Cytotoxicity effect of honey,bee pollen,and propolis from seven stingless bees in some cancer cell lines

Our effort to find new material for anti cancer from natural resources leads us to focus on stingless bee products such as honey, bee pollen, and propolis. The products were from seven stingless bees named Homotrigona fimbriata, Heterotrigona itama, Heterotrigona bakeri, Tetragonula sarawakensis, Tetragonula testaceitarsis, Tetragonula fuscobalteata, Tetragonula laeviceps. The stingless bee products were evaluated for their cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7, HeLa and Caco-2 cancer cell lines. This is the first time to be reported that the honey, ethanol extracts of bee pollen and propolis of H. fimbriata displayed more potent cytotoxicity than other stingless bee products. By chromatography and biological activity-guided fractionation, ethanol extract of propolis from H. fimbriata was fractionated and isolated its active compound named mangiferonic acid. Mangiferonic acid showed a cytotoxicity effect with IC₅₀ values 96.76 µM in MCF-7, >110.04 µM in HeLa, and > 110.04 µM in Caco-2, respectively. These results exhibited the potential of ethanol extracts from propolis of H. fimbriata to be further developed for drug and experiments to verify the function are essential.     

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Channa punctatus (Bloch) in river Ramganga (U.P.), India

Ganga is the largest riverine system of India with a fragile ecosystem. Its prone to anthropogenic disturbances because of its cultural, economic and environmental values. The contamination of river Ganga by heavy metals (HM) is due to biotic (anthropogenic sources) and abiotic (pesticides, fertilizers) sources that poses a devastating health hazard to human, plant and edible fish life. The chemical analysis with the help of atomic absorption spectrometer performed on its water samples demonstrated the accumulation of heavy metals such as Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn). Moreover, the spectrophotometric analysis indicated clearly the accumulation of heavy metals in order of occurrence (Fe > As > Cd > Zn > Pb) in liver and (Zn > Fe > As > Cd > Pb) in kidney of edible fish Channa punctatus. The present study has be used to sensitively monitor the extent of heavy metals pollution in the biotic aqua life of river Ramganga system and its suggested that the bioaccumulation of heavy metal in Channa punctatus has reached above permissible limits for human consumption, indicating potential health risks. Necessary biological steps should be taken to handle such food pollution and prevent the environmental risk and food chain disruption.     

Assessment of hemolytic activity of bee venom against some physicochemical factors

Bee venom (BV) is a biotoxin with biologically active peptides which have cell lysis and hemolytic activity properties. These properties can be affected under different storage conditions or during the production process. In present study, we investigated effects of a number of physicochemical factors, including temperature, pH, UV radiation, ultrasound waves and storage time on hemolytic activity of BV. Maximum absorption and melting temperature of BV solution were obtained as 280 nm and ~70 °C, respectively. Cell hemolysis 50 (CH₅₀) -concentration of BV that can lyse 50% of red blood cells- was determined as 0.94 μg/ml at ambient temperature. CH₅₀ was shown not to be importantly varied at temperature up to 60 °C, pH value 2 to 13 and under UV/ ultrasound radiation. Storage at ?20, 6 and 25 °C for 6 months made about 2.5, 35 and 1000 times increase in CH₅₀. From the results, it may be concluded that BV is a relatively resistant hemolytic agent and can be used in a variety of laboratory research and product manufacturing methods.     

Antibacterial potential of some Saudi honeys from Asir region against selected pathogenic bacteria

Honey is a nutrient rich natural product and has been utilized as traditional and complementary medicine since ancient times. In this study, antibacterial activity of Sider (Ziziphus spina-christi), Dharm (Lavandula dentata), and Majra (Hypoestes forskaolii) honey samples collected from Asir region of Saudi Arabia was in vitro evaluated at 80% and 50% w/v concentrations against five pathogenic bacteria i.e. Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Well diffusion assays to measure the average zone of inhibition (ZOI) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were employed in the experiments. All the tested honey samples showed antibacterial activity in a dose-dependent manner. Sider and Dharm exhibited a good antibacterial activity at high concentrations while, Majra honey of Apis mellifera jemenitica and of Apis florea showed comparatively low antibacterial activity. The average MIC values of Sider, Dhram from Rijal Alma, Dharm from Al-Souda, Majra (A.m. jemenitica), and Majra (A. florea) honey against all tested bacteria were 22%, 16%, 18%, 32%, and 28% (v/v) respectively. Dharm and Sider honeys showed better antibacterial activity than Majra honey. Saudi honey can be considered as a promising future antimicrobial agent and should be further investigated as an alternative candidate in the management of resistant bacterial pathogens.     

