Antimicrobial activity of Hyptis ovalifolia towards dermatophytes

The essential oil and the aqueous, hexane and methanolic fractions from Hyptis ovalifolia leaves were evaluated for their antifungal activity in vitro against 60 strains of dermatophytes: 10 strains of Microsporum canis, 10 of M. gypseum, 20 of Trichophyton rubrum and 20 of T. mentagrophytes. The extracts inhibited growth of the dermatophytes tested at different concentrations. The most biologically active was the essential oil from the leaves which inhibited 57 isolates (95%) at a concentration of 500 g/ml.     

参照CLSIM38-A方案测定皮肤癣菌临床株对4种抗真菌药物的敏感性

目的测定并比较临床分离的皮肤癣菌对4种常用抗真菌药物的敏感性,探讨CLSIM38-A方案用于皮肤癣菌药敏试验的可行性。方法实验菌株为31株临床近期分离的皮肤癣菌。其中红色毛癣菌14株,须癣毛癣菌14株,犬小孢子菌1株,铁锈色小孢子菌1株,絮状表皮癣菌1株。4种抗真菌药物为益康唑、伊曲康唑、特比萘芬、伏立康唑。采用M38-A方案微量稀释法,并适当调整试验参数进行体外抗真菌药物敏感性试验。结果红色毛癣菌和须癣毛癣菌对以上4种药物的敏感性无明显差异。犬小孢子菌、铁锈色小孢子菌、絮状表皮癣菌对所有4种抗真菌药物的敏感性都低于红色毛癣菌和须癣毛癣菌。结论M38-A方案经过调整适用于皮肤癣菌药敏试验。     

卡泊芬净、米卡芬净对8种皮肤癣菌体外抑菌活性的研究

目的评价棘白菌素类抗真菌药物卡泊芬净（caspofungin）、米卡芬净（micafungin）针对常见致病性皮肤癣菌的体外抗菌活性。方法参考CLSI制定的M38-A2方案。测定82株常见皮肤癣菌的最低有效浓度（minimal effective concentrations,MECs）。结果按照MEC90浓度从高到低,米卡芬净对紫色毛癣菌和断发毛癣菌的MEC90是0.25μg/mL;对犬小孢子菌、疣状毛癣菌的MEC90为0.06μg/mL;对红色毛癣菌、须癣毛癣菌、石膏小孢子菌、絮状表皮癣菌的MEC90均在0.03μg/mL。②卡泊芬净对红色毛癣菌、紫色毛癣菌和断发毛癣菌的MEC90为1μg/mL;对须癣毛癣菌、犬小孢子菌、石膏小孢子菌、絮状表皮癣菌和疣状毛癣菌的MEC90为0.5μg/mL。③根据中位数检验,米卡芬净对几种皮肤癣菌的MEC值均低于卡泊芬净的MEC值,统计学比较有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。结论米卡芬净和卡泊芬净对皮肤癣菌有较强的抑菌作用,米卡芬净的MEC值低于卡泊芬净。     

Antifungal activities of the essential oils in Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. Et Perry and Leptospermum petersonii Bailey and their constituents against various dermatophytes

This study was carried out in order to investigate the potential of using plant oils derived from Leptospermum petersonii Bailey and Syzygium aromaticum L. Merr. Et Perry as natural antifungal agents. The antifungal effects of essential oils at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 mg/ml on the dermatophytes Microsporum canis (KCTC 6591), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (KCTC 6077), Trichophyton rubrum (KCCM 60443), Epidermophyton floccosum (KCCM 11667), and Microsporum gypseum were evaluated using the agar diffusion method. The major constituents of the active fraction against the dermatophytes were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The antifungal activities of S. aromaticum oil (clove oil) against the dermatophytes tested were highest at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml, with an effectiveness of more than 60%. Hyphal growth was completely inhibited in T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, and M. gypseum by treatment with clove oil at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml. Eugenol was the most effective antifungal constituent of clove oil against the dermatophytes T. mentagrophytes and M. canis. Morphological changes in the hyphae of T. mentagrophytes, such as damage to the cell wall and cell membrane and the expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum, after treatment with 0.11 mg/ml eugenol were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml, L. petersonii oil (LPO) was more than 90% effective against all of the dermatophytes tested, with the exception of T. rubrum. Geranial was determined to be the most active antifungal constituent of L. petersonii oil. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that clove and tea tree oils exhibited significant antifungal activities against the dermatophytes tested in this study.     

