Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of the sesquiterpene lactones cnicin and onopordopicrin

The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of chloroform extracts from the weeds Centaurea tweediei and C. diffusa, and the main sesquiterpene lactones isolated from these species, onopordopicrin and cnicin, respectively, were assayed. Results show that the chloroform extracts from both Centaurea species possess antibacterial activities against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Remarkable antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was also measured. Both the extracts and the purified sesquiterpene lactones show high cytotoxicity against human-derived macrophages. Despite this cytotoxicity, C. diffusa chloroform extract and cnicin are attractive candidates for evaluation as antibiotics in topical preparations against skin-associated pathogens.     

Photodynamic antimicrobial activity of hypocrellin A

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy is a recently developed therapeutic option that combines a non-toxic photosensitizer with harmless visible light to damage the microbial cell. Hypocrellin A (HA), a natural occurring lipid-soluble perylenequinone pigment, has gained considerable interest since its anticancer and antiviral activities have been reported. Here, we examined the antimicrobial activity of HA against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium). The results indicate that HA has a photodynamic antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria when CaCl(2) or MgCl(2) was employed. A loose binding has been established between HA and the organisms. Molecular oxygen is significantly involved in the photodynamic action of HA. Furthermore, HA maintains a photodynamic activity in terms of both types I and II reactions. Our results confirm the potential of HA to be used as a photosensitizer in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.     

An in vitro evaluation of the antibacterial activity of the non-volatile phenolic fraction from rosemary leaves

In this study, the aim was to evaluate the antimicrobial action of the non-volatile phenols of rosemary leaves against two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis). Three extracts with different phenolic compositions were tested. By the agar disc diffusion method, Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to the extracts, and S. epidermidis showed the highest inhibition zones. Overall, all the extracts tested by the broth dilution method showed higher activity than results from the agar disc diffusion method. The minimal bactericidal concentration values indicated that E. coli was the most susceptible strain. This study demonstrated that the flavonoidic fraction of rosemary leaves does not play a crucial role as antimicrobial agents against these microorganisms. The most active extract was characterised by the highest amount of non-volatile terpenoidic compounds.     

Chemical composition, olfactory evaluation and antimicrobial activity of selected essential oils and absolutes from Morocco

The chemical compositions of selected essential oils from North Africa, especially Morocco, of geranium, wild Moroccan chamomile and rosemary as well as absolutes of rose and geranium were determined using GC/FID and GC/MS. These oils and absolutes were tested concerning their antimicrobial activity against some food spoilage strains obtained from fresh milk and minced meat products, like sausages and pork fillet, in accordance with ISO testing procedures. Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella abony and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) strains were used, as well as the yeast Candida albicans. Using a serial broth dilution method, all samples demonstrated weak antimicrobial activity against the Gram-negative bacteria and the yeast, compared with the activity towards the Gram-positive bacteria.     

Polylysine-porphycene conjugates as efficient photosensitizers for the inactivation of microbial pathogens

Porphycenes are electronic isomers of porphyrins which, when neutral, display no appreciable photosensitizing action towards Gram-negative bacteria. The covalent binding of oligomeric polylysine moieties, which are cationic at physiological pH values, endows porphycenes with a significant phototoxic activity against Gram-negative bacteria while retaining their photoefficiency against a variety of microbial pathogens, including Gram-positive bacteria, fungi and mycoplasmas. The effect of the polylysine moiety is dependent on both the polylysine concentration and the degree of oligomerization. A suitable interplay among the various parameters opens the possibility to obtain either a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity or a selective action toward a specific pathogen while minimizing the damage to human fibroblasts.     

Chemical constituents,anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oil from Anaphalis lacteal grown in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The chemical constituent of the essential oil from Anaphalis lacteal was determined; 31 compounds, representing 93.91% of the total oil, were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. Three Gram-positive bacteria species, three Gram-negative bacteria species and four fungi were used to determine antimicrobial activity; the results revealed that the essential oil had a remarkable antimicrobial effect against bacteria and a susceptive effect against fungus. The oil also possessed more efficient free-radical scavenging activities than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value 31 μg/mL (40 μg/mL for BHT). MTT assay illustrated that the oil expressed certain effect in inhibiting the growth of HeLa and Hep-6 cancer cells.     

Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Actinidia macrosperma from China

Actinidia macrosperma is a medicinal plant in China and has been well known for its attraction to cats and activities against leprosy and cancers. The compositions and the antimicrobial activity of its leaf oil were reported for the first time. The oil obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS, was characterized by the high content of monoterpenes. Linalool (48.14%) is the major component identified, followed by 1,2-dimethyl-lindoline (7.94%), linolenic acid methylester (6.57%) and (E)-phytol (5.29%). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated against four bacterial and three fungal species. The results showed that it exhibited a mild antibacterial activity against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis), a significant activity against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), and no activity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The test fungi were more sensitive to the oil, with a MIC range of 0.78-1.56 microL mL(-1) than bacteria in the range which were significantly higher from 0.78 to 25.50 microL mL(-1).     

Screening of antimicrobial activity of Cistus ladanifer and Arbutus unedo extracts

In this work, the in?vitro antimicrobial activity of different crude extracts obtained from Cistus ladanifer L. and Arbutus unedo L. was investigated. The ethanol, methanol and acetone/water extracts of Cistus ladanifer and Arbutus unedo were prepared using different extraction methods and their antimicrobial activities against reference strains, including three Gram-positive, five Gram-negative and three yeasts, and against clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, were investigated. All the extracts inhibited more than one microorganism; moreover all of them presented antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria, Klebsiella pneumonia, Candida tropicalis and Helicobacter pylori. It is noteworthy that the most considerable in?vitro effect was observed against Helicobacter pylori. These inhibitory effects can be considered relevant to the development of new agents for inclusion in the treatment or prevention of infections by the tested strains.     

Antimicrobial activities of essential oil and methanol extract of Coriaria nepalensis

Plant extracts and products have been used for centuries in traditional medicine; for most of them, in addition to the scant scientific credibility, the chemical composition and spectrum of activity are yet to be explored. To put forward this effort and to identify novel antimicrobial agents, the inhibitory activities of methanolic extract and essential oil from Coriaria nepalensis against various microorganisms including pathogenic yeast, and Gram-positive and negative bacteria were evaluated. Chemical compositions of C. nepalensis methanolic extract and essential oil were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In vitro susceptibility tests against all the tested isolates were performed in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and well diffusion assay using standard protocols. All microorganisms tested were profoundly found susceptible to both the C. nepalensis extract and oil with MIC values of 1.3-2.1?mg?mL?1 (Gram-positive bacteria), 1.4-2.2?mg?mL?1 (Gram-negative bacteria) and 0.9-1.6?mg?mL?1 (yeasts). The extent of inhibition was shown more by methanolic extract than by essential oil. This study is the first to report the antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from the C. nepalensis. It can be concluded that the observed antimicrobial characteristics of C. nepalensis indicate that it might be a promising antimicrobial agent.     

Antimicrobial activities of single aroma compounds

Commercially available aroma samples were evaluated for their olfactory quality by professional perfumers and tested for their antimicrobial activity. Agar diffusion and agar-dilution were used as test methods and a set of two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and four Gram-negative bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris G, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella abony) and a yeast, Candida albicans, were the test microorganisms. All the investigated compounds were active against Gram-positive bacteria, especially beta-caryophyllene against Enterococcus faecalis (MIC 6 ppm), but only few substances showed activity towards Gram-negative bacteria, except for cinnamic acid, which was active against all (MIC 60 ppm) and Candida albicans, against which cinnamic acid and caryophyllene oxide showed high activity (MIC < 60 ppm).     

Purification and in vitro Activity of an Antimicrobial Peptide from Skin of Rana Temporaria Chensinensis, David

In this study,an antimicrobial component(RTCI)was purified from the skin of Rana temporaria chensinensis,David.Antimicrobial activities of RTCI against clinical multi-drug resistant bacterial strains,including Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureaus,Klebsiella oxytoca,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Enterococcus faecalis,and Proteus mirabilis were measured in vitro by means of minimal inhibitory concentration and time-kill studies.The results indicate that RTCI could inhibit the growth of these bacteria at a proper concentration and suggest that RTCI shows a better antimicrobial activity to Gram-negative bacterial strains than to Gram-positive bacterial strains.     

