the ideal combination. The chemical compositions of Myrtus communis, Artemisia herba-alba and Thymus serpyllum essential oils were analyzed using CG/MS. Then, the combined antibacterial effects were evaluated by testing mixture design formulations using the microdilution bioassay. The main compounds detected for M. communis essential oil were myrtenyl acetate (33.67%), linalool (19.77%) and 1,8-cineole (10.65%). A. herba-alba had piperitone as a chemotype, representing 85%. By contrast, the T. serpyllum oil contained thymol (17.29%), gamma-terpinene (18.31%) and p-cymene (36.15%). The antibacterial effect of the essential oils studied, and the optimum mixtures obtained were target strain-dependent. T. serpyllum alone ensured the optimal inhibition against S. aureus and E. coli, while a ternary mixture consisting of 17.1%, 39.6% and 43.1% of M. communis, A. herba-alba and T. serpyllum respectively, was associated with optimal inhibitory activity against B. subtilis. The outcome of this research supports the idea of the boosting effect of essential oil combinations toward better activities, giving better understanding of the usefulness of mixture designs for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical applications.Peer reviewe

Synergistic antioxidant effects of natural compounds on H2O2-induced cytotoxicity of human monocytes

Natural compounds are endowed with a broad spectrum of biological activities, including protection against Toxins. Most of them are known for their antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. However, the synergistic combination of these natural molecules is not well studied. Therefore, the present study aims first to investigate the effect of four potent natural molecules [rosmarinic acid (Ros-A), ellagic acid (Ella-A), curcumin (Cur), and syringic acid (Syr-A)] on H2O2 -induced cell cytotoxicity and oxidative stress on the human monocytes (THP-1) and then to evaluate their combined action effect. Optimal combinations of these molecules were predicted using an augmented mixture design approach. In the first, as preliminary antioxidant activities screening, two in vitro assays were adopted to assess the single radicals scavenging activity of these natural compounds, DPPH center dot and ABTS center dot + tests. Based on the results obtained, the multitude of optimal formulas proposed by the mixture design study led to choosing four potent compositions (comp) in addition to ellagic acid, proposed as the most efficient when applied alone. The different molecules and mixtures were used to assess their cytoprotective effect on THP-1 cells in the presence and absence of H2O2. The most potent Comp-4, as well as the molecules forming this mixture, were exploited in a second experiment, aiming to understand the effect on oxidative stress via antioxidant enzyme activities analysis in the H2O2-induced oxidative stress in the THP-1 cell line. Interestingly, the natural molecules used for THP-1 cells treatment exhibited a significant increase in the antioxidant defense and glyoxalase system as well as suppression of ROS generation evaluated as MDA content. These results indicate that the natural compounds tested here, especially the synergistic effect of Cur and Ros-A (Comp-4), could serve as cytoprotective and immunostimulant agents against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity THP-1 cells, which makes them interesting for further investigations on the molecular mechanisms in preclinical animal models.Peer reviewe

Optimized Antibacterial Effects in a Designed Mixture of Essential Oils of Myrtus communis, Artemisia herba-alba and Thymus serpyllum for Wide Range of Applications

Nowadays, the combination of molecules influences their biological effects, and interesting outcomes can be obtained from different component interactions. Using a mixture design method, this research seeks to simulate the efficacy of essential oil combinations against various bacteria and forecast the ideal combination. The chemical compositions of Myrtus communis, Artemisia herba-alba and Thymus serpyllum essential oils were analyzed using CG/MS. Then, the combined antibacterial effects were evaluated by testing mixture design formulations using the microdilution bioassay. The main compounds detected for M. communis essential oil were myrtenyl acetate (33.67%), linalool (19.77%) and 1,8-cineole (10.65%). A. herba-alba had piperitone as a chemotype, representing 85%. By contrast, the T. serpyllum oil contained thymol (17.29%), γ-terpinene (18.31%) and p-cymene (36.15%). The antibacterial effect of the essential oils studied, and the optimum mixtures obtained were target strain-dependent. T. serpyllum alone ensured the optimal inhibition against S. aureus and E. coli, while a ternary mixture consisting of 17.1%, 39.6% and 43.1% of M. communis, A. herba-alba and T. serpyllum respectively, was associated with optimal inhibitory activity against B. subtilis. The outcome of this research supports the idea of the boosting effect of essential oil combinations toward better activities, giving better understanding of the usefulness of mixture designs for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical applications

Separation, Identification, and Antidiabetic Activity of Catechin Isolated from Arbutus unedo L. Plant Roots

Phytopharmaceuticals play an essential role in medicine, since the need to investigate highly effective and safe drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus disease remains a significant challenge for modern medicine. Arbutus unedo L. root has various therapeutic properties, and has been used widely in the traditional medicine as an antidiabetic agent. The current study aimed to isolate the pharmacologically active compound from A. unedo roots using accelerated solvent extraction technology, to determine its chemical structure using different instrumental analytical methods, and also to evaluate the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The roots of A. unedo were exhaustively extracted by high-pressure static extraction using the Zippertex® technology (Dionex-ASE, Paris, France), and the extract was mixed with XAD-16 resin to reach quantifiable amounts of active compounds which were identified by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), 1H NMR (300 MHz), and 13C NMR. The antidiabetic activity of the isolated compound was evaluated using the α-glucosidase inhibitory assay. The active compound was isolated, and its structure was identified as catechin using instrumental analysis.The results revealed that the isolated compound has potential α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 87.55 ± 2.23 μg/mL greater than acarbose. This was used as a positive control, which has an IC50 value of 199.53 ± 1.12 μg/mL. According to the results achieved, the roots of A. unedo were considered the best source of catechin and the Zippertex® technology method of extraction is the best method for isolation of this therapeutic active compound. In addition, the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity results confirmed the traditional use of A. unedo roots as an antidiabetic agent. Future clinical trials and investigations of antidiabetic and other pharmacological effects such as anticancer are required

Bioguided Isolation of Active Compounds from Rhamnus alaternus against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Panton-Valentine Leucocidin Positive Strains (MSSA-PVL)

Despite intensified efforts to develop an effective antibiotic, S. aureus is still a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The multidrug resistance of bacteria has considerably increased the difficulties of scientific research and the concomitant emergence of resistance is to be expected. In this study we have investigated the in vitro activity of 15 ethanol extracts prepared from Moroccan medicinal plants traditionally used for treatment of skin infections. Among the tested species I. viscosa, C. oxyacantha, R. tinctorum, A. herba alba, and B. hispanica showed moderate anti-staphylococcal activity. However, R. alaternus showed promising growth-inhibitory effects against specific pathogenic bacteria especially methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Panton-Valentine leucocidin positive (MSSA-PVL) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The bioguided fractionation of this plant using successive chromatographic separations followed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) including EIMS and HREIMS analysis yielded the emodin (1) and kaempferol (2). Emodin being the most active with MICs ranging between 15.62 and 1.95 µg/mL and showing higher activity against the tested strains in comparison with the crude extract, its mechanism of action and the structure-activity relationship were interestingly discussed. The active compound has not displayed toxicity toward murine macrophage cells. The results obtained in the current study support the traditional uses of R. alaternus and suggest that this species could be a good source for the development of new anti-staphylococcal agents