Oxidative stress and bacterial infections threaten human and animal health. Different parts of the plants have a great potential to be used as a source of antioxidant and antibacterial agents for human or animal welfare, because of their active metabolites. This study was conducted to assess the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of methanolic extracts from the leaves, flowers, whole fruits, and woods of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), and the leaves, cones, and woods of Anatolian black pine [Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe]. Antioxidant activity was screened by DPPH and CUPRAC assays. Antimicrobial activity was examined by disc diffusion test against fish pathogens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Vibrio anguillarum, Yersinia ruckeri and Lactococcus garvieae.
Pomegranate whole fruit extract possessed superior antioxidant activity even higher than ascorbic acid. All parts of pomegranate, except wood, also exhibited significant antibacterial activity against fish pathogens. Black pine cone extract slightly inhibited the growth of fish pathogens while other pine extracts were inactive. This study reveals that the whole fruit of pomegranate is a prominent source of antioxidant and antibacterial metabolites. Cones of Anatolian black pine also seem to be a source of antibacterial compounds against fish pathogens.
IntroductionMorus alba (white mulberry) pollen is an aero-allergen source that can trigger allergic diseases. Cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE) in M. alba pollen has been proved to be one of the major allergens for some patients living in Istanbul (Turkey). The aim of the present study was the recombinant production and identification of MetE (Mor a 2), a novel allergen from M. alba pollen. The IgE binding reactivity of rMor a 2 produced for the first time was evaluated and some structural features were investigated by in silico methods to better understand its immunogenicity.Material and methodsThe gene encoding Mor a 2 was cloned in fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe ura4-D18h- strain, using pSLF1073 vector. This is the first report of the production of recombinant pollen allergen in S. pombe. After the purification, immunoreactivity of rMor a 2 was confirmed by immunoblotting using sera of patient allergic to M. alba pollen. Besides, B-cell epitopes of rMor a 2 were predicted using various bioinformatic tools, namely Bioinformatics Predicted Antigenic Peptides, BepiPred 2.0 and Immune Epitope Database whereas T-cell epitopes were estimated using NetMHCIIpan-3.2 and NetMHCII 2.3 servers.ResultsThe immunoblotting analysis yielded 11 of 11 positive reactions to rMor a 2. In silico predictions exerted seven B-cell epitopes (22-33, 384-394, 407-423, 547-553, 571-577, 671-678, 736-741) and seven T-cell epitopes (54-62, 161-170, 197-205, 347-358, 622-630, 657-665, 756-764).ConclusionsThese findings may help the use of rMor a 2 in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases associated with M. alba and/or MetE.
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