The findings of this study suggest a first step in the search of new antidermatophytic drugs and aid the use of N. sativa seeds in the traditional medicine for dermatophytic infections.
In this study, in vitro antidermatophytic activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis, and Microsporum gypseum was studied by disk diffusion test and assessment of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using CLSI broth macrodilution method (M38-A2). Moreover, antileishmanial and cytotoxicity activity of B. vulgaris and berberine against promastigotes of Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica were evaluated by colorimetric MTT assay. The findings indicated that the various extracts of B. vulgaris particularly berberine showed high potential antidermatophytic against pathogenic dermatophytes tested with MIC values varying from 0.125 to >4 mg/mL. The results revealed that B. vulgaris extracts as well as berberine were effective in inhibiting L. major and L. tropica promastigotes growth in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) values varying from 2.1 to 26.6 μg/mL. Moreover, it could be observed that berberine as compared with B. vulgaris exhibited more cytotoxicity against murine macrophages with CC50 (cytotoxicity concentration for 50% of cells) values varying from 27.3 to 362.6 μg/mL. Results of this investigation were the first step in the search for new antidermatophytic and antileishmanial drugs. However, further works are required to evaluate exact effect of these extracts in animal models as well as volunteer human subjects.
Background
Today, a suitable vaccine has not yet been discovered to prevent
Toxoplasma gondii
infection. Therefore, prophylaxis can be suggested as the preferred approach to prevent toxoplasmosis. This study aims to evaluate the prophylactic effects of synthesized zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) using
Lavandula angustifolia
Vera., by microwave method on chronic toxoplasmosis in mice.
Methods
BALB/c Mice orally administrated with ZnNPs the doses of 32.5, 75, 150 mg/kg/day for two weeks. On the 15th day, the mice were intraperitoneally infected with the Tehran strain of
T. gondii
(25 tissue cysts). The mean diameter and the numbers of brain tissue cysts, as well as the mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthesize (iNOs), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in mice of each experimental group were evaluated.
Results
The synthesized ZnNPs represent a spherical form with a size ranging from 30 to 80 nm. The results revealed that oral administration of Zn NPs at the doses of 32.5 (p < 0.001) and 75 mg/kg/day (p < 0.001) for 14 days significantly reduced the mean number and diameter of the brain tissue cysts in tested mice. No
T. gondii
tissue cyst was observed after oral administration of Zn NPs at the doses of 150 mg/kg. Based on the results of Real-time PCR analysis, the expression level of IFN-γ and iNOs was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in mice treated with 32.5, 75, 150 mg/kg/day for two weeks.
Conclusion
The obtained findings of the current investigation exhibit the significant prophylactic effects of ZnNPs against chronic toxoplasmosis in mice; so that oral administration of ZnNPs the doses 32.5, 75, 150 mg/kg reduced the parasite load and even completely controlled the infection in mice. The results show that the ZnNPs had strengthened the innate immune system which could be the reason for its strong prophylactic effects. However, further
in vivo
and clinical investigations are required to confirm these results as well as other possible mechanisms that can trigger these pharmacological properties.
Background: Nosocomial fungal infections could arise from independent exposure to airborne spores of filamentous fungi existing in the hospital environment. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the mycoflora of indoor and outdoor environments of five major hospitals in Khorramabad, Iran. Materials and Methods: Sampling of air was done from indoor and outdoor environments of wards, surroundings and green space of hospitals by settle plate method. To obtain the sample from surfaces, pre-moistened swabs with cotton-tipped sticks were applied on different surfaces (floor, the walls, windows, beds, trolleys, laryngoscope and angiography devices). Culture plates of air and surfaces on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Malt Extract Agar (MEA) were incubated in the dark at 28 ºC and examined daily for fungal colonies for two to three weeks. Fungal isolates were identified by a combination of their macroscopic and microscopic criteria after purification on isolation culture media. Results: A total of 707 fungal colonies including, Penicillium (29.14%), Cladosporium (24.04%), Aspergillus (20.65%), Fusarium (9.05%), Alternaria (3.96%), Rhodotorula (1.69%), Cryptococcus neoformans (0.7%) and other fungi (10.77%) were isolated. All the examined high-risk parts of the hospitals were found to be contaminated by various fungi. Conclusions: Aspergillus was the most prominent genus in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and surgery, Cladosporium in Critical Care Unit (CCU), emergency and thalassemia, and Penicillium in orthopedic, emergency and neonatal sections. Among pathogenic yeasts, C. neoformans was isolated from ICU, surgery and orthopedic sections. The dimorphic fungal pathogen, Sporothrix schenckii, was reported from CCU. The isolated fungi specially the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium are potential threats for immunocompromised patients in the hospitals.
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