Dermatophytes isolated from patients in University Hospital,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

A total of 576 dermatophytes were isolated from patients with a variety of skin infections from January 1993 to May 2000. Ten species of dermatophytes were identified: Epidermophyton floccosum (0.7%), Microsporum audouinii (1.1%), M. canis (3.1%), M. gypseum (0.3%), Trichophyton concentricum (3.5%), T. equinum (0.2%), T. mentagrophytes (36.1%), T. rubrum (53.8%), T. verrucosum (0.2) and T. violaceum (1.0%). The body sites most frequently affected by dermatophytes were the buttocks, nails and trunk. Anthropophilic dermatophytes made up 60.1% of the isolates; the most common species was T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and M. canis were the two main zoophilic dermatophytes. T. mentagrophytes was isolated from all body sites except the scalp. M. canis was found to be associated with domestic dogs and was not isolated from ethnic Malays. The only geophilic dermatophyte was M. gypseum, an uncommon dermatophyte associated with tinea pedis.     

Solvent extracts of the red seaweed Gracilaria fisheri prevent Vibrio harveyi infections in the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

Vibriosis is a common bacterial disease that can cause high mortality and morbidity in farmed shrimp. Since compounds from seaweed have been reported to have anti-bacterial and immunostimulant activity, this study was conducted to determine whether solvent extracts from the red seaweed Gracilaria fisheri might be a possible alternative for prevention and treatment of shrimp vibriosis caused by Vibrio harveyi. Seaweed extracts prepared using ethanol, methanol, chloroform and hexane were evaluated for anti-V. harveyi activity by the disc-diffusion method. The ethanol, methanol and chloroform extracts showed activity against a virulent strain of V. harveyi with potency (minimal inhibitory concentrations in the range of 90-190 μg ml(-1)) equivalent to the antibiotic norfloxacin. The ethanol extract was not toxic to the brine shrimp Artemia salina when it was fed to them for enrichment prior to their use, in turn, as feed for postlarvae of Penaeus monodon. Postlarvae fed with these enriched Artemia gave significantly lower mortality than control postlarvae after challenge with V. harveyi. In addition, P. monodon juveniles injected with the ethanol extract showed a significant increase in the total number of haemocytes and an increased proportion of semi-granulocytes and granulocytes when compared to control shrimp. The activities of phenoloxidase and superoxide dismutase were also increased, with an accompanying increase in superoxide anion production. When these juvenile shrimp were challenged with V. harveyi, mortality was markedly reduced compared to that of control shrimp. The results indicated that ethanol extracts of G. fisheri had immunostimulant and antimicrobial activity that could protect P. monodon against V. harveyi.     

Antimicrobial activity of volatile component and various extracts ofEnteromorpha linza (Linnaeus) J. Agardh from the coast of Izmir, Turkey

The methanol, dichloromethane, hexane, chloroform and volatile components ofEnteromorpha linza were testedin vitro for their antimicrobial activity against five Gram-positive, four Gram-negative bacteria andCandida albicans ATCC 10239. GC-MS analysis of the volatile components ofE. linza resulted in the identification of 35 compounds which constituted 84.76% of the total compounds. The volatile components ofE. linza consisted of n-tetratriacontane (8.45%), 1-heptadecanamine (6.65%) and docosane (6.46%) as major components. The methanol and chloroform extracts showed more potent antimicrobial activity than hexane and dichloromethane extracts. The volatile oils of these algae did not remarkably inhibit the growth of tested microorganisms.     

Antimicrobial effects of aqueous plant extracts on the fungi Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum and on three bacterial species

Aqueous extracts of 10 plants were tested for their ability to inhibit Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis, the aetiological agents of dermal fungal infections in humans. These extracts were also evaluated for their activity against some bacteria. Aqueous extracts from the leaves of Inula viscosa produced detectable antifungal activity against these dermatophytes.     

