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Inducible resistance to the macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin B (iMLSB) antibiotic family is a latent mechanism for antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. We here investigated the frequency and genotypic profiles of iMLSB resistance in clindamycin (CLDM)-susceptible S. aureus isolated in Okayama University Hospital from June 2020 to June 2021. We phenotypically screened the iMLSB resistance via D-zone test and performed PCR testing for the erythromycin ribosomal methylase (erm) genes: ermA and ermC. Among 432 CLDM-susceptible S. aureus isolates, 138 (31.9%) exhibited an iMLSB-resistance phenotype, with methicillinresistant S. aureus isolates (MRSA; 61 isolates: 58.6%) exhibiting higher positivity than methicillin-sensitive S. aureus isolates (MSSA; 77 isolates: 23.5%) (p

Background Olax subscorpioidea Oliv. (Olacaceae) is a woody shrub that is widely distributed in Africa. It has trado-medicinal importance and is used in the treatment of asthma, cancer, convulsion, diabetes, intestinal worm infections, jaundice, mental illnesses, neurodegenerative disorders, sexually transmitted infections, swellings and rheumatism, and yellow fever. Aims To review available literature on the phytochemistry, ethnobotany, pharmacology and toxicity of Olax subscorpioidea Oliv. Methods Published findings were searched in online databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed, Google Scholar and other relevant sources, and the data were sorted by relevance. Combinations of keywords used in the search include Olax subscorpioidea, Olacaceae, Olax, Ewe Ifon, and African medicinal plants. Results The presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, proanthocyanidins, saponins, tannins and triterpenes has been reported from O. subscorpioidea. Cytotoxic santalbic acid was isolated from the methanol extract of the seed of this plant, while GC-MS and HPLC analyses of the n-butanol and n-hexane extracts of the leaf revealed the presence of caffeic acid, quercetin, morin, rutin, n-hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid), 7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid and methyl ester, hentriacontane, 9,17-octadecadienal (Z)-, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, squalene, nonacosane, octadecanoic acid. Bioactivity studies on this plant demonstrated its medicinal potential mainly as an analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-arthritic, antidepressant, antihyperglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimalarial and antimicrobial agent. Oral acute toxicity of the leaf extracts in rats appeared to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg body weight. Conclusion Published literature available to date on O. subscorpioidea provides some preliminary scientific basis for the ethnomedicinal uses of this plant. However, some ethnomedicinal uses have not been scientifically validated yet, and similarly, only a limited amount of information is available on properly isolated and identified phytochemicals from this plant that link to its bioactivities, Journal of Natural Products Discovery, Vol 1 No 2 (2022): Journal of Natural Products Discovery

Bee pollen is a combination of plant pollen and honeybee secretions and nectar. The Bible and ancient Egyptian texts are documented proof of its use in public health. It is considered a gold mine of nutrition due to its active components that have significant health and medicinal properties. Bee pollen contains bioactive compounds including proteins, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and polyphenols. The vital components of bee pollen enhance different bodily functions and offer protection against many diseases. It is generally marketed as a functional food with affordable and inexpensive prices with promising future industrial potentials. This review highlights the dietary properties of bee pollen and its influence on human health, and its applications in the food industry.

A phytochemical study of the root and bark of Brucea antidysenterica J. F. Mill. (Simaroubaceae) afforded three new compounds, including a stilbene glycoside bruceanoside A (1), and two canthinone alkaloids bruceacanthinones A (3) and B (4), along with ten known secondary metabolites, rhaponticin (2), 1,11-dimethoxycanthin-6-one (5), canthin-6-one (6), 1-methoxycanthin-6-one (7), 2-methoxycanthin-6-one (8), 2-hydroxy-1,11-dimethoxycanthin-6-one (9), &beta, carboline-1-propionic acid (10), cleomiscosin C (11), cleomiscosin A (12), and hydnocarpin (13). The structures of all the compounds were determined using spectrometric and spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, and HRSEIMS. The identities of the known compounds were further confirmed by comparison of their data with those reported in the literature. The root and bark methanolic extracts, the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate soluble fractions, and the isolated compounds (3&ndash, 13), were assessed for their cytotoxicity against the cancer cell lines A-549, MCF-7, and PC-3. The results suggested that compounds in the extracts might possess a synergic action in their cytotoxicity.