Bismuth(III) Flavonolates: The Impact of Structural Diversity on Antibacterial Activity,Mammalian Cell Viability and Cellular Uptake

A series of homoleptic and heteroleptic bismuth(III) flavonolate complexes derived from six flavonols of varying substitution have been synthesised and structurally characterised. The complexes were evaluated for antibacterial activity towards several problematic Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. The cell viability of COS-7 (monkey kidney) cells treated with the bismuth flavonolates was also studied to determine the effect of the complexes on mammalian cells. The heteroleptic complexes [BiPh(L)₂] (in which L=flavonolate) showed good antibacterial activity towards all of the bacteria but reduced COS-7 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. The homoleptic complexes [Bi(L)₃] exhibited activity towards the Gram-positive bacteria and showed low toxicity towards the mammalian cell line. Bismuth uptake studies in VRE and COS-7 cells treated with the bismuth flavonolate complexes indicated that Bi accumulation is influenced by both the substitution of the flavonolate ligands and the degree of substitution at the bismuth centre.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activity of nalidixic acid derivatives with spirohydantoins

This article presents the synthesis of a series of amides, based on the interaction of several 3-aminospirohydantoins with nalidixic acid. The target compounds were characterized by physicochemical parameters, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data. The antimicrobial activity of the products obtained was determined against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella abony, the yeasts Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the molds Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus niger. The relationship between structure and biological activity of the products obtained was discussed. It was found that the most effective compounds are tetralin (5f) and indane (5g) derivatives, which exhibit a pronounced antimicrobial activity against both tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

     

Antimicrobial properties of some bis(iminoacenaphthene (BIAN)-supported N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of silver and gold

The AgCl, AgOAc, AuCl, and AuOAc complexes of the new bis(imino)acenaphthene(BIAN)-supported N-heterocyclic carbene ligand and the precursor imidazolium salt have been investigated with respect to their antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Psudomonas aeruginosa. The most active antimicrobial is the precursor imidazolium salt, which has a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of <40 μg/mL. The MIC values for the silver complexes IPr(BIAN)AgCl and IPr(BIAN)AgOAc against Gram-positive S. aureus are comparable to that for AgNO?, while those against Gram-negative E. coli and P.aeroginosa are significantly larger. Similar behavior was evident for the gold acetate complex IPr(BIAN)AuOAc. However, in the case of the gold chloride analogue, the MIC values are virtually identical for both the Gram-positive and the Gram-negative bacteria.     

A new pyrimidine-derived ligand,N-pyrimidine oxalamic acid,and its Cu(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pd(II) complexes: synthesis,characterization, electrochemical properties,and biological activity

A new heterocyclic compound N-(5-benzoyl-2-oxo-4-phenyl-2H-pyrimidin-1-yl)-oxalamic acid has been synthesized from N-amino pyrimidine-2-one and oxalylchloride. Bis-chelate complexes of the ligand were prepared from acetate/chloride salts of Cu(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pd(II) in methanol. The structures of the ligand and its metal complexes were characterized by microanalyses, IR, AAS, NMR, API-ES, UV-Vis spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, and thermogravimetric analyses. An octahedral geometry has been suggested for all the complexes, except for Pd(II) complex, in which the metal center is square planar. Each ligand binds using C(2)=O, HN, and carboxylate. The cyclic voltammograms of the ligand and the complexes are also discussed. The new synthesized compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi using the microdilution procedure. The Cu(II) complex displayed selective and effective antibacterial activity against one Gram-positive spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus cereus ATCC 7064), two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and S. aureus ATCC 25923) at 40–80 µg mL^?1, but poor activity against Candida species. The Cu(II) complex might be a new antibacterial agent against Gram-positive bacteria.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrazole-4-carbonitriles as antimicrobial agents

An efficient microwave-assisted method of synthesis of pyrazole-4-carbonitriles has been developed. Condensation of pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes with hydroxylamine hydrochloride followed by reaction of the resulting oximes with the Vilsmeier-Haack reagent pre-formed from phthaloyl dichloride and dimethylformamide under microwave irradiation afforded the corresponding pyrazole-4-carbonitriles in 73% to 91% yield. The operational simplicity, avoidance of toxic reagents such as POCl₃, shorter reaction time, higher yield compared to the classical version, easy work up, and the use of the by-product in the regeneration of phthaloyl dichloride are the advantages of this methodology. All the target compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus; Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica, and the fungal species Candida albicans.     