皮肤癣菌体外蛋白水解酶活性测定

目的观察皮肤癣菌的体外蛋白水解酶活性;比较分离自不同感染部位的红色毛癣菌的体外蛋白水解酶活性。方法实验菌株包括来自不同感染部位的红色毛癣菌22株、须癣毛癣菌3株、犬小孢子菌5株,进行体外培养,并利用9-羟基乙酚噻唑标识的酪蛋白和酶标仪检测真菌细胞外蛋白水解酶的活性。结果须癣毛癣菌的体外蛋白水解酶活性高于红色毛癣菌和犬小孢子菌（P〈0.05）,而红色毛癣菌和犬小孢子菌之间无差异（P〉0.05）。红色毛癣菌的细胞外蛋白水解酶活性在分离自浅部感染部位的菌株之间无差异（P〉0.05）,但高于引起毛癣菌肉芽肿的菌株（P〈0.05）。结论不同的皮肤癣菌体外蛋白水解酶活性可能不同;分离自不同感染部位的同一菌种的体外蛋白水解酶活性也有可能不同。     

Anti-fungal activity of crude extracts and essential oil of Moringa oleifera Lam

Investigations were carried out to evaluate the therapeutic properties of the seeds and leaves of Moringa oleifera Lam as herbal medicines. Ethanol extracts showed anti-fungal activities in vitro against dermatophytes such as Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Microsporum canis. GC-MS analysis of the chemical composition of the essential oil from leaves showed a total of 44 compounds. Isolated extracts could be of use for the future development of anti-skin disease agents.     

Culture medium alkalinization by dermatophytes

95 dermatophyte strains (12 of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, 12 of T. tonsurans, 11 of T. rubrum, 12 of T. megninii, 12 of T. violaceum, 2 of T. schoenleinii, 1 of T. soudanense, 12 of M. canis, 8 of Microsporum gypseum, 1 of M. ferrugineum and 12 of Epidermphoyton floccosum). 1 of Aspergillus niger, 1 of A. ochraceus, 1 of Paecilomyces sp., 1 of Penicillium sp. and 1 of Candida albicans were grown in Sabouraud liquid medium for the study of pH variation over 6 weeks at room temperature and after 4 weeks at 37 degrees C. All the dermatophyte strains alkalinized the medium. The highest pH values after 2-3 weeks' development in room temperature were produced by T. mentagrophytes, M. gypseum and M. canis, and the lowest by T. rubrum and T. violaceum. After the 4th week the alkalinizing activity became more marked for T. mentagrophytes and remained stationary for T. violaceum, In the 5th week the values produced by T. tonsurans were higher than those for M. gypseum, and those for E. floccosum and T. megninii were higher than those of M. canis. A similar behaviour was observed for T. rubrum and T. megninii and for M. canis, M. gypseum and M. ferrugineum. There seems to be a relation between the alkalinizing capacity and the rapidity and amount of the growth. At 37 degrees C both alkalinization and range of variation of the pH values of the medium became more noticeable for the strains of each species.     

Strains differentiation of Microsporum canis by RAPD analysis using (GACA)4 and (ACA)5 primers

Molecular analysis of dermatophytes (based on PCR fingerprinting) revealed high clonal differentiation between the genus and species. Microsporum canis (zoophilic dermatophyte, belonging to genus Microsporum), responsible for most cases of tinea capitis in children, tinea corporis in adults and dermatophytoses in cats, is very unique in comparison with other dermatophytes. Results of most molecular studies show that there is no clonal differentiation within M. canis as distinct from other species. The aim of this study was application of (GACA)4 repetitive primer and (ACA)5 primer for typing of M. canis strains isolated from human and animals in Central Poland. Fungal strains: 32 clinical isolates of M. canis, originated from patients from Central Poland; 11 strains isolated from infected cats (6) and dogs (7), reference strains of M. canis (CBS 113480), T rubrum (CBS 120358), T mentagrophytes (CBS 120357) and E. floccosum (CBS 970.95). The genomic DNAs of the strains were used as a template in RAPD reaction. No differentiation was observed for the analyzed M. canis strains using (GACA)4 and (ACA)5 typing.     