In any phytochemical drug discovery programme, one of the major issues is the appropriate selection of target plant species that may provide lead for new drug discovery and development. Conducting research without any working hypotheses may produce serendipitous discoveries, but the chances of success are much slimmer than any information-based targeted approach. Therefore, the plant selection process is extremely important for ensuring success. In recent years, there have been significant amounts of work involving applications of various mathematical modelling and computational techniques to predict medicinal properties of plants, and thus to provide information-based selection of plant materials for further studies aiming at potential drug discovery and development. This chapter presents an overview of methods and processes involved in plant selection by utilizing various mathematical modelling and computational techniques.

Chikungunya is a virus-related disease, bring about by the virus called CHIKV that spreads throughmosquito biting. This virus first found in Tanzania, while blood from patients was isolated. Thecommon signs and symptoms, associated with Chikungunya are considered as fever, joint swelling,joint pain, muscle pain and headache. The examination of these signs and symptoms by the physician constitutes the typical preliminary diagnosis of this disease. However, the physician is unable tomeasure them with accuracy. Therefore, the preliminary diagnosis in most of the cases could sufferfrom inaccuracy, which leads to wrong treatment. Hence, this paper introduces the design and implementation of a belief rule based expert system (BRBES) which is capable to represent uncertainknowledge as well as inference under uncertainty. Here, the knowledge is illustrated by employing belief rule base while deduction is carried out by evidential reasoning. The real patient data of250 have been considered to demonstrate the accuracy and the robustness of the expert system. Acomparison has been performed with the results of BRBES and Fuzzy Logic Based Expert System(FLBES) as well as with the expert judgment. Furthermore, the result of BRBES has been contrastedwith various data-driven machine learning approaches, including ANN (Artificial Neural networks)and SVM (Support Vector Machine). The reliability of BRBESs was found better than those of datadriven machine learning approaches. Therefore, the BRBES presented in this paper could enable thephysician to conduct the analysis of Chikungunya more accurately. Validerad;2019;Nivå 1;2019-08-14 (johcin) A belief-rule-based DSS to assess flood risks by using wireless sensor networks

WOS: 000383448100001, PubMed: 27527356, IntroductionNuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that regulates expression of many detoxification enzymes. Nrf2-antioxidant responsive element (Nrf2-ARE) signalling pathway can be a target for cancer chemoprevention. Glycyrrhiza glabra, common name, liquorice', is used as a sweetening and flavouring agent, and traditionally, to treat various ailments, and implicated to chemoprevention. However, its chemopreventive property has not yet been scientifically substantiated. ObjectiveTo assess the ability of liquorice root samples to induce Nrf2 activation correlating to their potential chemopreventive property. MethodsThe ability of nine methanolic extracts of liquorice root samples, collected from various geographical origins, to induce Nrf2 activation was determined by the luciferase reporter assay using the ARE-reporter cell line, AREc32. The antioxidant properties were determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. ResultsAll extracts exhibited free-radical-scavenging property (RC50=136.39-635.66 mu g/mL). The reducing capacity of ferrous ion was 214.46-465.59M Fe(II)/g. Nrf2 activation indicated that all extracts induced expression of ARE-driven luciferase activity with a maximum induction of 2.3 fold relative to control. These activities varied for samples from one geographical location to another. ConclusionsThe present findings add to the existing knowledge of cancer chemoprevention by plant-derived extracts or purified phytochemicals, particularly the potential use of liquorice for this purpose. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates expression of many detoxification enzymes, and Nrf2-antioxidant responsive element signalling pathway can be a target for cancer chemoprevention. The ability of liquorice root samples to induce Nrf2 activation correlating to their potential chemopreventive property was assessed by the luciferase reporter assay using the ARE-reporter cell line, AREc32. All extracts induced expression of ARE-driven luciferase activity, but this activity varied for samples from one geographical location to another., Ministry of Education (MOE), Malaysia, The authors acknowledge the Ministry of Education (MOE), Malaysia, for financial support (NB) and thank Professor RolandWolf, University of Dundee, for provision of the AREc32 cell line.

Flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) or thermolysis (FVT), an environmentally friendly method for studying organic reaction mechanisms as well as synthesis, was applied to a series of oxalate dimers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15) to synthesise monomeric enes, dienes, and a triene (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16). All steroidal monomers were identified by spectroscopic means.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was the isolation and structure elucidation of chemical compounds from the rhizomes of Eremostachys laciniata (L) Bunge (EL), an Iranian traditional medicinal herb with a thick root and pale purple or white flowers as well as the clinical studies on the therapeutic efficacy and safety of topical application of the EL extract in the management of some inflammatory conditions, e.g., arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and septic arthritis (Riter’s syndrome). Methods: The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated unequivocally on the basis of one and two dimensional NMR, UV and HR-FABMS spectroscopic data analyses. A single-blinded randomized clinical trial was carried out with the extract of the rhizomes of E. laciniata (EL) to determine the efficacy and safety of the traditional uses of EL compared to that of piroxicam in treatment of inflammatory diseases, e.g., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and Reiter’s syndrome. Results: Eleven iridoid glycosides, two phenylethanoids and two phytosterols were isolated and identified for the first time from the rhizomes of EL. After 14 days of treatment with the EL and piroxicam ointments, all groups showed significant improvements compared to the control groups. EL (5%) ointment induced better initial therapeutic response than piroxicam (5%) onitment. Conclusion: This clinical trial established that EL was suitable for topical applications as a safe and effective complementary therapy for inflammatory diseases., Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin; eISSN 2251-7308

The antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties of the extracts of P. barbatum (L.) Hara var. barbata, Polygonaceae, at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, were evaluated in mice/rat models using, respectively, the acetic-acid-induced writhing method, the carrageenan-induced edema test and the Lipschitz method. In the acetic-acid-induced writhing test in mice, all extracts displayed a dose dependent analgesic effect. The most potent analgesic activity was observed with the petroleum ether extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight with an inhibition of writhing response 46.8% compared to 62.2% for the positive control aminopyrine. Petroleum ether extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight also displayed the highest levels of anti-inflammatory activity after 2 h with the 39.3% inhibition of paw edema, and this effect was better than the effect observed by the conventional anti-inflammatory agent phenylbutazone (maximum inhibition of 38.3% after 4 h). All extracts increased urine volume in a dose-dependent manner, and the ethyl acetate extract showed a significant level of diuresis comparable to that of the standard diuretic agent furosemide. As propriedades antinociceptiva, antiinflamatória e diurética dos extratos de P. barbatum (L.) Hara var. barbata, Polygonaceae, nas doses de 200 e 400 mg/kg de peso corpóreo foram avaliadas em modelos utilizando camundongos/ratos, respectivamente, o método de contorções induzidas por ácido acético, o teste de edema induzido por carragenina e o método de Lipschitz. No método de contorções induzidas por ácido acetic, todos os extratos apresentaram efeito nociceptivo dose dependente. O efeito nociceptivo mais potente foi observado com o extrato de éter de petróleo na dose de 400 mg/kg com uma inibição das contorções de 46,8% comparado com o controle positivo de aminopirina de 62,2%. O extrato de éter de petróleo na dose de 400 mg/kg também mostrou maior atividade antiinflammatoria após 2 h com 39,3% de inibição do edema de pata, e este efeito foi maior que o observado para o agente antiinflamatório convencional fenilbutazona (inibição máxima de 38,4% após 4 h). Todos os extratos aumentaram o volume de urina de maneira dose dependente e o extrato acetato de etila mostrou um nível de significância de diurese comparável ao agente diurético padrão, furosemida.

