Abstract:The considerable therapeutical problems of persistent infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacterial strains constitute a continuing need to find effective antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the activities of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oils against multidrugresistant clinical strains of Escherichia coli. A detailed analysis was performed of the resistance of the drug to the strains and their sensitivity to the tested oils. The antibacterial activity of the oils was tested against standard strain Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 as well as 60 other clinical strains of Escherichia coli. The clinical strains were obtained from patients with infections of the respiratory tract, abdominal cavity, urinary tract, skin and from hospital equipment. The inhibition of microbial growth by both essential oils, presented as MIC values, were determined by agar dilution. Susceptibility testing to antibiotics was carried out using disc diffusion. The results showed that both tested essential oils are active against all of the clinical strains from Escherichia coli including extended-spectrum β-lactamase positive bacteria, but basil oil possesses a higher ability to inhibit growth. These studies may hasten the application of essential oils in the treatment and prevention of emergent resistant strains in nosocomial infections.

Cadmium is a dangerous occupational and environmental toxin. It accumulates in the human organism mainly in liver and kidneys. Cadmium half-life is about 10 years, so the symptoms of cadmium intoxication may occur several years after the exposure. Until now in treating intoxication with this metal chelating compounds have been used, burdened with numerous undesirable symptoms. In our investigations anthocyanins from Aronia melanocarpa were used to reduce the harmful results caused by cadmium. Administering anthocyanins with cadmium chloride resulted in a statistically significant decrease of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, concentration of bilirubin and urea in blood serum and decreased cadmium cumulation in liver and kidneys in relation to animals receiving cadmium chloride only.

Acinetobacter sp. represent an important cause of nosocomial infections. Their resistance to some antibiotics, their ability to survive on inanimate surfaces in the hospital environment and their ability to produce biofilms contributes to their virulence. The aim of the study was to determine the antibacterial properties of cinnamon, lavender and geranium essential oils against bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter isolated from several clinical materials and from the hospital environment. A comprehensive evaluation of the susceptibility of Acinetobacter sp. clinical strains to recommended antibiotics was performed. The constituents of cinnamon, lavender and geranium essential oils were identified by GC-FID-MS analysis, and their Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) against tested clinical strains were determined by the micro-dilution broth method. In addition, the effects of essential oils on the viability of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and glioblastoma cell line (T98G) were evaluated. Cinnamon bark oil was the most active against clinical and environmental strains of Acinetobacter baumannii with MIC values OPEN ACCESSMolecules 2014, 19 20930 ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 µL/mL. The MIC values for geranium oil were between 7.5 and 9.5 µL/mL, and between 10.5 and 13.0 µL/mL for lavender oil. These essential oils can be best employed in the fight against infections caused by bacteria from Acinetobacter genus as components of formulations for hygiene and disinfection of hospital environment.

The use of phytopharmaceuticals based on an investigated essential oil from thyme in the prevention and treatment of various human infections may be reasonable.

Preparation of biodegradable packaging materials and valorisation of food industry residues to achieve “zero waste” goals is still a major challenge. Herein, biopolymer-based (carboxymethyl cellulose—CMC) bioactive films were prepared by the addition, alone or in combination, of carvacrol and fungal melanin isolated from champignon mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) agro-industrial residues. The mechanical, optical, thermal, water vapour, and UV-Vis barrier properties were studied. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy studies were carried out to analyse the chemical composition of the resulting films. Antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities were also determined. Both CMC/melanin and CMC/melanin/carvacrol films showed some antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The addition of melanin increased the UV-blocking, mechanical, water vapour barrier, and antioxidant properties without substantially reducing the transparency of the films. The addition of carvacrol caused loss of transparency, however, composite CMC/melanin/carvacrol films showed excellent antioxidant activity and enhanced mechanical strength. The developed bioactive biopolymer films have a good potential to be green bioactive alternatives to plastic films in food packaging applications.

No abstract

In recent years, bacterial probiotic dietary supplementation has emerged as a promising way to improve cognition and to alleviate stress and anxiety; however, yeast probiotics have not been tested. The aim of the present study was to determine whether 30-day supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii enhances academic performance under stress and affects stress markers. The trial was retrospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03427515). Healthy medical students were randomized to supplement their diet with Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-1079 or placebo before sitting for an academic examination, which served as a model of stress. The grades of a final examination adjusted to subject knowledge tested in non-stressful conditions was used as a primary outcome measure. Psychometrically evaluated state anxiety, cortisol and metanephrine salivary levels, and pulse rate were tested at a non-stressful time point before the intervention as well as just before the stressor. Fifty enrolled participants (22.6 ± 1.4 years of age, 19 males) completed the trial in the Saccharomyces and placebo arms. Supplementation with Saccharomyces did not significantly modify examination performance or increase in state anxiety, salivary cortisol, and metanephrine. However, the intervention resulted in higher increase in pulse rate under stress as compared to placebo by 10.4 (95% CI 4.2–16.6) min−1 (p = 0.0018), and the effect positively correlated with increase in salivary metanephrine (Pearson’s r = 0.35, 95% CI 0.09–0.58, p = 0.012). An intention-to-treat analysis was in line with the per-protocol one. In conclusion, supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-1079 appears largely ineffective in improving academic performance under stress and in alleviating some stress markers, but it seems to increase pulse rate under stress, which may hypothetically reflect enhanced sympathoadrenal activity.

Strong antiseptic activity of essential oils has been known for a long time. The antibacterial activity of oils was tested against clinical bacterial strains of Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia and Pseudomonas genera. The agar diffusion method was used for microbial growth inhibition at various concentrations of the oils from T. vulgaris and L. angustifolia. Susceptibility testing to antibiotics and chemotherapeutics was carried out using disc-diffusion method. 120 strains of bacteria isolated from patients with infections of oral cavity, respiratory, genitourinary tracts and from hospital environment were investigated. The results of experiments showed that the oil from T. vulgaris exhibited extremely strong activity against all of the clinical strains. Thyme oil demonstrated a good efficacy against antibiotics resistant strains of the tested bacteria. Lavender oil has been less activity against clinical strains of Staphylococcus, Enterococcus and Escherichia genus. The worst results have been observed against all strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.