Evaluating soil biochemical/microbial indices as ecological indicators of different land use/cover in northern Iran

The objective of the study was to examine changes in microbial parameters have been used to monitor changes in soil quality under different land uses in north of Iran. The microbial parameters included microbial respiration (MR), substrate induced respiration (SIR), carbon availability index (CAI), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), ratio of MBC/MBN, metabolic quotient (qCO₂) and microbial ratio were determined under different land use/cover, i.e. virgin natural forest (VNF), degraded natural forest (DNF), alder plantation (AP), sequoia plantation (SP), improved fallow (IF) and home garden (HG) areas in northern Iran. Five composed samples per land use/cover were taken from the top 10 cm of the soil. MR and SIR (0.45 and 1.66 mg CO₂-C g^?1 day^?1, respectively) were found to be significantly higher under AP land uses than in the other areas. CAI did not differ for the land uses; MBC (591 and 590 mg kg^?1, respectively) had higher significantly under SP and VNF land uses than in the other areas. MBN (64.25 and 62.33, respectively mg kg^?1) was significantly higher in AP and VNF land uses, ratio of MBC/MBN (17.02) was higher in SP land use than other areas, HG had significantly higher qCO₂ (0.0012 μg CO₂-C mg^?1 MBC day^?1) and finally microbial ratio was significantly higher under IF (599.16) in comparison with HG > AP ≈ DNF > VNF > SP areas. Overall, our results indicate that AP land use (Alnus subcordata C. A. Mey.) increase of soil quality and alder plantation is suitable for rehabilitation of degraded natural forests.     

First proposal of quality indicators and standards and recommendations to improve the healthcare in the Spanish National Registry of Hip Fracture

BackgroundThe Spanish National Hip Fracture Registry (or Registro Nacional de Fractura de Cadera, RNFC) is a database of hip fracture patients admitted to Spanish hospitals. Its goals include assessment and continuous improvement of the care process.ObjectivesTo (1) establish a series of indicators, (2) evaluate their initial fulfillment, (3) propose quality standards, (4) suggest recommendations to facilitate standards compliance, and (5) monitor the indicators.MethodThe indicators fulfilled the criteria of (1) evaluating the process or outcome, (2) being clinically relevant for patients, (3) being modifiable through changes in healthcare practice, and (4) being considered important by the RNFC participants. The first quartile obtained by the group of hospitals in each of the respective variables was proposed as the standard. The Indicators Advisory Committee (IAC) elaborated a list of recommendations for each indicator, based on the available evidence.ResultsSeven indicators were chosen. These indicators (its baseline compliance vs. the standard to be reached, respectively) were: the proportion of patients receiving surgery within 48 h (44% vs. 63%), mobilized the first postoperative day (56% vs. 86%), with antiosteoporotic medication at discharge (32% vs. 61%), with calcium supplements at discharge (46% vs. 77%), with vitamin D supplements at discharge (67% vs. 92%), who developed pressure ulcers during hospitalization (7.2% vs. 2.1%) and with independent mobility at 30 days (58% vs. 70%). The IAC has established 25 recommendations for improving care.ConclusionThe indicators and standards chosen are presented, as well as the list of recommendations. This process completes the first step to improve quality of care. The results will be evaluated 6 months after implementing the recommendations.     

Chemical profiling of Streptomyces sp. Al-Dhabi-2 recovered from an extreme environment in Saudi Arabia as a novel drug source for medical and industrial applications

Filamentous bacterial belonged to Streptomyces species were novel drug source for medical and industrial applications. However, the detailed identification of Streptomyces species from Saudi Arabian extreme environment for the identification novel drug source for medical and industrial applications were rarely studied. The Streptomyces strain Al-Dhabi-2 obtained from the thermophilic region kingdom of Saudi Arabia, exhibited antimicrobial potentials against the pathogenic microorganism were characterized. Biochemical and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the strain was closely associated to the Streptomyces species. The chromatogram of GC-MS analysis of this ethyl acetate extract (EA) had diverse of chemical compounds namely benzene acetic acid (7.81%), acetic acid, methoxy-, 2-phenylethyl ester (6.01%) were the major compounds. EA of Al-Dhabi-2 showed inhibition zone ranged from 14 to 25 mm at 5 mg/well concentration against the tested microbial pathogens. Results revealed that the significant MIC values were observed against B. cereus, and E. faecalis by (less than 39 μg/ml) and against S. agalactiae with (78 μg/ml). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for fungi: were also reported against Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes by (156 μg/ml), whilst Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger by (312 μg/ml). Results of this study showed that thermophilic actinobacteria could be promise source in the context of searching for unique antimicrobial agents with novel properties.     

