Posted by admin on Nov 30, 2018 in |
Antimicrobial activity of 11 ethnomedicinal plant extracts was evaluated against five bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris) and one fungal strain (Candida albicans). Plants were collected from different regions of Kashmir Valley and the ethnomedicinal data were gathered from traditional healers and elders of the study area. Cold percolation method was used to obtain hexane and methanol extracts and the antimicrobial activity was found using paper disc diffusion method. The results indicated that all plants, exhibited antimicrobial activity against one or more of the tested microorganisms at three different concentrations of 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/disc. Among the plants tested, Nepeta cataria, Allium consangium, Artemisia biensis and Ocimum sanctum were most active. The highest antifungal activity was exhibited by hexane extract of Nepeta catariaagainst Candida albicans. Compared to hexane extract, methanol extract showed significant activity against tested organisms. This study also showed that Nepeta cataria, Allium consangium, Artemisia biensis and Ocimum sanctum could be potential sources of new antimicrobial agents. Among the tested...
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Posted by admin on Oct 31, 2018 in |
Wounds may harbour diverse microorganisms, especially bacteria that are resistant to many conventional antibiotics. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the antibiotic activities of Aloe vera gel and honey against bacteria isolates from wounds. A cross sectional study of wound aspirates from a health care center was carried out to evaluate the antibacterial activities of Aloe vera and honey against bacteria isolates from wounds following standard microbiological procedures. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates to standard antibiotic discs, Aloe vera and honey were done using the agar-diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the Aloe vera gel and honey (alone and in combination) were also evaluated using the agar-diffusion method. The bacterial isolated were: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The study showed that honey had a higher antibacterial activity than Aloe vera gel with an inhibition zone diameter (IZD) measuring mm. It also showed that Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant pathogen found in wounds while Proteus vulgaris and Staphylococcus...
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Posted by admin on Oct 31, 2018 in |
The present study is focused on the electrochemical behavior of glycine 4-bromo acetophenonimine (GBAPI) and its Ni(II) complex. In buffer solutions (Britton-Robinson universal buffer and phosphate buffer) of pH 3 – 9 range, using cyclic voltammetric technique. GBAPI is synthesized by the condensation of 4-bromo acetophenone and glycine amino acid (1:1 molar ratio). The complex is generated by the reaction of nickel (II) acetate and GBAPI in 1: 2 molar ratio in reflexing alcohol. The process is irreversible and diffusion controlled for both GBAPI and Ni(II) complex. The effects of change in pH, solvent and sweep rate are evaluated. Kinetic parameters (charge transfer coefficient (αn), diffusion coefficient (D01/2), rate constant (k°f,h) are calculated from cyclic voltammetric measurements. These compounds are screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities and the results are compared with those of a standard antibacterial and antifungal...
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Posted by admin on Oct 31, 2018 in |
Hexane extract of Galangal (Alpinia galanga) rhizome was evaluated for acute dermal, oral and intraperitoneal toxicities using OECD guidelines. The undiluted crude galangal extract showed negligible irritation on non-abraded skin of New Zealand white rabbits with 0.25 primary irritation index whereas the abraded skin of the rabbits showed irritation for all tested dilutions of galangal extracts; 0.75 g/ml, 0.5 g/ml, 0.25 g/ml and 0.125 g/ml. The single oral dose of the Galangal extract at 2000 mg/kg did not produce mortality or significant changes in the general behavior, body weights, feed intake and biochemical analysis (ALT, AST, BUN and creatinine levels) of Wistar rats compared to the control. However, 2000 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg body weight of galangal extract were highly toxic to Wistar rats when administered intraperitoneally. Galangal extract with concen-trations <20 mg/ml were non-irritant on Hen’s egg chorioallantoic membrane which is an alternative to the Draize eye irritation test....
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Posted by admin on Sep 30, 2018 in |
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common infections of pregnancy and pose great therapeutic challenges. The objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial treatment practices for UTIs during pregnancy in comparison with the standard treatment guidelines. A prospective cross sectional study was conducted on 782 pregnant female patients suffering from UTIs in hospitals of Wah Cantt, District Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Prescriptions and available laboratory test reports including complete blood count (CBC) from each patient was taken. Statistical tests One Way ANOVA and chi-square tests (P≤0.05) were performed to obtain the desired outcomes. It was evaluated that none of the clinical setting have developed its own antibiogram or local antibiotic use guidelines. Standard management guidelines for antimicrobial therapy for UTI in pregnancy were followed in only 16.7% patients. Moreover only two drugs from the standard management guidelines were prescribed to the patients. It was determined that statistically significant population (p<0.05) were being prescribed with the drugs not recommended by any guidelines. 26.9% patients were being...
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