International Journal of Advanced Biological and Biomedical Research
Volume:10 Issue: 1, Winter 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) is considered to be one of the deadliest bacterial infections in the world and it can have a large impact on global health, drawing international attention with increasing number of cases worldwide in developed and developing countries. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is the main causative agent of TB which is an aerobic pathogenic bacillus that establishes infection in the lungs. It is believed that two billion people are carrying non-eradicated intra-granulomatous Tuberculosis bacilli as LTBI (short for latent tuberculosis infection) and around 10% of those people will be infected with active tuberculosis during their lifetime. Therefore, this study aimed to study Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Iraq. All bacteriological tests were done in biological safety cabinet class II. Gloves and masks (N 95) were used during the laboratory work. Phenol 5% and ethanol alcohol 70% were used to sterilize and disinfect the benches and hood (IUATLD, 1996). Autoclave was used at 121 °C at 1.5 bar for 20-30 minutes for sterilizing all culture media. The study was conducted at National Reference Lab (NRL) of tuberculosis/Baghdad from July 2016 to December 2016. A total of 188 sputum samples were collected from suspected patient. In addition, 80 samples were collected from healthy subjects Specimens were amassed within the outdoor and as away as feasible from different human beings. Each subject was advised to inhale deeply 2-3 instances, cough out deep from the chest and spit the sputum into sterile prevalent container. We needed to ensure that the specimen was of enough extent (3 to 5 mL) and that it incorporated strong or purulent material. Two samples were gathered from the subject. The first was taken when they reached the institute and the second was taken early morning, earlier than breakfast. The early morning collection represents the pulmonary secretions accrued in a single day, and consequently it typically has a better positivity. Gathered specimens were stored at –20 °C until use. Totally, 118 Tuberculosis suspected samples were used throughout this study; 103 (54.78%) cases were positive using direct assay (AFB smear microscopy) and 85 (45.21%) were negative cases. From the 103 TB patients, 88 (85.43%) represented as new TB cases; the others 15 (14.57%) patients appeared to follow up assessment of the directly observed treatment (DOT) program. The percentage of infected patients was 73 (70.87%) for males to 30 (29.12 %) for females, with over all male to female ratio of 2.43 (73/30) with a highly significant difference (P≤0.01). The age of the study patients ranged from 14 years to 75 years. The mean age was 36 and the median was 30 with highly significant difference between age group. As in many developing countries, direct sputum microscopy is the widely used method for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB in Iraq. Only 103 from 188 patients (suspected) were positive by using ZN smears (Ziehl-Neelsen stain technique). This study for those 188 suspected showed that 119 (63.29%) cases were positive by culture (Lowenstein–Jensen medium) and 69 (36.7%) cases were negative by L.J Culture. This study showed that the percentage of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value was 74.78%, 79.7%, 86.4% and 64.7%, respectively, using AFB method. The results revealed out of the total 188 specimens, 49 (26.06%) of the specimens were positive by DiaSpot (Tuberculosis Rapid Test on serum) and 139 (73.93%) specimens were negative. This study reported the sensitivity of 33.6% and the specificity of 86.95 % PPV 81.6 and NPV 43.16 for DiaSpot TB Rapid test. Males aged 15 to 45 years are at high risk for TB infection. M. tuberculosis plays a major role for causing tuberculosis in human in Baghdad.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus. On 30 January 2020, the first case of the COVID-19 was reported in India and it affects the whole world. The impact of various nutrients on the human immune system. To defend itself, the human body has numerous components. The human immune system identifies molecules that are foreign to its structure and responds to them in a useful manner. When a pathogen factor enters the human body, the immune system responds by triggering an immunological response.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may vary from a mild cold to severe respiratory problems and fatality. The symptom may appear in 2 days or as long as 14 days after making contact with the COVID-19 patient.

To avoiding contact with an infected person, regular hand washing, wearing a mask may help to prevent and control the COVID-19. There is no specific therapy available for COVID-19. The best way is to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the COVID-19. Nutrition is one of the numerous variables that influence immune system function. There is a link between the immune system and nutrition, and malnutrition should not be seen just as a calorie and protein shortage.