The present study was carried out to examine global gene expression in the brainstem, in a mouse facial carrageenan injection model of orofacial pain. Mice that received facial carrageenan injection showed increased mechanical allodynia, demonstrated by increased responses to von Frey hair stimulation of the face. The brainstem was harvested at 3 days post-injection, corresponding to the time of peak responses, and analyzed by Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 microarrays. We sought to identify common genes that are changed in the respective sides of the brainstem after either right- or left-sided facial carrageenan injection. The result is a relatively small list of genes (22 genes), which were then classified using DAVID software. Many of them fell into the categories of "response to stress", "defence response", "response to biotic stimulus", "cell adhesion" and "leukocyte adhesion". Of these, increased expression of P-selectin, ICAM-1 and CCL12 after carrageenan injection could be verified by real-time RT-PCR on both the right and left sides, and increased in P-selectin and ICAM-1 further verified by Western blot analysis. P-selectin and ICAM-1 were immunolocalized to endothelial cells, and were double labelled with von Willebrand factor. Intraperitoneal injection of the P-selectin inhibitor KF38789 significantly reduced mechanical allodynia in the facial carrageenan-injected mice. P-selectin mediates the capturing of leukocytes from the bloodstream and rolling of leukocytes along the endothelial surface. We hypothesize that increased nociceptive input to the brainstem could attract circulating macrophages into the brain, resulting in neuroinflammation and pain.

Phytochemical studies on the aerial parts of Prangos uloptera, an endemic Iranian species of the genus Prangos, yielded five coumarins, xanthotoxin (1), prangenin (2), scopoletin (3), deltoin (4) and prangolarin (5). The structures of these coumarins were elucidated by spectroscopic means, and the antioxidant potential of 1-5 was evaluated by the DPPH assay. The chemotaxonomic significance of 1-5 is also discussed. Os estudos fitoquímicos das partes aéreas de Prangos uloptera, uma espécie do gênero Prangos endêmica do Irã, forneceram cinco cumarinas, xantotoxina (1), prangenina (2), escopoletina (3), deltoína (4) e prangolarina (5). As estruturas destas cumarinas foram elucidas através de métodos espectroscópicos e o potencial antioxidante de 1-5 foi avaliado pelo ensaio de DPPH. O significado quimiotaxonômico de 1-5 também é discutido.

The mode of natural killer (NK) cell migration to the sites of inflammation and transplanted tumors was investigated by using dry ice for physical irritation and 1-fluoro-2,4 dinitrobenzene (DNFB) for chemical irritation in mouse ear. In experiments with transplanted tumors, NK cell sensitive tumor cells (RL♂I) and insensitive tumor cells (p815) were transplanted into the ears of C3H and BALB/c mice, respectively. Employing a polyclonal rabbit antiserum against asialoGM1 (GA1), and a monoclonal rat antiserum against Thy-1 in an immunohistochemical double-staining technique, we enumerated the number of Thy-1-positive and asialoGM1- positive (Thy-1^+GA1^+) cells and Thy-1-negative and asialoGM1-positive (Thy-1^-GA1^+) cells at various times of irritation. Following physical irritation, Thy-1^-GA1^+ cells (108.8 ± 4.5/mm2 at 24 hand 71.2 ± 3.8/mm2 at 48 h) were found in the epidermis, whereas Thy-1^+GA1^+ cells were not found. In delayed-type skin reaciton by DNFB, Thy-1^-GA1^+ cells (87.1 ± 5.8/mm2 at 24h and 60.7 ± 2.9/mm2 at 48h) and Thy-1^+GA1^+ cells (26.4 ± 3.6/mm2 at 24h and 15.3 ± 4.3/mm2 at 48h) were found in the dermis. Since it was reported by previous investigators that Thy-1^+GA1^+ cells are NK cells, we assumed that NK cells infiltrated nonspecifically in the dermis in delayed-type skin reaction by DNFB. In the tumor transplant experiments. the GA1^+ cells were found near both types of tumors, but they were in contact with RL♂1 and not with p815. Because it was reported that GA1^+ monocytes do not have cytotoxicity against tumor cells, our findings suggest that GA1^+ cells migrate nonspecifically to the sites of inflammation, and that the NK cells among them may make direct contact with the tumor cells when they encounter NK cell sensitive tumors.

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