Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products
Volume:2 Issue: 2, Nov 2007

Zinc has important effects on structural and functional activities of many proteins and enzymes involved in biological activities especially regulation of immune- system. Deficiencies of this element may result in many diseases and immunological disorders. Symptoms of zinc toxicity include nausea/vomiting, fever, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, neuropathy and dehydration. Further signs include growth retardation, altered iron function, anemia, copper deficiency, decreased immune function, decreased HDL (high density lipoprotein), increased LDL (low density lipoprotein), and increased HgbA1C. This study was carried out to examine the in vitro effects of different concentration of zinc on viability and death of T-Lymphoid (Molt-4) cell line. In this study, the cell line was exposed to different concentrations of zinc (10nM to 500µM) followed by incubation (37°C, 5% CO2) at various time points (12 to 72 h). The cells were then evaluated with trypan blue exclusion dye and Mitochondorial Thiazol Tetrazolium Assay (MTT) and light microscopy. The results of this study showed almost different responses to different amounts of zinc by The T cell line (Molt-4). Zinc concentrations below 100µM at different incubation time points had little or no effect on cell line compared to the controls. Higher concentrations of zinc (>100µM) viability diminished to 70% at 12 h and less than 50% at 24 to 72 h of incubation times. We conclude that Zinc has dose-dependent cytotoxicity on Molt-4 cells.

Antimicrobial substances are mainly produced by bacteria and lower fungi, and have great roles in the treatment of most infectious diseases.

Production of antistaphylococcal metabolite from Aureobasidium pullulans by development of a cultural medium using response surface methodology.

Production of antistaphylococcal metabolite from Aureobasidium pullulans was optimized in shake flasks using a statistical experimental design approach. Effect of various components in the basal medium, glucose, peptone, KH2PO4 as well as initial pH and temperature were statistically combined using a 2 level, 4 factor experimental design and tested for their influence on maximal antistaphylococcal metabolite production. Results were analyzed using response surface methodology (RSM) software.

Optimum production of antistaphylococcal metabolite occurred at glucose 2.0%, peptone 2.5%, KH2PO4 0.15%, pH 4.0 and temperature 30°C. The maximum amount of antistaphylococcal metabolite 900 U/flask from about 0.85 g of dry weight biomass was extracted.

The antistaphylococcal activity of Aureobasidium pullulans seemed to be associated with primary metabolite rather than secondary metabolite. However, this conclusion should be taken with caution because both secondary metabolites as well as antibiotics are heterogeneous group and our knowledge regarding the exact definitions and of secondary metabolite / antibiotics are far from the perfection.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort) (SJW) on wound healing in rabbit. Wound surface area and histopathological changes following topical application of various concentartions of SJW extract (2, 5 and 10% w/w) in eucerin base were tested on full thickness excision wound in rabbit. Such effect was compared with phenytoin cream (1%) as a standard healing agent. SJW extract significantly reduced the rate of wound healing compared to no-treatment, eucerin or phenytoin treated groups. 2% SJW extract cream showed better healing profile, and the rate of healing was significantly (p<0.01) shorter than other groups. SJW showed a considerable potential for wound healing possibly by promotion of fibroblast and myofibroblasts proliferation which results in higher rate of wound closure.

Amikacin is one of aminoglycosides that is used as an antibiotic in infections caused by gram-negative microorganisms. Amikacin adverse effects such as nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity limit its application and use. Most reports have shown that aminoglycosides can cause reduction of antioxidant capacity of enzymes. In this study hydroalcoholic extract of red grape seed (Vitis venifera) as a natural antioxidant was used to protect nephrotoxicity induced by amikacin. The hydroalcoholic extract of red grape seeds was prepared by maceration method. Five groups of mice (each group consisted of 10 mice) were used. The negative control group received distillated water and the positive control group were administered with amikacin in doses of 250 mg/kg intraperitoneal (ip.). The treated groups received orally 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the red grape seed extract and after one hour amikacin was administered ip. 250 mg/kg. This experiment was carried out for seven days and then, 24 hours after the last administration of crude extract and amikacin, (on 7th day) blood was taken from the jugular vein of mice for Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine measurements. Then kidneys were removed for histopathological examinations. Results obtained in this study indicated that group received red grape seed extract in dose of 400 mg/kg showed significant kidney protection and the crude extract was dose dependent as compared with the positive control group. The histopathological studies also have confirmed the results mentioned above.Thus, Vitis venifera extract can be a good protective agent against nephrotoxicity induced by amikacin but it requires further toxicological studies.