Synthesis of water soluble quaternary chitosan derivative via protection-deprotection strategy and investigation of its antibacterial effect

New water-soluble trimethyl quaternary derivative of chitosan was synthesized by a multi step processes through protection-deprotection strategy. This derivative was characterized using FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Finally, the antibacterial effect of this derivative against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis) bacteria in acidic and nutral medium was invetigated. The results of this study demonstrated that this chitosan derivative did not have antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria; however, it showed a relatively good antibacterical effect against Gram-positive bacteria in both acidic and neutral mediums.     

Catecholthioether derivatives: preliminary study of in-vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities

In this research, synthesis, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of a series of catecholthioethers having benzoxazole and tetrazole moieties are described. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. The synthesized compounds were tested in vitro against three Gram-positive bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus (clinical isolated), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25922, Enterococcus faecium (clinical isolated), and two Gram-negative bacteria including Klebsiella pneumoniae (clinical isolated) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27853 and the yeast Candida albicans in comparison with control drugs. Microbiological results indicated that the synthesized compounds possessed a broad spectrum of activity against the tested microorganisms at MIC values between 4-256 μg/ml. This shows compounds having tetrazole moiety were the most active against Gram-negative strains, whereas compounds having benzoxazole moiety were more active against Gram-positive ones. Also both of them showed significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans and had lower activity than the compared control drugs (Sulfamethoxazole and Fluconazole). The antioxidant activity was assessed using two methods, including, 1,1-biphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, and reducing power assays. Some of the catecholthioether derivatives showed antioxidant activity more than Trolox and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as reference antioxidants.     

Chemical composition and in vitro evaluation of antimicrobial and anti-acetylcholinesterase properties of the flower oil of Ferula lutea

The present work describes the chemical composition and evaluates the antimicrobial and the anti-acetylcholinesterase properties of the flower oil from the Tunisian Ferula lutea obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by combination of GC/FID and GC/MS. The chemical composition of the flower oil of this species is reported for the first time. Seventeen compounds were identified accounting for 94.3% of the total oil. The chemical composition of this essential oil was characterized by a high proportion of monoterpene hydrocarbons (80.4%) among which delta-3-carene (31.2%) and alpha-pinene (25.8%) were the predominant compounds. The oxygenated monoterpenes represent the second major fraction (12.0%), 2,3,6-trimethylbenzaldehyde (10.9%) being the predominant one. Furthermore, the isolated oil was tested for its antimicrobial activity using the disc-diffusion and the microdilution assays against six Gram-positive and five Gram-negative bacteria as well as towards eight Candida species. It was found that flower oil of F. lutea exhibited interesting antibacterial and anticandidal activity (MIC = 39 mcirog/mL against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis and MIC = 156 microg/mL against Candida albicans). The anti-acetylcholinesterase effect of this oil was also evaluated in this work. Results showed that this oil exhibits significant activity (IC50 =70.25 +/- 5.41 microg/mL).     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Centaurea pannonica and C. jacea

The chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from Centaurea pannonica (Heufel) Simonkai and C. jacea L. (Asteraceae), were investigated. The essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Forty five and twenty nine compounds were identified in the two oils, respectively. C. pannonica oil was rich in fatty acids (43.7%), with 9-octadecanoic acid (34.0%) and (Z,Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid (8.6%) as the major compounds. In contrast, the essential oil of C. jacea was dominated by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (43.2%), among which caryophyllene oxide (23.5%) and spathulenol (8.9%) were the major constituents. However, the oil was also characterized by an important fatty acid fraction (15.5%), with 9-octadecanoic acid (8.9%) and hexadecanoic acid (6.6%) being the main components. The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were evaluated by the microdilution method against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria, and one yeast. Both oils exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, especially against Gram-positive bacteria.