Benzyl Isothiocyanate, a Major Component from the Roots of Salvadora Persica Is Highly Active against Gram-Negative Bacteria

Plants produce a number of antimicrobial substances and the roots of the shrub Salvadora persica have been demonstrated to possess antimicrobial activity. Sticks from the roots of S. persica, Miswak sticks, have been used for centuries as a traditional method of cleaning teeth. Diverging reports on the chemical nature and antimicrobial repertoire of the chewing sticks from S. persica led us to explore its antibacterial properties against a panel of pathogenic or commensal bacteria and to identify the antibacterial component/s by methodical chemical characterization. S. persica root essential oil was prepared by steam distillation and solid-phase microextraction was used to sample volatiles released from fresh root. The active compound was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and antibacterial assays. The antibacterial compound was isolated using medium-pressure liquid chromatography. Transmission electron microscopy was used to visualize the effect on bacterial cells. The main antibacterial component of both S. persica root extracts and volatiles was benzyl isothiocyanate. Root extracts as well as commercial synthetic benzyl isothiocyanate exhibited rapid and strong bactericidal effect against oral pathogens involved in periodontal disease as well as against other Gram-negative bacteria, while Gram-positive bacteria mainly displayed growth inhibition or remained unaffected. The short exposure needed to obtain bactericidal effect implies that the chewing sticks and the essential oil may have a specific role in treatment of periodontal disease in reducing Gram-negative periodontal pathogens. Our results indicate the need for further investigation into the mechanism of the specific killing of Gram-negative bacteria by S. persica root stick extracts and its active component benzyl isothiocyanate

Antibacterial activity and mode of action of selected glucosinolate hydrolysis products against bacterial pathogens

Plants contain numerous components that are important sources of new bioactive molecules with antimicrobial properties. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are plant secondary metabolites found in cruciferous vegetables that are arising as promising antimicrobial agents in food industry. The aim of this study was to assess the antibacterial activity of two isothiocyanates (ITCs), allylisothiocyanate (AITC) and 2-phenylethylisothiocyanate (PEITC) against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. The antibacterial mode of action was also characterized by the assessment of different physiological indices: membrane integrity, intracellular potassium release, physicochemical surface properties and surface charge. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AITC and PEITC was 100 g/mL for all bacteria. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the ITCs was at least 10 times higher than the MIC. Both AITC and PEITC changed the membrane properties of the bacteria decreasing their surface charge and compromising the integrity of the cytoplasmatic membrane with consequent potassium leakage and propidium iodide uptake. The surface hydrophobicity was also non-specifically altered (E. coli and L. monocytogenes become less hydrophilic; P. aeruginosa and S. aureus become more hydrophilic). This study shows that AITC and PEITC have strong antimicrobial potential against the bacteria tested, through the disruption of the bacterial cell membranes. Moreover, phytochemicals are highlighted as a valuable sustainable source of new bioactive products.This work was supported by the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors - COMPETE and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology through Project Phytodisinfectants - PTDC/DTP-SAP/1078/2012 (COMPETE: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028765), the PhD grant awarded to Ana Abreu (SFRH/BD/84393/2012), and the post-doctoral grants awarded to Anabela Borges (SFRH/BPD/98684/2013) and Lucia C. Simoes (SFRH/BPD/81982/2011). Also, this work was undertaken as part of the European Research Project SUSCLEAN (Contract no FP7-KBBE-2011-5, project number: 287514) and the COST Action FA1202. The authors are solely responsible for this work. It does not represent the opinion of the European Community, and the Community is not responsible for any use that might be made of data appearing herein

Fin performance in an oscillating temperature environment

An analytical solution is presented to describe the performance of a straight convecting fin operating in an oscillating temperature environment. The solution involves the amplitude parameter, A, and the frequency parameter, B, in addition to the steady-state convection-conduction parameter, N. The effects of these parameters on the amplitude and phase angle of spatial temperature and base heat flux are discussed. For most practical finned surfaces, i.e. N

Solar-powered dual absorption system: selection criteria using fuzzy decision analysis

The absorption system is one of the most suitable types of system for air-conditioning use. In addition, it has the advantage of being able to be powered by solar energy. In hot climates this type of system requires a wet cooling tower which consumes a huge amount of water. In arid zones, where solar energy is available, water is usually rare. In such environments it is highly recommended that the use of wet cooling towers be avoided because of their large water consumption. The dual cycle may be used in arid zones. It has the advantage of avoiding the use of the wet cooling tower. However, its coefficient of performance (COP) is very low. This can create misleading results; therefore, the COP should not be considered as the sole criterion of performance. The main aim of this paper is to introduce a Multi-Attribute Fuzzy Decision Analysis Package to differentiate between the dual and simple cycles in order to establish which is the more suitable for air conditioning. Nine criteria--and more than twenty-seven subcriteria--were considered and the package run result was in favour of the dual cycle.

A solar-powered Li---Br dual cycle

The absorption system is one of the most suitable techniques for utilising solar energy for air-conditioning purposes. Although it uses solar energy directly with minimum conversion, it consumes considerable quantities of water for the cooling tower. This is a serious disadvantage where solar energy is available whilst water is scarce. The main purpose of this paper is to introduce the lithium bromide (Li---Br) absorption cycle which avoids the use of a wet cooling tower. The characteristics of this dual cycle will be examined and new selection criteria for such solar-powered dual absorption systems will be introduced.

Additional file 2: of Antimicrobial activity of polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate in comparison to chlorhexidine using the quantitative suspension method

Table S2. Anti-microbial activity of antiseptics against perio- and cariopathogens in the quantitative suspension method