No abstract

Objectives: Walnut (Juglans regia L.) kernel septum (or septa) (WKS), a traditional nutraceutical material in China, has not been explored in detail. In this study, antimicrobial activity, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant-oxidant status of WKS was investigated in case it may be clinically important in the management of various complications. Methods: The WKS was extracted with ethanol in a Soxhlet device. TPC of WKS was analysed by using Folin-Ciocalteu’s method. Antioxidant activity was obtained by using Rel Assay Diagnostics kits. The antimicrobial activity of WKS was evaluated against two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis), one Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and one fungus (Candida albicans) strains using the agar diffusion method. Results: The TPC of WKS was found to be 119.42 ± 2.39 mg GAE/gDW. It was determined that total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were 7.542 ± 0.389 mmol/L, 3.718 ± 0.287 µmol/L and 0.049 ± 0.001, respectively. WKS selectively inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and fungus, while S. aureus was the most susceptible one with 16 mm of inhibition zone. Gram-negative bacteria was resistant to the extract. Conclusions: As far as we know, this paper is the first work that demonstrates the antioxidant-oxidant status of WKS by using the method described above, and moreover there are no scientific reports which have examined WKS in such a multidisciplinary experimental design. This study strongly supports the reported traditional use of WKS. Results indicated that WKS can be used as a pharmacological natural agent due to its high antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

In the present study, a preconcentration method was developed by using Rhodococcus ruber bacterial biomass (RrBB) for the determination of silver in various water samples by HR-CS FAAS.

In this study, it was aimed to determine the anti-bacterial activities of plant essential oils such as thyme, rosemary, sage, linden, black seed, bay leaf, peppermint, parsley, cinnamon and oleagen on vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) and pathogenic microorganisms of clinical importance. In the study, the inhibition zones of the plant extract of 10 plants prepared at 2.5 and 5 mg / ml concentrations of VRE and various pathogenic microorganisms were detected by Disk Diffusion and Agar Well Diffusion Method. Following this, Minimal Inhibition Concentration (MIC) values of these extracts were determined. The activities of plant extracts on DNA and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analyzes were also performed. According to the data obtained, it was determined that the extracts of rosemary and sage plants showed high antibacterial effect against pathogenic bacteria. The rosemary extract was found to be the most effective extract on VRE strains, as well as medium-grade antibacterial effects on the VRE strains in oleaster, linden, thyme and mint extracts. It was also determined that extracts from different plants did not cause any change in the structure of DNA. In our study, it was determined that plant extracts that are especially effective on VRE strains have the potential to be used in the treatment of VRE. The results of this study should be taken into account in the research of drugs that can be used in the treatment of VRE and more in vitro and in vivo research should be carried out in this field.

No abstract