Evaluation of the effects of the hydro-ethanolic root extract of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides on hematological parameters and oxidative stress in cyclophosphamide treated rats

Background: The use of cyclophosphamide in cancer therapy is usually associated with challenging immunosuppression which exposes patients to increased risk of anemia and necessitating preventive measures during therapy. This study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of the hydro-ethanolic extract of the root of Z. zanthoxyloides in preventing and/or improving cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression and oxidative stress in rats.Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each and were pretreated oral doses of 75, 150 and 225 mg/kg of the extract for 7 days and then co-administered with 2.5 mg/kg cyclophosphamide for 28 days.Results: The LD50 of the extract was found to be 1682.3 mg/kg. Phytochemical analysis of the plant extract showed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids and phenols. In the anti-oxidant enzyme assay, CAT was significantly (p < 0.05) increased for animals treated with 150 mg/kg+CP compared to 75 mg/kg+CP and 225 mg/kg+CP. GPx was significantly (p < 0.01) increased in rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP compared to 150 mg/kg+CP and control. SOD was significantly (p < 0.01) increased in rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP compared to the control. WBC was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced for 225 mg/kg, 225 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001), 150 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001), 75 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001) and CP administered rats (p < 0.001) respectively compared to the control. LDL and CHOL were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) for rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP, 225 mg/kg+CP and 225 mg/kg.Conclusion: Findings from this study demonstrates that the hydro-ethanolic root extract of Z. zanthoxyloides could be beneficial in hyperlipidemia and in cases of malignancies with abnormal cholesterol metabolism an effect which may be mediated via combating oxidative stress.Keywords: cyclophosphamide, phytochemical, antioxidant, hematological, hyperlipidemi

Comparative evaluation of two matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) systems for the identification of clinically significant yeasts

SummaryObjectivesTo prospectively evaluate the performance of two matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry systems (MALDI-TOF MS) for the identification of clinically significant yeast isolates compared to the VITEK 2 system.MethodsOne hundred and eighty-eight consecutive yeast isolates were analyzed by Bruker Biotyper and VITEK MS. The results were compared with the conventional VITEK 2 yeast identification system. Discrepant results were resolved by direct sequencing of rDNA.ResultsAccurate identification by VITEK 2, VITEK MS, and Bruker Biotyper MS was 94.1% (177/188), 93.0% (175/188), and 92.6% (174/188), respectively. Three isolates were not identified by VITEK MS, while nine Candida orthopsilosis were misidentified as Candida parapsilosis, as this species is not present in its database. Eleven isolates were not identified or were wrongly identified by Bruker Biotyper and although another 14 were correctly identified, the score was unreliable at <1.7.ConclusionThe overall accuracy of rapid MALDI-TOF MS systems was essentially comparable to that of the conventional VITEK 2 yeast identification system. However, future expansion of the databases may further improve the outcome and accuracy of identification of yeast species

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE HYDRO-ETHANOLIC ROOT EXTRACT OF ZANTHOXYLUM ZANTHOXYLOIDES ON HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN CYCLOPHOSPAMIDE TREATED RATS

Background: The use of cyclophosphamide in cancer therapy is usually associated with challenging immunosuppression which exposes patients to increased risk of anemia and necessitating preventive measures during therapy. This study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of the hydro-ethanolic extract of the root of Z. zanthoxyloides in preventing and/or improving cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression and oxidative stress in rats. Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each and were pretreated oral doses of 75, 150 and 225 mg/kg of the extract for 7 days and then co-administered with 2.5 mg/kg cyclophosphamide for 28 days. Results: The LD50 of the extract was found to be 1682.3 mg/kg. Phytochemical analysis of the plant extract showed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids and phenols. In the anti-oxidant enzyme assay, CAT was significantly (p < 0.05) increased for animals treated with 150 mg/kg+CP compared to 75 mg/kg+CP and 225 mg/kg+CP. GPx was significantly (p < 0.01) increased in rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP compared to 150 mg/kg+CP and control. SOD was significantly (p < 0.01) increased in rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP compared to the control. WBC was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced for 225 mg/kg, 225 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001), 150 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001), 75 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001) and CP administered rats (p < 0.001) respectively compared to the control. LDL and CHOL were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) for rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP, 225 mg/kg+CP and 225 mg/kg. Conclusion: Findings from this study demonstrates that the hydro-ethanolic root extract of Z. zanthoxyloides could be beneficial in hyperlipidemia and in cases of malignancies with abnormal cholesterol metabolism an effect which may be mediated via combating oxidative stress

Comparative in vitro activity of tigecycline and other antimicrobial agents against Shigella species from Kuwait and the United Arab of Emirates

Summary: Shigella species isolated from stool samples of symptomatic patients of all age groups at the Mubarak Al Kabir Hospital and Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kuwait and Tawam Hospital, UAE during a 2-year period were investigated for their susceptibility to tigecycline and several other antibiotics by determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using the E test method. A total of 100 and 42 strains were collected from UAE and Kuwait, respectively. The extent of drug resistance in the Shigella spp. isolates from these two countries was analyzed by criteria recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Amikacin, cefotaxime, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam and tigecycline had excellent activities against all isolates from UAE and Kuwait with MIC90s of 12, 0.094, 4, 0.012, 0.25, 0.032, 3 and 0.25 μg/ml and 4, 1, 4, 0.125, 0.38, 0.19, 3 and 0.25 μg/ml, respectively. Half of all isolates from both countries were resistant to ampicillin. None of the isolates in Kuwait was resistant to amoxicillin–clavulanic acid compared with 22% in UAE. Resistance to chloramphenicol was recorded in 50 and 36% of the isolates in Kuwait and UAE, respectively. The percentages of non-susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline were very high in Kuwait and UAE (76% vs. 92% and 76% vs. 98%, respectively). Notably, one isolate, S. flexneri, from UAE had reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MIC, 0.25 μg/ml). Four (2.8%) of the isolates were ESBL producers by the E test ESBL method but could not be confirmed by PCR using primers for blaCTX-M, blaSHV and blaTEM. In conclusion, Shigella spp. isolated from symptomatic patients in Kuwait and the UAE demonstrated high rates of resistance to the first-line antibiotics but very susceptible to the carbapenems, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and tigecycline. Tigecycline holds promise as a potential drug of choice for the therapy of severe shigellosis. Keywords: Tigecycline, In vitro activity, Shigella spp., Kuwait, UA