中药提取物对酵母菌抗真菌活性研究

目的探讨6味中药2种方法提取成分对酵母菌的抑菌和杀菌作用。方法采用药基琼脂稀释法,测定6味中药水提和醇提成分对白念珠菌和糠秕马拉色菌的MIC和MFC。结果对白念珠菌：水提黄连、醇提黄柏、醇提土槿皮MIC范围分别为0．625—1．25mg／mL、0．625～1．25mg/mL、0．313—0．625mg／mL;均值均为0．625mg／mL;对糠秕马拉色菌：水提和醇提黄连MIC范围分别为0．625～1．25mg／mL和1．25mg／mL,均值均为1．25mg／mL。对白念珠菌：醇提土槿皮MFC范围0．625～2．5mg/mL,均值0．625rag／mL。结论水提黄连、醇提黄柏和土槿皮对白念珠菌有较强抑菌作用,其中醇提土槿皮有较强杀菌作用。水提和醇提黄连对糠秕马拉色菌有较强抑菌作用。     

短波紫外线对几种常见浅部真菌生长的影响

目的 了解短波紫外线对几种常见浅部真菌生长的影响.方法 将红色毛癣菌、须癣毛癣菌、犬小孢子菌、絮状表皮癣菌、白念珠菌、光滑念珠菌、近平滑念珠菌、热带念珠菌、克柔念珠菌、青霉、短帚霉、枝顶孢霉接种在沙氏培养基上,按不同照射功率、不同照射距离和不同照射时间分组用紫外线灯进行照射,观察记录照射后菌落的生长情况,并在透射电镜下观察菌丝或孢子的形态结构变化.结果 犬小孢子菌、絮状表皮癣菌、白念珠菌、近平滑念珠菌、克柔念珠菌经照射后停止生长;红色毛癣菌、须癣毛癣菌、光滑念珠菌、热带念珠菌、短帚霉和枝顶孢霉在某些照射条件下可以继续生长,但生长速度减缓.结论 短波紫外线对常见浅部真菌有不同程度的杀灭和抑制作用,该作用的大小与紫外线照射强度和照射时间成正比,与照射距离成反比.     

Adult response of the almond seed wasp,Eurytoma amygdali, to chemicals from its host and certain nonhosts

Females of the almond seed wasp,Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae), responded in an olfactometer positively to odours from almond flowers and unripe fruits, but not to almond leaf odours and odours from flowers and unripe fruits of certain other nonhostPrunus species. Males responded to none of these odours. Extracts of undamaged unripe almond fruits (using ethanol, methanol, acetone, hexane, dichloromethane, or petroleum ether) stimulated female aggregation on glass surfaces treated with these extracts; in addition, certain fruit extracts (ethanol, methanol, or acetone) stimulated oviposition. Extracts of undamaged almond leaves (ethanol, methanol, or acetone) and flowers (ethanol or methanol) also stimulated female aggregation and oviposition. Aggregation and oviposition in response to an ethanol extract of almond fruits was intense in females aged 5 to 14 days and from 12∶00 to 18∶00h (photophase between 06∶00 and 20∶00). Certain almond fruit (ethanol, methanol, acetone or hexane) and flower extracts (ethanol or methanol) also provoked female response in the olfactometer. The results strongly suggest that certain chemical stimuli emanating from parts of the almond tree play a major role in host selection and oviposition. Some of the extracts tested may be a good source for the isolation, identification and synthesis of compounds stimulating attraction, aggregation and oviposition in nature. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A3414024 00003     

Trypanocidal activity of extracts from Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest plant species.

The trypanocidal activity of crude hydro alcoholic extracts and several fractions of 13 plants from Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest were tested in vitro against epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Crude ethanol extracts with promising in vitro activity (DL50 between 5-10 microg/ml) against epimastigotes were fractionated by solvent partition and further tested against bloodstream form of the parasite. Activity against bloodstream parasites was observed in both dichloromethane and hexane fractions of Polygala sabulosa and P. paniculata.     

