Background: The main objective of this study was the phytochemical characterization of four indigenous essential oils obtained from spices and their antibacterial activities against the multidrug resistant clinical and soil isolates prevalent in Pakistan, and ATCC reference strains. Methods: Chemical composition of essential oils from four Pakistani spices cumin (Cuminum cyminum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), cardamom (Amomum subulatum) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) were analyzed on GC/MS. Their antibacterial activities were investigated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Thin-Layer Chromatography-Bioautographic (TLC-Bioautographic) assays against pathogenic strains Salmonella typhi (D1 Vi-positive), Salmonella typhi (G7 Vi-negative), Salmonella paratyphi A, Escherichia coli (SS1), Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus licheniformis (ATCC 14580). The data were statistically analyzed by using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Least Significant Difference (LSD) method to find out significant relationship of essential oils biological activities at p <0.05. Results: Among all the tested essential oils, oil from the bark of C. verum showed best antibacterial activities against all selected bacterial strains in the MIC assay, especially with 2.9 mg/ml concentration against S. typhi G7 Vi-negative and P. fluorescens strains. TLC-bioautography confirmed the presence of biologically active anti-microbial components in all tested essential oils. P. fluorescens was found susceptible to C. verum essential oil while E. coli SS1 and S. aureus were resistant to C. verum and A. subulatum essential oils, respectively, as determined in bioautography assay. The GC/MS analysis revealed that essential oils of C. cyminum, C. verum, A. subulatum, and S. aromaticum contain 17.2% cuminaldehyde, 4.3% t-cinnamaldehyde, 5.2% eucalyptol and 0.73% eugenol, respectively. Conclusions: Most of the essential oils included in this study possessed good antibacterial activities against selected multi drug resistant clinical and soil bacterial strains. Cinnamaldehyde was identified as the most active antimicrobial component present in the cinnamon essential oil which acted as a strong inhibitory agent in MIC assay against the tested bacteria. The results indicate that essential oils from Pakistani spices can be pursued against multidrug resistant bacteria.

Since the end of 2019, the emergence of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has accelerated the research on host immune responses toward the coronaviruses. When there is no approved drug or vaccine to use against these culprits, host immunity is the major strategy to fight such infections. Type I interferons are an integral part of the host innate immune system and define one of the first lines of innate immune defense against viral infections. The in vitro antiviral role of type I IFNs against Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) is well established. Moreover, the involvement of type I IFNs in disease pathology has also been reported. In this study, we have reviewed the protective and the immunopathogenic role of type I IFNs in the pathogenesis of MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. This review will also enlighten the potential implications of type I IFNs for the treatment of COVID-19 when used in combination with IFN-γ.

Increasing trend in antimicrobial resistance and failure of chemically synthesized antibiotics lead to discover alternative methods for the treatment of bacterial infections. Various medicinal plants are in use traditionally and their active compounds can be further applied for treatment of bacterial diseases. This study was designed to determine the antibacterial activity of Punica granatum (P. granatum L.) (pomegranate) peel extract against Enterobacteriaceae [Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and Shigella Dysenteriae (S. Dysenteriae)] and gram-positive bacterium [Staphylococcus aureus (Staph aureus)]. Methanolic extract of P. granatum L. peel was prepared by Soxhlet apparatus method. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents from the extract were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The antibacterial activity of P. granatum L. peel extract was evaluated through agar well diffusion method. HPLC showed the range of phenolics (gallic acid, caffeic acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid) and flavonoid compounds. The chemical structures of flavonoid and phenolics found in the methanolic extract of P. granatum L. peel have been reported for the first time. The methanolic peel extract (50 ul) of yellow P. granatum L. showed 26, 10, 10 and 9mm zones of inhibition (ZOI) against S. aureus, S. Typhimurium, S. Dysenteriae and E. coli, respectively. The methanolic extract of red P. granatum L. (100 ul) showed 27, 8, 12 and 15 mm ZOI against Staph. aureus, S. Typhimurium, S. Dysenteriae and E. coli, respectively. Highest ZOI was observed against Staph. aureus. Many of the bacteria studied in the present work may cause serious gastrointestinal infections, which can lead to hemorrhagic diarrhea in children. These infections can be life-threatening to young children and the elderly. There is an incentive to find alternative control measures, such as plant and herbal extracts, especially in lesser-developed countries where traditional antibiotics may not be readily available.

Oxidative stress is a key cause of gastrointestinal disorders, primarily stomach ulcers. Multiple intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms caused the body to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). The body's antioxidant defense system protects against these reactive species. When the degree of ROS production exceeds the normal range, the body's natural defense system fails to neutralize these dangerous free radicals, necessitating need foran exogenous source of natural antioxidants. Natural herbal remedies have been widely employed as antioxidants to relieve oxidative stress in gastric ulcers. Polyphenols, tannins, essential oils, flavonoids, notably quercetin, carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin A, and minerals are among the molecules of immense interest in bioassays due to their significant antioxidant effects. In the present review, several natural anti-ulcer medicinal plants along with their antioxidative mechanism have been reported. Electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus were explored to identify the antioxidant and gastroprotective potential of all the plants.

SUMMARY. Fowl spirochaetosis caused by Borrelia anserina is responsible for severe economic losses in the poultry industry. Due to resistance, less choice in a