Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2017 in |
Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by acid-fast bacilli Mycobacterium leprae. It is most prevalent in tropical countries and poses a threat to over 122 countries across the globe. In 2012, 232857 new cases of leprosy were registered in the world. World Health Organization (WHO), recommended the Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) for treatment of leprosy, but the minimum duration of treatment ranges from 6-12 months. Therefore, the need of a new putative target for treatment of leprosy, which is effective in leprosy and reduces the duration of treatment. The Proteome information available suggests that among the 1603 proteins in M. leprae TN, a staggering 27% or more remains classified as hypothetical uncharacterized set of proteins. In this present work we, assign the probable functions of hypothetical set of proteins present in M. leprae to explore their plausible role as new putative drug targets. Out of 442,177 hypothetical protein sequences had GO term. Of these, 43 sequences had disease ontology (DO) term, 59 sequences had human phenotype (HP) term...
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Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2017 in |
In this study, a novel series of heterocyclic compounds containing pyrazolidine-3, 5-dione nucleus has been synthesized. The compounds were synthesized in four steps; esterification of 2-mercaptobenzoic acid in an acidic medium to yield 2-mercapto-benzoic acid ethyl ester which was cyclized using ethyl acetoacetate to form 2-methyl-4-oxo-4H-thiochromene-8-carboxylic acid ethyl ester. These were reacted phenyl hydrazine derivatives to give corresponding thiochromene derivatives, which were cyclized using diethylmalonate to obtain pyrazolidine-3, 5-dione derivatives. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral (IR, NMR and MS) and elemental analysis. The compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (B. subtilis, S. epidermidis, M. luteus, S. aureus, B. pumilis, and B. cereus), Gram-negative bacteria (K. pneumonia, E. coli, and P. aeroginosa) and for antifungal activity against (A. niger, C. albicans and F. solani) by agar-diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these compounds were also determined by tube dilution method. The antimicrobial effectiveness of all the compounds was found to be concentration dependent. Two compounds- 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-(2-methyl-4-oxo-4H-thiochromene-8- carbonyl) pyrazolidine-3, 5-dione (5a) and...
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Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2017 in |
This in-vitro antidiabetic and cytotoxic activity of earthworm Lumbricus rubellus extracts were investigated. In the present study, three types of solvent (petroleum ether, 95% ethanol and phosphate buffer) extracts of earthworm paste were prepare and subjected to preliminary screening. The antidiabetic activity was determined in terms of its ability to inhibit the α-amylase activity. Different concentrations ranging from 100-1000µg/mL of earthworm extracts were incubated with enzyme substrate solution and subjected in the determination of absorbance to assess the antidiabetic activity. Also Acarbose was used as the standard inhibitor. The 95% ethanol extracts showed the highest percentage inhibition of α-amylase activity, followed by petroleum ether and phosphate buffer. The IC50 value of 95% ethanol, petroleum ether and phosphate buffer extracts were 242.46µg/mL, 304.15µg/mL and 689.68µg/mL respectively, when compared with Acarbose (IC50 value 193.68µg/mL). The cytotoxic activity was determined towards brine shrimp lethality assay. Different concentrations ranging from 10-100µg/mL of earthworm extracts were subjected to determine the mortality of brine shrimps. Potassium dichromate was used as positive control. Results showed that...
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Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2017 in |
Launaea taraxacifolia is a leaf vegetable consumed in several African countries including Nigeria, Ghana and Benin. It is eaten as salad, sauce and infusion to fight against certain diseases including liver diseases, diabetes and hypertension. The hydroethanolic extract of Launaea taraxacifolia leaves is rich in polyphenols (phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins catechists) and would have antioxidant and hypolipidaemic activities. In this work we studied the effect of the hydroethanolic extract of the plant on blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides levels in Wistar rats. We also examined the effect of treatment on liver and kidney histology of treated rats to detect possible cytotoxic effects. Three groups of five Wistar rats were used for daily treatment during 15 days. The first group of control rats received water, the second group received 300mg per kg of body weight of extract and the third group received 500mg per kg of body weight. Our results showed that the doses of the extract used have no effect on blood glucose in rats. By cons we...
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Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2017 in |
Microbial resistance to antibiotics is often caused by biofilm formation of the microbial pathogen. One strategy used to combat this recalcitrance mechanism is by using the combination of antimicrobial drugs. Essential oils have evoked interest as sources of natural products and represent an alternative approach in combating microbial pathogen. The aim of the present work was to investigate the possible synergistic activity of Massoia aromatica oil in combination with Cinnamomum burmanii, Ocimum basilicum, Citrus hystrix and Piper betle oils against Candida albicans biofilm. Biofilm formation inhibition assay and biofilmdegradation assay of essential oils were determined using microtiter broth method. The Fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICI) of essential oils in combinations were calculated from the checkerboard assay. The synergistic activity was found in combination of M. aromatica oil with all the essential oil tested in inhibit the formation of intermediate stage of C. albicans bio-film. The interaction of M. aromatica oil with all the essential oil tested in inhibit the formation of mature stage of C. albicans biofilm were varied...
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