Chitosan (CHI) and chitosan/poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (CHI/POZ)-based films were prepared by casting from aqueous solutions of polymer blends with different compositions. Ciprofloxacin was used as a model drug in these formulations. The weight, thickness, folding endurance and transparency of blend films were measured and characterised. All films had a uniform thickness (0.06 ± 0.01 mm) and exhibited sufficient flexibility. The surface pHs of films ranged from 3.76 ± 0.49 to 4.14 ± 0.32, which is within the pH range suitable for vaginal applications. The cumulative release of the drug from the films in experiments in vitro was found to be 42 ± 2% and 56 ± 1% for pure CHI and CHI/POZ (40:60) films, respectively. Drug-free chitosan/poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) films showed weak antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. Drug-loaded CHI and CHI/POZ films showed good antimicrobial properties against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. Mucoadhesive properties of these films with respect to freshly excised sheep vaginal mucosa were evaluated using a tensile method. It was established that all films were mucoadhesive, but an increase in POZ content in the blend resulted in a gradual reduction of their ability to stick to vaginal mucosa. These films could potentially find applications in vaginal drug delivery.

Onosma roots are widely used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases throughout the world. In this study, for the first time, we investigated the component composition and biological activity of various extracts from the roots of Onosma gmelinii collected in the highlands of the Kakpakty Mountains of the Almaty region (Republic of Kazakhstan). Extracts were obtained by three different methods: percolation extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. The component composition of the extracts was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), naphthoquinones by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and spectrophotometric method. In this study, the presence of shikonin and its derivatives in the extracts was confirmed. The concentration of naphthoquinones during CO₂ extraction was about 40, during ultrasonic extraction about 3, and during percolation extraction about 1.3. The GC-MS method identified 69 chemical compounds in the ultrasonic extract, 46 compounds in the CO₂ extract, and 51 compounds in the percolation extract. The extracts were tested on a panel of bacteria and viruses: two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027); nine Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538-P, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC BAA-39, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 51625, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC BAA-660, Enterococcus hirae ATCC 10541, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 51575, Enterococcus faecium ATCC 700221); and two fungal species (Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Candida albicans ATCC 2091); five subtypes of influenza virus A (A/FPV/Weybridge/78 (H7N7), A/Swine/Iowa/15/30 (H1N1), A/black-headed gull/Atyrau/743/04 (H13N6), A/FPV/Rostock/1934 (H7N1), A/Almaty/8/98 (H3N2)). The root extracts of Onosma gmelinii showed antibacterial activity in different degrees against all tested Gram-positive bacterial strains, while no inhibitory effect on Gram-negative bacteria was observed. The results indicated that the ultrasonic extract effectively inhibits the growth of the majority of tested Gram-positive bacteria (MBC from 18.3 to 293.0µg/mL). CO₂ extract had the greatest bactericidal activity (MBC from 0.1 to 24.4µg/mL). Percolation extract insignificantly inhibited bacterial growth (MBC from 2343.8 to 4687.5µg/mL). CO₂ extract and ultrasonic extract significantly reduced the activity of C. albicans. The results of the antiviral action showed that the ultrasonic extract has the greatest effectiveness against different subtypes of the influenza virus A, while other extracts did not show significant activity.

In this work, we have developed a facile, dry, and environmentally friendly mechanochemical method for the synthesis of cadmium sulfide (m-CdS) nanoparticles in a planetary ball mill using non-toxic precursors. Thiourea was for the first time used as a precursor of sulfide ion in room temperature solid state ball milling synthesis. For comparison of the mechanochemical approach with others, cadmium sulfide nanoparticles were also prepared using the solvothermal method (s-CdS). The crystal structure of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles was studied by XRD, the qualitative chemical band properties were examined by Raman scattering and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, and particle morphology and microstructure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy methods. The sizes of the m-CdS nanoparticles had 5–6 nm in diameter, which is 10 times smaller than the diameter of s-CdS nanorods. The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared cadmium sulfide nanoparticles on the dye degradation and hydrogen production by water splitting were evaluated and the antibacterial activities were also tested. The photocatalytic activity of m-CdS was superior to that of s-CdS in the degradation of Orange II under visible light irradiation. Better results for m-CdS were also evidenced in photocatalytic experiments on hydrogen generation. The maximum rate of hydrogen evolution for m-CdS was 191.9 µmolg⁻¹h⁻¹ at the 120th min,while this indicator for s-CdS was only 58.0 µmolg⁻¹h⁻¹ at the same irradiation time.The better effect of m-CdS was evidenced also in an antibacterial study (namely against gram-positive bacteria).

