Chemical composition and screening of the antimicrobial and antioxidative activity of extracts of Stachys species

GC and GC/MS analyses of the diethyl ether and ethyl acetate extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Stachys germanica subsp. heldreichii (Boiss) Hayek, Stachys iva Griseb., Stachys plumosa Griseb. and Stachys scardica Griseb., Balkan peninsula endemics, were performed. One hundred and seventy-nine constituents, accounting for 88.8–98.1% of the total composition of the extracts, were identified. The common feature of the diethyl ether extracts was the high content of terpenoids and fatty acid-derived compounds, while the common feature of the ethyl acetate extracts was the prevalence of fatty acid-derived compounds. A disk diffusion method was used for the evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of the extracts against a panel of microorganisms (bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enteritidis; fungi: Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans). The total antioxidant capacity of the extracts was evaluated by the phosphomolybdenum method. The preliminary bioassay results indicated that the diethyl ether extract of S. plumosa could be a possible source of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds

UTJECAJ HRANE OBOGAĆENE SJEMENOM LANA NA SADRŽAJ OMEGA-3 MASNIH KISELINA U MESU SVINJA

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of diet supplemented with linseed rich additive under commercial name Vitalan (Vitalac, France) on omega-fatty acids content in pig meat. The main ingredient in Vitalan is extruded linseed, which made the test diet rich in omega-3 acids. Fourteen pigs were divided in to the control and the experimental group and grown to cca 110 kg of average live weight. The experimental group was fed a standard diet enriched with 2.5% of Vitalan. After the end of the feeding period, the meat samples from both groups were analyzed for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids content in raw and oven- roasted meat. The ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 acids was established. Additionally, other parameters, such as weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio of pigs were monitored during the study. The experimental group fed linseed enriched diet showed higher omega-3 acids content in meat (>7 mg/100g), had reduced ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 acids in meat ( 7 mg/100g) što je smanjilo omjer omega-6 i omega-3 kiselina u mesu (< 3) čineći ga, iz zdravstvene perspektive, boljim za ljudsku ishranu. Isto tako tretman je doprinio bržem prirastu težine (O-0,623, K-0,592 kg/dan), manjoj potrošnji hrane (O-272; K-274 kg/kg) i boljoj konverziji hrane (O-3,36; K-3,56 kg/kg). U zaključku, ishrana obogaćena ekstrudiranim sjemenom lana imala je koristan učinak na većinu promatranih parametara u ovoj studiji

Neutrophil extracellular traps and the dysfunctional innate immune response of cystic fibrosis lung disease:a review

Abstract Background Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease characterised primarily by unrelenting lung inflammation and infection resulting in premature death and significant morbidity. Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) are possibly key to inflammation in the disease. This review aims to draw together existing research investigating NETs in the context of a dysfunctional innate immune system in CF. Main body NETs have a limited anti-microbial role in CF and studies have shown they are present in higher numbers in CF airways and their protein constituents correlate with lung function decline. Innate immune system cells express CFTR and myeloid-specific CFTR KO mice have greater neutrophil recruitment and higher pro-inflammatory cytokine production to both sterile and bacterial inflammatory challenges. CFTR KO neutrophils have impaired anti-microbial capacity and intrinsic abnormalities in the pH of their cytoplasm, abnormal protein trafficking, increased neutrophil elastase and myeloperoxidase function, and decreased hypochlorite concentrations in their phagolysosomes. Furthermore, neutrophils from CF patients have less intrinsic apoptosis and may be therefore more likely to make NETs. CFTR KO macrophages have high intraphagolysosomal pH and increased toll-like receptor 4 on their cell surface membranes, which inhibit their anti-microbial capacity and render them hyper-responsive to inflammatory stimuli, respectively. Pharmacological treatments for CF target these intrinsic abnormalities of immune dysfunction. Emerging evidence suggests that the absence of CFTR from neutrophils affects NETosis and the interaction of NETs with macrophages. Conclusion Current evidence suggests that NETs contribute to inflammation and lung destruction rather than working effectively in their anti-microbial capacity. Further studies focussing on the pro-inflammatory nature of NET constituents are required to identify the exact mechanistic role of NETs in CF and potential therapeutic interventions

Essential oil of pinus heldreichii, needles

Needle oils of Pinus heldreichii Christ, produced from five different growth stages at two different locations in Serbia were examined for yield and composition during 1994. Although only ten components were identified in the oil, the main constituents were limonene (20.26–25.15%), germacrene D (42.6445.42%) and β-caryophyllene (10.58–13.32%). The richness of the oil in germacrene D has chemotaxonomic difference implications. © 1996, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved

Volatile constituents of Achillea serbica Nym.

The volatile constituents of Achillea serbica Nym. (Asteraceae), an endemic plant of the Balkan Peninsula, has been analysed using GC and CC-MS. Fifteen identified components constituted 95.7% of the oil. The major fractions belonged to β-sabinyl acetate and camphor amounting to 39.9% and 33.9%, respectively, of the total oil content. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd

Influence of the aryl substituent identity in 4-arylamino- 3-nitrocoumarins on their antimicrobial activity

Two new and six previously known coumarin derivatives with promising biological properties were synthesized in moderate to good yields by reaction of 4-chloro-3-nitro-coumarin and the appropriate arylamine in ethyl acetate in the presence of triethylamine. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities against pathogenic strains. A correlation between the aryl substituent identity and antimicrobial activity was discussed. © 2011 Academic Journals