Eucalyptus, a therapeutic plant mentioned in the ancient Algerian pharmacopeia, specifically two species belonging to the Myrtaceae family, E. radiata and E. cinerea, were investigated in this study for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The study used aqueous extracts (AE) obtained from these plants, and the extraction yields were found to be different. The in vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated using a disc diffusion assay against three typical bacterial strains. The results showed that the two extracts were effective against all three strains. Both extracts displayed significant antioxidant activity compared to BHT. The anti-inflammatory impact was evaluated using a protein (BSA) inhibition denaturation test. The E. radiata extract was found to inhibit inflammation by 85% at a concentration of 250 µg/mL, significantly higher than the Aspirin. All phytoconstituents present good pharmacokinetic characteristics without toxicity except very slight toxicity of terpineol and cineol and a maximum binding energy of −7.53 kcal/mol for its anti-TyrRS activity in silico. The study suggests that the extracts and their primary phytochemicals could enhance the efficacy of antibiotics, antioxidants, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). As pharmaceutical engineering experts, we believe this research contributes to developing natural-based drugs with potential therapeutic benefits.
1 March 2017 in Journal of the Chilean Chemical Society
Hydrogels network based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS), CC1 and CC2, have been prepared respectively in the presence or without the crosslinking agents [(N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)/N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC)] and characterized by FT-IR. The swelling behavior in distilled water at 25°C and biological activities have been investigated. CC1 hydrogel revealed higher potential swelling than CC2. Hydrogels showed to possess an important antioxidant activity equal to 66.67% for CC1 and 57.27% for CC2, to scavenge hydroxyl radicals at 2mg/mL. And the values of their reducing power were approximately 53% and 57%. From the hemolytic potential test the obtained materials were hemo-compatible. The anti-inflammatory activity exhibited that hydrogels were able to protect albumin from denaturation.
Staphylococcus aureus is a common foodborne pathogen, posing significant concern due to the emergence of its multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. The aim of this study was to assess the antibiotic resistance profiles in S. aureus isolated from raw poultry, the associated resistance genes, and their ability to form biofilms. S. aureus was isolated and identified using conventional microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were assessed using the disk diffusion method, and biofilm-forming ability was evaluated using the microtiter plate assay. The presence of antimicrobial resistance genes was determined by PCR. A total of 45 isolates were isolated. High resistance rates were observed against penicillin (88.9%), tetracycline (86.7%) and doxycycline (66.7%). Of the isolates, 71.1% were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms, and 60% exhibited a multiple antibiotic resistance index greater than 0.2. PCR analysis revealed the presence of the resistance genes blaZ (86.7%), mecA (27.3%), tet(M) (46.2%), tet(K) (35.9%), tet(S) (59%), erm(B) (51.9%), and erm(C) (59.3%). A total of 44 isolates were biofilm producers: 46.7% were weak producers, 46.7% were moderate producers, and 4.4% were strong producers. These findings highlight a significant public health concern, emphasizing the need for stringent hygiene practices and continuous monitoring to limit the spread of resistant pathogens through the food chain.