This article presents the composition of the components of Lavatera thuringiaca L. (Malvaceae Juss. family), which has a certain antibacterial effect. The plant collection was carried out in the Shamalgan gorge of Mountain Range of the Trans-Ili Alatau in the territory of the Karasay district of the Almaty region, in the flowering phase. A CO₂ extract of the aboveground part of the medicinal plant Lavatera thuringiaca L. was obtained under subcritical conditions and, for the first time, studied for its component composition and antimicrobial activity. Determination of the chemical composition of the extract was carried out by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). To identify the obtained mass spectra, we used the Wiley 7^th edition and the NIST02 data library. To determine the antimicrobial and antifungal activity, standard test strains of microorganisms were used: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538-P, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Streptococcus pneumonia ATCC 660, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. In the composition of thick CO₂Lavatera thuringiaca L. extract, the content of 31 components was proven: spathulenol 6.97, pulegone 5 08, cis-β-farnesene 7.63, verbenone 1.93, α-bisabolol oxide B 9.65, bisabolol oxide A 8.26, α-bisabolol 1.36, linolenic acid, ethyl ether 3.15, phytol 2.49, herniarin 5.61, linolenic acid 9.38, linoleic acid 6.95, myristic acid 2.33, and elaidic acid 2.57. Antimicrobial activity studies have shown that the CO₂ extract of Lavatera thuringiaca L. has a pronounced effect against clinically significant microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Streptococcus pneumonia, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. During testing, the method of serial dilutions proved that the extract of Lavatera thuringiaca L. has a bactericidal effect on Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 0.83μg/μl, on Escherichia coli at a concentration of 3.33μg/μl, on Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a concentration of 0.83μg/μl, on Streptococcus pneumoniae at a concentration of 1.67μg/μl, on a clinical isolate of Staphylococcus haemolyticus at a concentration of 26.65μg/μl, on Staphylococcus saprophyticus at a concentration of 6.67μg/μl, and against Klebsiella pneumoniae at a concentration of 13.36μg/μl. The test result showed that the extract also has fungicidal activity against the test culture of Candida albicans at a concentration of 0.21μg/μl. At tests, the disc diffusion method proved that the extract has antimicrobial activity with high values of the growth suppression zone exceeding 15mm. The zones of growth retardation of the test strains were 19.33±1.15 for Staphylococcus aureus; 17.33±3.21 for Escherichia coli; 15.67±0.57 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa; 20.0±1.0 for Streptococcus pneumoniae; 16.0±2.64 for Klebsiella pneumoniae; 15.0±1.0 for Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and 22.0±1.73 for Candida albicans. In relation to the clinical isolate of Staphylococcus haemolyticus, the extract has a bacteriostatic effect.

Ferula asafoetida L. has been studied for centuries by many scientists as food products and in traditional medicine, which are relevant for Kazakhstan as well. Recent studies have shown that Ferula asafoetida L. has neuroprotective, memory-enhancing, digestive enzymatic, antioxidant, antispasmodic, hypotensive, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antitumor, cytotoxic, and anthelmintic effects. The aim of this study is to determine the component composition by GC-MS method and to study the antimicrobial properties of Ferula asafoetida L. extract obtained by CO2 extraction, which grows in Kazakhstan. Materials and methods. To determine the possibility of using Ferula asafoetida L., we carried out the component composition of the extract obtained by CO2 extraction in subcritical conditions of the underground part of Ferula asafoetida L. by a certain GC-MS method and also investigated the antimicrobial effect of this extract. Results. The plant raw materials were collected in accordance with GACP requirements. Conducted subcritical CO2 extraction of plant raw materials showed a 2.5% extraction yield. The study of the component composition by GC-MS revealed 46.3% of sulfate compounds. The determination of antimicrobial activities showed high efficacy against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus subsp. Aureus, Bacillus subtilis subsp. Spizizenii), gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica) and fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger). Conclusions. The possibility of using the obtained CO2 extract of Ferula asafoetida L. in the field of pharmaceutical products as a substance and a drug that has a huge antimicrobial effect

Aim: Promising results on application of iodine-containing nano-micelles, FS-1, against antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli was demonstrated. Materials & methods: RNA sequencing for transcriptomics and the complete genome sequencing by SMRT PacBio were followed by genome assembly and methylomics. Results & conclusion: FS-1-treated E. coli showed an increased susceptibility to antibiotics ampicillin and gentamicin. Cultivation with FS-1 caused gene expression alterations toward anaerobic respiration, increased anabolism and inhibition of many nutrient uptake systems. Main targets of iodine-containing particles were cell membrane structures causing oxidative, osmotic and acidic stresses. Identification of methylated nucleotides showed an altered pattern in the FS-1-treated culture. Possible role of transcriptional and epigenetic modifications in the observed increase in susceptibility to gentamicin and ampicillin were discussed.