The effect of a crude, organic, non-alkaloid extract derived from R. stricta leaves were evaluated against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pathogens. Antibacterial activities were determined by zones of inhibition using a new 1% agarose well-diffusion method. Structural and morphological alterations of MRSA cells were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The extract showed antibacterial activities against MRSA pathogens. The extract inhibited growth, with zones of inhibition ranging between 6 and 19 mm. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the extract distorts the cellular architecture of MRSA pathogens. Crude organic non-alkaloid extract derived from R. stricta leaves might serve as a novel antibiotic agent to prevent or treat lifethreatening MRSA infections.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbes has become one of the major threat globally. Infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death, two-third of which are caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The increasing number of multidrug resistant (MDR) microbes is quite alarming and has raised the necessity of development of new antibacterial drugs. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella have been reported among the top most resistance-developing pathogens. Ricinus communis is an important medicinal plant reported to possess antimicrobial phytochemicals such as a-pinene. The hexane treated crude ethanolic extract of R. communis was evaluated against Gram-negative bacteria E. coli and Klebsiella oxytoca. The agar well diffusion assay was used to determine the antibacterial activity. In the present study, we have shown experimentally that leaf extract of R. communis can induce the deterioration of the inner and outer cell membranes of E. coli and K. oxytoca and decrease their viability at a concentration of 50 mg/ml. Transmission electron microscopic results revealed cell membrane damage, cellular disintegration and release of cytoplasmic content, leading to cell death. To our knowledge, this is the first study of the antibacterial activity of R. communis against E. coli and K. oxytoca by Transmission electron microscopy. The ultramicroscopic observations showed that the phytochemical present in the leaf extract of R. communis could penetrate the bacterial cell, causing rupture of cell membranes and hence confirm the cytotoxic and antimicrobial property of R. communis.

The purpose of this research was to estimate the hepatoprotective efficacy of clay nanoparticles in improving the effects of anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin (DOX). One hundred male adult mice were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 (control) was injected with double distilled water, Group 2 (EAC group) received intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 0.15 ml Ehrlich cells (2×10 6), in Group 3 (EAC+DOX group) EAC-bearing mice were treated with 0.07 ml of doxorubicin at a dose of 10 mg/kg bw. Doxorubicin was administered IP in six equal doses of injections to animals for 2 weeks for an accumulative dose of 10 mg/kg bw. Group 4 (EAC+DOX+MMT group) got i.p. infusion of 0.07 ml doxorubicin (10mg/kg) stacked on Montmorillonite nanoparticles (30 mg/kg) 3 times per week for about fourteen days. Group 5 (EAC+DOX+OCTA+MMT group) was gotten i.p. administration of 0.07 ml doxorubicin (10mg/kg) stacked on Octadecylamine (OCTA) with Montmorillonite nanoparticles (30 mg/kg) 3 times each week for about fourteen days. Blood samples were obtained at the end of the study and the serum was separated to measure liver function. The liver was removed and histologically analyzed. The serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were elevated, whereas the total protein and albumin were lower than control and other groups in the EAC. After handling of DOX clay NPs, the levels of these parameters were enhanced. In conclusion, nanoclays are influential in curing Ehrlich-induced ascites carcinoma in mice models in the Doxorubicin delivery system. They target DOX release in cancer cells and diminish the side effects of DOX in the liver.

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The optical and electrical studies on ZnO thin film are reported. Thin film of ZnO is deposited on glass substrate by physical vapor deposition method. In this method, Zn powder is evaporated at a temperature of 400°C in the presence of oxygen and argon gases, and the resulting ZnO is deposited on the glass substrate which is kept at liquid nitrogen temperature. The crystallinity of this ZnO film is studied using XRD technique. The XRD pattern suggests that the nature of this film is polycrystalline. The prominent peaks observed at 31.78, 34.34, 36.18, and 56.32 correspond to the (100), (002), (101), and (110) planes, confirming the formation of hexagonal zinc oxide phase (JCPD 36-1451 for wurtzite zinc oxide). The XRD spectrum very clearly demonstrates that the film deposited in oxygen atmosphere has a dominant (101) orientation. The d hkl values are estimated for this as-deposited ZnO thin-film. It is observed that these calculated values in close agreement with the reported d hkl values for ZnO . Debye–Scherrer equation is used to estimate the size of these nanoparticles. It is found that size estimated by Debye–Scherrer equation agrees well with the size observed by TEM images. It is clear from the transmission electron microscope (TEM) images that the film contains nanoparticles of ZnO and the diameter of these nanoparticles varies from 5–20 nm. In optical properties, the UV visible spectrum of these nanoparticles is recorded in the wavelength range (300–900 nm). The absorption coefficient increases exponentially with the increase in photon energy. The direct optical band gap is calculated which comes out to be 3.54 eV. The value of Urbach energy (E U ) is also calculated using the slope of the plot ln α versus photon energy and it comes out to be 805.8 meV. For electrical properties, the DC conductivity of ZnO film deposited on glass substrate is measured in the temperature range of 450–300 K. On the basis of temperature dependence of DC conductivity of ZnO film, it is suggested that the conduction takes place via thermally activated process.

Aim: This investigation pointed to estimate skeletal muscle efficiency of diamond nanoparticles in enhancing Vinblastine (VBL) effects.  Methodology: One hundred Albino mice, weighing (23- 28 grams) were utilized in this research, after a week of habituation, the mice were divided into five groups at random (20 mice each). Group 1 (control) obtained distilled water infusions, Group 2 (ESC group) injected Ehrlich cells via intramuscular infusion (IM), and Group 3 (ESC+VBL group) gained Vinblastine only, Group 4 (ESC+VBL+ND) received an IM injection of Vinblastine loaded on diamond nanoparticles and Group 5 (ESC+VBL+CS+ND) received IM administration of Vinblastine stacked on Chitosan with nanodiamond. Finally, blood specimens were taken. Serum was obtained to measure Asparaginase aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, and Creatinine kinase. The muscle was removed and observed under a light microscope.   Results: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Creatinine kinase levels in the blood were elevated in ESC than in normal and treated groups. Levels of these enzymes were enhanced after treatment of VBL, diamond nanoparticles and chitosan.  Conclusion: Nanodiamond are influenced in the VBL delivery system for the therapy of Ehrlich Solid carcinoma in mice models. The embattled VBL liberates tumor cells and reduced the side effect of VBL on skeletal muscle.

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