Anti-genotoxic and free-radical scavenging activities of extracts from (Tunisian) Myrtus communis

The effect of extracts from leaves of Myrtus communis on the SOS reponse induced by Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Nifuroxazide was investigated in a bacterial assay system, i.e. the SOS chromotest with Escherichia coli PQ37. Aqueous extract, the total flavonoids oligomer fraction (TOF), hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts and essential oil obtained from M. communis significantly decreased the SOS response induced by AFB1 (10 microg/assay) and Nifuroxazide (20 microg/assay). Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed the strongest inhibition of the induction of the SOS response by the indirectly genotoxic AFB1. The methanol and aqueous extracts exhibited the highest level of protection towards the SOS-induced response by the directly genotoxic Nifuroxazide. In addition to anti-genotoxic activity, the aqueous extract, the TOF, and the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed an important free-radical scavenging activity towards the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. These results suggest the future utilization of these extracts as additives in chemoprevention studies.     

Three years incidence of dermatophytes in a hospital in Porto (Portugal)

We evaluated the incidence of dermatophytes isolated at our hospital in the years of 1997 to 2000 and correlated it with anatomical site and age. Trichophyton rubrum was the predominant species in all anatomical sites, excluding scalp, followed by Microsporum canis, the leading agent of tinea capitis. All dermatophytosis, except tinea capitis by M. canis and Trichophyton schoenleinnii appeared mainly in adult patients. Our results revealed no substantial differences to other portuguese studies regarding the major agents. We found a relatively high incidence of T. schoenleinnii as second tinea capitis agent.     

Screening of Amazonian plants from the Adolpho Ducke forest reserve, Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil, for antimicrobial activity

Tropical forests are species-rich reserves for the discovery and development of antimicrobial drugs. The aim of this work is to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial potential of Amazon plants found within the National Institute on Amazon Research's Adolpho Ducke forest reserve, located in Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil. 75 methanol, chloroform and water extracts representing 12 plant species were tested for antimicrobial activity towards strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus oralis, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans using the gel-diffusion method. Active extracts were further evaluated to establish minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and antimicrobial profiles using bioautography on normal-phase thin-layer chromatography plates. Diclinanona calycina presented extracts with good antimicrobial activity and S. oralis and M. smegmatis were the most sensitive bacteria. D. calycina and Lacmellea gracilis presented extracts with the lowest MIC (48.8 microg/ml). D. calycina methanol and chloroform leaf extracts presented the best overall antimicrobial activity. All test organisms were sensitive to D. calycina branch chloroform extract in the bioautography assay. This is the first evaluation of the biological activity of these plant species and significant in vitro antimicrobial activity was detected in extracts and components from two species, D. calycina and L. gracilis.     

Enzyme Inhibition and Antioxidant Activities of Asparagus officinalis L. and Analysis of Its Phytochemical Content by LC/MS/MS

In the study, water, ethanol, methanol, dichloromethane, and acetone extracts of Asparagus officinalis L. were obtained by maceration. DPPH⋅, ABTS⋅⁺, FRAP, and CUPRAC methods determined the antioxidant capacities of all extracts. Moreover, the in vitro effects of extracts on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carbonic anhydrase (CA)-I, CA-II and α-Glycosidase were investigated. At a 10 μg/ml concentration, the extract with the highest Fe³⁺ reduction capacity was ethanol (AE), and the extract with the highest Cu²⁺ reduction capacity was acetone (AA). AE for AChE (IC₅₀=21.19 μg/ml) and α-Glycosidase (IC₅₀: 70.00 μg/ml), methanol (AM) for BChE (IC₅₀=17.33 μg/ml), CA−I and II (IC₅₀=79.65 and 36.09 μg/ml, respectively) showed the most potent inhibition effect. The content analysis of acetone extract was performed with LC/MS-MS, the first three phytochemicals found most were p-Coumaric acid, rutin, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (284.29±3.97, 135.39±8.19, and 102.06±5.51 μg analyte/g extract, respectively).