Convergent evolution of morphological specializations in Central European bee and honey wasp species as an adaptation to the uptake of pollen from nototribic flowers (Hymenoptera, Apoidea and Masaridae)

In the Central European apoid and masarid fauna, 13 bee species belonging to seven different taxonomic groups and one honey wasp species were found to be equipped with a specialized pollen-collecting apparatus on the face which is used to harvest pollen from nototribic flowers, viz. representatives of the Lamiaceae and the Scrophulariaceae. Pollen from these two plant families plays an important part in the larval nourishment of these hymenopteran species. The pollen-collecting apparatus consists of a peculiar facial pilosity composed of transformed hairs which are thickened at their base and either knobbed apically (Celonites abbreviatus) or extended into a thin tail which is either straight and bent at right angles ( Rophites spp., Anthophora borealis, A. furcata ) or wavy ( Anthidium spp., Anthocopa andrenoides, Osmia aurulenta, O. caerulescens ). Nototribic flowers are worked by pollen-collecting females by rubbing the facial area covered with the transformed hairs over the anthers (Celonites, Anthidium, Anthocopa, Osmia) , by buzzing the pollen amongst the transformed hairs (Anthophora Jurcata) or by a combination of rubbing movements and buzzing (Rophites) . Bee species lacking special morphological devices were observed to perform specialized behaviours when collecting pollen at nototribic flowers. Nototribic flowers, therefore, appear to be difficult to exploit for pollen. The raised position of the anthers in nototribic flowers as a possible means to reduce excessive pollen losses caused by pollen-collecting hymenopterans is discussed.     

Prevalence of antibiotic resistant mastitis pathogens in dairy cows in Egypt and potential biological control agents produced from plant endophytic actinobacteria

Dairy production is threatened by antibiotic resistant pathogens worldwide, and alternative solutions to treat mastitis are not available. The prevalence of antibiotic resistant strains is not well known in less developed countries. The prevalence of pathogenic bacteria and their resistance to 21 commercial antibiotics were studied in milk samples taken from 122 dairy cows suffering from the symptoms of mastitis in Egypt. The bacterial species were identified with molecular methods, and antibiotic resistance was studied with disc diffusion method. The prevalence of Streptococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 30%, 17% and 3.5%, respectively. Most (90%) of the S. aureus strains showed resistance to penicillin whereas only 10% of the strains were resistant to oxacillin. Nearly half (40%) of E. coli strains showed resistance to streptomycin. Six P. aeruginosa strains showed resistance to several antibiotics, including ceftriaxone, enrofloxacin and levofloxacin. This points out that despite P. aeruginosa was not common, it should be followed up carefully. Potential biocontrol agents against antibiotic resistant mastitis bacteria were searched among 30 endophytic actinobacterial strains derived from wild medicinal plants. Three plants, namely Mentha longifolia, Malva parviflora and Pulicaria undulata were chosen for a more detailed study; their endophytic actinobacteria were used to prepare metabolic extracts. The crude metabolites of the actinobacteria were extracted with ethyl acetate. All metabolic extracts inhibited the growth of S. aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), E. coli and P. aeruginosa in vitro. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed that the most efficient actinobacterial strains were two Micromonospora sp. and one Actinobacteria bacterium. We conclude that the combination of the metabolites of several endophytic actinobacteria derived from several medicinal plants would be the most efficient against pathogens. Different metabolite cocktails should be studied further in order to develop novel biocontrol agents to treat antibiotic resistant mastitis bacteria in dairy cows.     

Influence of age on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Apodemus sylvaticus at Merja Zerga lagoon,Morocco

The influence of age and sex on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Apodemus sylvaticus was studied in Merja Zerga lagoon in northern Morocco. Five trace metal elements (Zn, Pb, Cr, Cu and Fe) were quantitatively analyzed by Varian AA 240 atomic absorption spectroscopy with graphite furnace in three organs (Liver, Kidney and Heart) from animals of different age and sex. The maximum metal level of the analyzed samples was recorded in adults and was limited to 46.62 μg/g for Pb and 35.1 μg/g for Cu, while it reached 22.69 μg/g, 7.59 μg/g and 6.78 μg/g for Cr, Zn and Fe, respectively. Highly significant differences were found for bioaccumulation of heavy metals according to animal ages and no significant differences were observed between the two sexes among the studied animals. Our results revealed also the existence of a strong correlation (r > 0.65) between the majority of biometric parameters and the trace element concentrations. In general, we found that age is a critical factor in estimating the level of heavy metal pollution. Other characteristics such as habitat, feeding habits and anti-predator behavior of the species need to be studied.