The body's defensive system should be reinforced to boost immunity, minimize illness risks, and maintain good health. Healthy eating, regular exercise, and an immunological diet, on the other hand, will be a more cost-effective and natural choice.Due to these reasons, the main aim of nourishment is not merely to gain energy andprotein, but to enhance resistance against ailments with some specific nutriment and to turn the inflammatory responsein someone’s best interests. The nutriments which show beneficial effects on the immune system are called immune nutrients and nourishment on these nutriments is called immune diet. The main fields of application of immune diet are patients undergoing surgery, traumatized, cancer, patients who need intensive care, and patients with serious infections.

Genus Streptococcus comprises important pathogens that have a severe impact on human health. According to the classification in Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, the genus Streptococcus includes the pyogenic, oral and anaerobic groups of streptococci, as well as a group of other streptococci. S. mutans is a Gram-positive bacterium, which plays a key role in the formation of the dental plaque biofilm as an early coloniser and is the most important bacterium in the formation of dental caries. S. mutans do not have flagella, but do have pili and are non-motile facultative anaerobes that grow optimally at 37 °C.   Eighty samples were collected from patients with different dental caries (pit, fissure and dental roots). The patients had referred to Al-dora Health center and Al-Zewiya Health center in Baghdad city. Bacterial isolates obtained from dental caries samples were streaked on selective medium (Mitis Salivaris Agar) for isolation of S. mutans, then the plates were incubated at 37 °C for 48 hours under anaerobic conditions. Bacterial isolates were identified according to their morphological and cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. The disk diffusion method was used to test the antibiotic susceptibility of the selected isolate to different antibiotics. A sterile cotton swab was dipped in fresh culture of S. mutans and streaked on the surface of Muller-Hinton agar plates by rotating the plate approximately 60 between streaking to ensure even distribution. The inoculated plates were incubated at room temperature for 10 minutes to allow absorption of excess moisture, then antibiotic disks were fixed by sterile forceps on the surface of plates and incubated at 37 °C for 18 hrs. Totally, 98 bacterial isolates were obtained. The results indicated that antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the locally isolated S. mutans S2 was resistant to two antibiotics (bacitracin and erythromycin), while it was sensitive to the other eight antibiotics, consisting amoxicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, clindamycin, imipenem, gentamycin and cephalothin. Locally isolated S. mutans S2 was sensitive to different antibiotics, while it resisted only against bacitracin and erythromycin.

Cancer is abnormal and uncontrolled cell proliferation. Carcinogens cause DNA damage and loss of function of tumor suppressor genes, resulting in tumor formation and metastasis.  Some carcinogens are physical factors such as ultraviolet radiation, chemical factors such as cancer-inducing chemical compounds, cigarette smoke, unbalanced diet, occupational, hereditary, hormonal, metabolic, and biological factors, especially some bacteria and viruses. 

Nowadays, an essential cancer treatment is chemotherapy that may cause drug resistance and various side effects. Some plants have long been considered reliable and excellent sources for developing anticancer drugs. Some plants play a protective and therapeutic role in cancer, while others reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and are also economically viable. Some natural marine compounds and minerals are also known to inhibit tumors. 

The present paper reviews the most critical natural anticancer substances globally and introduces the most essential mechanisms of their effect. Traditional medicine of most countries includes various natural compounds used to treat different types of cancers. Some of the most essential traditional natural anticancer substances known worldwide include Catharanthus roseus, Podophylum peltatum, Combretum caffrum; Campetotheca acuminate; Brucea antidysenterica.

