The synergistic effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Origanum vulgare, Hypericum perforatum and their active components carvacrol and hypericin against Staphylococcus aureus

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the synergistic activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of medicinal plants Origanum vulgare and Hypericum perforatum and their active components, carvacrol and hypericin against Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: The synergistic effects of the plants, as well as carvacrol and hypericin, were examined using a checkered method against S. aureus (ATCC 12600). Results: A fractional inhibitory concentration of 0.5 was obtained for combination of O. vulgare and H. perforatum and 0.49 for combination of the active ingredients carvacrol and hypericin, both of which indicated a synergistic effect. Conclusion: This preliminary evaluation demonstrated a synergistic property of O. vulgare and H. perforatum extracts in treating S. aureus infection. This study indicates that combination of the plants, as well as combination of carvacrol and hypericin, might be used as a new antibacterial strategy against S. aureus. We studied and evaluated the synergistic activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of oregano and St John's wort and their active components, carvacrol and hypericin, against Staphylococcus aureus. The results suggest that a combination of oregano and St John's wort extracts, as well as a combination of hypericin and carvacrol, have potential for use as natural and effective combinations against S. aureus infection

High-efficiency removal of phosphorous from filtered activated sludge effluent using electrochemical process

Recently electrochemical process for removing phosphorous (P) from effluents has received more attention to control water resource pollution. However, there are many uncertainties about energy demand in this process. So, in this research energy demand was principally investigated. P concentration was measured on 210 samples before and after the electrochemical process. Direct current electricity was applied in the range of 0.1�1.5 A (A). Cathode and anode electrodes were eight pieces of steel plate submerged in the liquid. After measurement of P concentration, the data were analyzed by Greenhouse-Geisser, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's tests. The results showed that the optimum reaction time and electricity currents were 10 min and 0.6 A, respectively. Also, 98 efficiency for P removal was achieved. The current density was 1.89 mA/cm2. The energy demand was 7.69 KWh per equivalent of removed P and 0.45 kWh/m3. The data showed that the proposed method is economical and certainly more efficient in comparison with conventional P removal methods. Therefore, the electrochemical process alone by steel electrodes may be a capable process for P removal from filtered activated sludge effluent. © 2020 Elsevier Lt

The synergistic effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Origanum vulgare, Hypericum perforatum and their active components carvacrol and hypericin against Staphylococcus aureus

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the synergistic activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of medicinal plants Origanum vulgare and Hypericum perforatum and their active components, carvacrol and hypericin against Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: The synergistic effects of the plants, as well as carvacrol and hypericin, were examined using a checkered method against S. aureus (ATCC 12600). Results: A fractional inhibitory concentration of 0.5 was obtained for combination of O. vulgare and H. perforatum and 0.49 for combination of the active ingredients carvacrol and hypericin, both of which indicated a synergistic effect. Conclusion: This preliminary evaluation demonstrated a synergistic property of O. vulgare and H. perforatum extracts in treating S. aureus infection. This study indicates that combination of the plants, as well as combination of carvacrol and hypericin, might be used as a new antibacterial strategy against S. aureus

Chemical composition of elamit scrophularia deserti

Scrophulariadeserti is an annual and perennial herb, as well as a genus of shrubs. Flowers have bilateral or rarely radial symmetry reaching height of 10-50 cm. Leaves of plant are thick, hard, brittle with green color. S. deserti plant from the family of Scrophulariaceae is mostly grass or shrub and rarely trees. I has five-pointed flowers, corolla with lobes and the fruits usually have a capsule with multiple seeds. Aerial parts of Scrophulariadeserti were collected during November of 2014 in Dehloran region of Ilam province. After confirming the species and genius of the plant in natural resources research center of Ilam Province, the collected plant was dried in the air and powdered with mixer. Essential oil was extracted and analyzed with chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), SMPE method. Phytochemistry results showed that the most active ingredients of the plant were α-PINENE, β-Phellandrene and β-Myrcene which respectively formed 24. 69, 20. 58 and 11. 82 of the essential oils of the plant. © 2016, Sphinx Knowledge House. All rights reserved

Where ferroptosis inhibitors and paraquat detoxification mechanisms intersect, exploring possible treatment strategies

Paraquat (PQ) is a fast-acting and effective herbicide that is used throughout the world to eliminate weeds. Over the past years, PQ was considered one of the most popular poisoning substances for suicide, and PQ poisoning accounts for about one-third of suicides around the world. Poisoning with PQ may cause multiorgan failure, pulmonary fibrosis, and ultimately death. Exposure to PQ results in the accumulation of PQ in the lungs, causing severe damage and, eventually, fibrosis. Until now, no effective antidote has been found to treat poisoning with PQ. In general, the toxicity of PQ is due to the formation of high energy oxygen free radicals and the peroxidation of unsaturated lipids in the cell. Ferroptosis is the result of the loss of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity that transforms iron-dependent lipid hydroperoxides to lipid alcohols, which are inert in the biological environment. Impaired iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation are increasingly known as the driving agents of ferroptosis. The contribution of ferroptosis to the development of cell death during poisoning with PQ has not yet been addressed. There is growing evidence about the relationship between PQ poisoning and ferroptosis. This raises the possibility of using ferroptosis inhibitors for the treatment of PQ poisoning. In this hypothesis-driven review article, we elaborated how ferroptosis inhibitors might circumvent the toxicity induced by PQ and may be potentially useful for the treatment of PQ toxicity. © 2020 Elsevier B.V