Comparison of the Antifungal effect of Licorice Root, Althoca Officinalis Extracts and Ketoconazole on Malassezia Furfur

Background & Aim: Malassezia furfur is a lipophilic yeast and is known as the agent of skin diseases, especially tinea versicolor. The aim of this study was to compare the antifungal effect of licorice root, Althoca officinalis extracts and ketoconazole on Malassezia furfur. Methods: In this study, the antifungal effect of ethanolic extracts of Althoca officinalis root and licorice and ketoconazole on Malassezia furfur was evaluated by broth dilution method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum concentration of fatality (MFC) for each of the compounds was calculated according to visual reading and the number of fungal colonies (CFU) compared with the control group. The gathered data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test. Results: MIC range of Althoca officinalis flower, Althoca officinalis root, licorice root extracts and ketoconazole was determined as: 18.25, 300, 500 and 2.65 µg/ml. MFC range for extracts of Althoca officinalis flower and ketoconazole was determined as: 50 ≤ and 32 ≤ µg/ml. Conclusion: The present study showed that Althoca officinalis flower extract compared with the Althoca officinalis root and licorice root extracts have a higher antifungal effect. Also ketoconazole, compared with these extracts, have a high antifungal effect on Malassezia furfur

Vaccine adjuvants CpG (oligodeoxynucleotides ODNs), MPL (3-O-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A) and naloxone-enhanced Th1 immune response to the Plasmodium vivax recombinant thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) in mice

Despite considerable efforts toward vaccine development over decades, there is no available effective vaccine against Plasmodium vivax. Thrombospondin-related adhesive protein of P. vivax (PvTRAP) is essential for sporozoite motility and invasions into mosquito’s salivary gland and vertebrate’s hepatocyte; hence, it is a promising target for pre-erythrocytic vaccine. In the current investigation, the role of antibodies and cellular immune responses induced by purified recombinant PvTRAP (rPvTRAP) delivered in three adjuvants, naloxone (NLX), CpG oligodeoxynucleotides ODN1826 (CpG-ODN), and 3-O-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), alone and in combination was evaluated in immunized C57BL/6 mice. The highest level and the avidity of anti-PvTRAP IgG (mean OD490nm 2.55), IgG2b (mean OD490nm 1.68), and IgG2c (mean OD490nm 1.466) were identified in the group received rPvTRA/NLX–MPL–CpG. This group also presented the highest IgG2c/IgG1 (2.58) and IgG2b/IgG1 (2.95) ratio when compared to all other groups, and among the adjuvant groups, the lowest IgG2c/IgG1 (1.86) and IgG2b/IgG1 (2.25) ratio was observed in mice receiving rPvTRAP/NLX. Mice receiving rPvTRAP/adjuvants induced significantly the higher levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), low level of detectable IL-10, and no detectable IL-4 production. The present result revealed that PvTRAP is immunogenic and its administration with CPG, MPL, and NLX in C57BL/6 mice induced Th1 immune response. Besides, the rPvTRAP delivery in the mixed formulation of those adjuvants had more potential to increase the level, avidity, and persistence of anti-TRAP antibodies. However, it warrants further assessment to test the blocking activity of the produced antibodies in immunized mice with different adjuvant formulations