Bile salts are ionic amphiphilic compounds with a steroid skeleton. Among the most important physiological properties of bile salts are lipid transport by solubilization and transport of some drugs through hydrophobic barriers. Bile salts have been extensively studied to enhance transepithelial permeability for different marker molecules and drugs. They readily agglomerate at concentrations above their critical micelle concentration (CMC). The mechanism of absorption enhancement by bile salts appears to be complex. The aim of the present article was to review bile salt structure and their application as absorption enhancers and the probable mechanism for increasing permeation based on previous studies.

Background:Emergence of antimicrobial resistance toward a number of conventional antibiotics has triggered the search for antimicrobial agents from a variety of sources including the marine environment.Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of Holothuria leucospilota from Qeshm and Kharg Islands against some selected bacteria and fungi.Materials and Methods:In this investigation, sea cucumbers from two coastal cities of Persian Gulf were collected in March and May 2011 and identified by the scale method according to the food and agriculture organization of the United Nations. Antibacterial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of the body wall, cuvierian organs and coelomic fluid, methanol, chloroform, and n-hexane extracts of the body wall were evaluated by the spot test. In addition, their antifungal activity was assessed by the broth dilution method.Results:The displayed effect was microbiostatic at concentrations of 1000 and 2000 µg/mL rather than microbicidal. The highest activity of hydroalcoholic extracts was exhibited by body wall, cuvierian organs and coelomic fluid against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus and A. brasilensis. However, none of the methanol, chloroform and n-haxane extracts showed appreciable effects against Shigella dysenteriae, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus cereus, S. epidermidis and Candida albicans. Moreover, cuvierian organs did not possess any antifungal potential.Conclusions:Our data indicated that water-methanol extracts from the body wall of H. leucospilota possess antibacterial and antifungal activity. However, additional and in-depth studies are required to isolate and identify the active component(s).

Background: Side effects of chemical preservatives and drug resistance have raised interests in the use of natural preservatives derived from plants. Objectives:The aim of this study was to examine possible antibacterial effects of Mentha spicata L., Cuminum cyminum L. and Mentha longifolia L. essential oils (EOs) individually and in combination with sodium benzoate against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. Methods: In this experimental study, the EOs were obtained and analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods were used for in vitro antibacterial screening in triplicate. Data analysis was performed by the SPSS software using ANOVA and independent sample t-test. Results: Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between different antibacterial effects of EOs individually and in combination with sodium benzoate. Considering the individual effects of these factors, the antibacterial effect of sodium benzoate and Cuminum cyminum essential oil were the highest against E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes, respectively. These results are relatively consistent with the disc diffusion test. The antibacterial effects of sodium benzoate in combination with EOs showed significant differences in comparison to sodium benzoate effect individually in most situations (P < 0.05). Conclusions:The results indicated that these EOs have a good antibacterial activity and combined with sodium benzoate could reduce the use of sodium benzoate as a chemical preservative in food, cosmetic, and drug products, which can decrease the possible side effects of it.

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Background: Topical drug delivery is a painless route of drug administration. Skin is one of the most easily accessible parts of human body for topical administration and also is a main route of topical drug delivery system. There are different skin diseases and infections caused by fungus. An antifungal compound is a pharmaceutical fungicide used to treat mycoses such as dermatophytes which have the ability to attack keratinized tissues and used keratin cause dermatophytosis, the most common human contagious fungal disease. Because of drug resistance, side effects and cytotoxicity associated with long-term treatment with antifungal drugs, finding new useful drugs to treat fungal infections is necessary.