In a screening program for antibiotic producer rare-actinobacteria from soil of Iran, a novel moderately halophilic actinobacter (Q70) was isolated. The strain had the ability of antibiotic production against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Maximum antibiotic production was obtained in the medium containing 10% (w/v) NaCl. The strain Q70 had also activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibiotic extracted from fermentation broth had low toxicity (681/3 μg/ml LC50) against Artemia salina in brine shrimp lethality test. The antibiotic produced by strain Q70 had polar structure. The strain Q70 is proposed as a new species with the name of Nocardiopsis iraniensis with considering the significant morphological, physiological, molecular and chemotaxonomical differences between Q70 and other species of Nocardiopsis.

Myofibroblasts play an important central role in wound contraction and repair, and are believed to develop from resident fibroblasts in the adjacent uninjured connective tissues. However, the factors involved in their differentiation into more contractile cells are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of histamine on the pharmacological responsiveness of both subcutaneous fascia and wound granulation tissues. In the present in vitro study, using superfusion technique, the effects of histamine (1, 10 and 50 µM following 30 and 60 min incubation) on the pharmacological responsiveness of excisional wound granulation tissue were compared with superficial fascia to mepyramine. The results showed that incubation with histamine caused an increase in responsiveness of normal fascia to mepyramine, while it had no effect on excisional wound granulation tissue. In conclusion, it seems that histamine plays an important role in modulating the contractile behaviour of the normal fibroblasts and promotes the development of a more contractile cell resembling the myofibroblasts.

Based on many epidemiologic studies, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] with its peculiar structural properties was proposed as independent, risk factor for cardiovascular and thrombotic cerebral events. Since, genetic effect plays a paramount role in determining the final serum concentration, the reference serum concentration for this particle exhibits a wide variation among different population and even within a family. In order to prevent its pathologic effect which has been related to its high serum concentration it is a prerequisite to determine its serum concentration distribution model in a particular population before any therapeutic measure is arranged. To accomplish this goal a group of 350 healthy volunteers living in southern province of Khuzestan, Iran, were analyzed for their Lp (a) serum concentration employing and isoform- insensitive ELISA technique. The obtained result showed skewed distribution toward lower concentration ranging from 3 to 53 mg/dL with mean, median and standard deviation as 14.42, 12.0 and 8.46 mg/dL.

Surfactants are amphipathic molecules which reduce surface and interfacial tensions and widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and petroleum industries. Biosurfactants are the structurally diverse group of surface-active molecules synthesized by microorganisms. There are several advantages for biosurfactants in contrast with chemical surfactants, such as lower toxicity; higher biodegradability; better environmental compatibility; higher foaming; high selectivity and specific activity at extreme temperatures, pH, and the ability to be synthesized from renewable feed-stock. In the present study, the production of biosurfactant by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus has been studied. A. calcoaceticus PTCC 1318 was grown in the nutrient broth medium and biosurfactant production was evaluated every 24 h by surface tension and emulsification index. Then A. calcoaceticus PTCC 1318 was grown in nutrient broth with different conditions in order to get maximum production of biosurfactant. The best culture medium was found to be nutrient broth medium supplemented with NaCl and almond oil. After growing the bacteria, the microbial biomass was removed from the supernatant by acidic precipitation method. Its amphipathic structure was established by some biochemical methods and it was confirmed as lipopolysaccharide-protein structure.