The mechanism of anticancer effect of most of these substances is related to their antioxidant properties and inhibition of the growth of their tumor cells. Many of these materials are traditionally used in different parts of the world.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with antimicrobial and anticancer properties have been widely used in a variety of fields. This research investigated the antimicrobial effects and toxicity of AgNPs synthesized using the extract of the medicinal plant lemon balm, Melissa officinalis L., on 3 cancer cell lines (A549, MCF-7, and HeLa). AgNPs were biologically synthesized using the extract of M. officinalis. After physical and chemical evaluation, the anti-bacterial properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, the inhibitory effect of synthesized nanoparticles was assessed by the MTT assay on 3 cancer cell lines. With an average size of 17 nm, the nanoparticles synthesized by M. officinalis L. extract had a significant inhibitory and lethal effect on 2 bacteria. The findings indicated that the synthesized nanoparticles had more inhibitory and bactericidal effects on S. aureus as a gram-positive bacterial strain. The MBC of nanoparticles synthesized by M. officinalis extract was 500 μg/mL for S. aureus and 700 μg/mL for E. col. At a concentration of 50 g/mL, the synthesized AgNPs showed more than 50% inhibitory effect on different cell lines. Our results demonstrate that medicinal plants can be used in the successful synthesis of biological AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs can be utilized as effective medicinal agents in the management of several cancers due to their coating made of effective secondary metabolites and the release of silver ions (Ag+).

Medicinal plants contain plant materials such as leaf, root, flower and seed using for producing drugs. Essential oils and extracts of various species of edible and medicinal plants, herbs, and spices constitute of very potent natural biologically active agents. Allium jesdianum Boiss and Dorema aucheri Boiss are an important and endangered medicinal plants that main habitats are located in the Zagros Mountains of Iran. Allium jesdianum (Alliaceae family) and Dorema aucheri belongs to Umbelliferae family were collected at summer 2020 from Yasouj in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-ahmad province during to fruiting stage. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate composition of essential oil of Allium Jesdianum and Dorema aucheri from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-ahmad province in south west of Iran.

The essential oils of Allium jesdianum and Dorema aucheri were obtained by hydro distillation using a Clevenger type apparatus and in Dorema aucheri was extracted by n-hexane and were analyzed by GC/MS.

(E)-Caryophyllene (14.63%), γ-Cadinene (8.58%), Hexadecanoic acid (6.11%), Caryophyllene oxide (5.15%), (E,E)-α-Farnesene (4.05%), Z-Phytol (3.22%), δ-Cadinene (3.18%), Camphor (3.04%) and γ-Eudesmol (2.92%) were the most components of Dorema aucheri, whereas Hexadecanoic acid (18.34%%), Neral (Z-Citral) (13.74%), Dimethyl trisulfide (12.15%), Caryophyllene oxide (8.05%), Gereninal (E-Citral) (5.25%), Borneol (3.31%), Trans-propenyl propyl disulfide (3.17%), Geranyl acetate (2.74%), and β-Caryophyllene (2.65%) were the most constituents in Allium jesdianum oil, respectively.

Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad has good ethnobotanical potential for medicinal plants. This study is the first contribution to the ethnobotany of this region. We have gathered from this province some considerable knowledge about local medicinal plants such as Allium jesdianum and Dorema aucheri for treating common health problem that is ready to be further investigated in the laboratory.

Sterculia setigera is one of the medicinal plants used traditionally to treat various diseases with the insertion of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is a prolonged metabolic disorder recognized as a hyperglycemia. The present study is aimed at investigating the antidiabetic activity of the methanol stem bark extract of Sterculia setigera. LD50 screening was evaluated using standard methods. The sub-chronic effect of Sterculia setigera methanol stem bark extract on body weight, antidiabetic, antioxidant, lipid profile and histopathology were evaluated in Alloxan-induced diabetic rats respectively. Acute toxicity study of methanol stem bark extract of Sterculia setigera reveal no mortality in the animals at the limit dose of 5000mg/kg during the 14 days observation period. In the invivo study, alloxan was capable of inducing diabetic conditions as there was a significant increase (P<0.05) in the fasting blood glucose (FBG) of the entire induced groups compared to normal control. Groups treated with crude extract of Sterculia setigera (100-400mg/kg) and the standard drug (glibenclamide) showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in FBg compared to diabetics control. There were significant reductions (P<0.05) in serum TC, TG, VLDL, LDL, CAT, SOD, GPx, Vit E, Vit A, and MDA against diabetic control. On the other hand, significant increments (P<0.05) in body weight and HDL were observed in the treated groups compared to diabetic control diabetic. Histopathological examination showed improvement in the regeneration of pancreatic β-cells islets. In conclusion, Sterculia setigera stem bark extract exhibit hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects justifying its ethnomedicinal use for the treatment of diabetes.