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Background: Asthma is a prominent non-communicable inflammatory disease that affects both children and the elderly. Younger people are more prone to asthma, and most prescribed anti-asthmatic medicines relieve symptoms but do not cure the condition completely. We investigated the ability of a phytochemical plumbagin to alleviate ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in BALB/c mice. Materials and Methods: The allergic asthma-induced mice were treated with two different doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg bwt plumbagin, and to compare the efficacy of plumbagin, a standard drug dexamethasone treatment was given. OVA-specific IgE and eotaxin were quantified to determine the induction of asthma and the inhibitory role of plumbagin. Total leukocyte and differential count were done to assess the effect of plumbagin on inflammatory cells. Inflammatory cytokines inducing both atopic and non-atopic asthma were quantified to examine the efficacy of plumbagin against allergic and non-allergic-induced asthma. Nitric oxide (NO) and myeloperoxidase activity were measured to investigate the anti-asthmatic potential of plumbagin. The antioxidant potency of plumbagin was assessed by quantifying the levels of antioxidants and the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde. Lung weight index and histopathological analysis of lung tissue were done to confirm the ameliorative potency of plumbagin against OVA allergen-induced asthma. Results: Plumbagin treatment significantly decreased the status of OVA-specific IgE and eotaxin, thereby prevented the eosinophilic infiltration. It also inhibited the synthesis of both atopic and non-atopic inducing inflammatory cytokines. Plumbagin treatment also increased the levels of antioxidants and prevented the lung tissue damage, which was evidenced with our histopathology study of lung tissue. Conclusion: Overall, our finding confirms that plumbagin is persuasively alleviated OVA allergen-induced asthma complications in mice model and may be an alternative for currently available anti-asthmatic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CA-UTIs) pose a significant danger especially when they are caused by multi-drug resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. As elsewhere in the world, Saudi Arabia also shows a higher prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae which complicates the treatment and management of the CA-UTIs. To tackle this, it is urgent to develop novel antibacterial compounds from natural sources and, phytochemicals have always been potential candidates. Evolvulus alsinoides is a traditional medicinal plant found in Saudi Arabia possesses proven activities against CA-UTI causing bacteria including Klebsiella pneumoniae. Aim: The present study was aimed to investigate the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-biofilm activities of Evolvulus alsinoides plant extract against multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Materials and Methods: The study was designed to coat the methanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides on catheters and evaluate its efficacy on Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Inflammatory marker concentrations, SOD (reactive oxygen species), and the MPO (neutrophil recruitment) were also evaluated to understand the effect of this plant extract on tissue damage. Results: Evolvulus alsinoides displayed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins and fixed oils. Klebsiella pneumoniae was resistant to four of the five antibiotics tested. The extract showed anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae activity and the MIC was 4.61 mg/mL. Showing its anti-biofilm activity, 31.23 µg/mL of the extract reduced the catheter biofilm to 16.23%±2.4. At 5 µg/mg, the extract displayed anti-inflammatory markers as MPO degranulation 49.36%±1.4, MDA 0.142±0.001 nmol/mg protein and SOD 58.97±1.6 units/mL. Conclusion: In the light of these findings, it could be assessed that the Evolvulus alsinoides extract possesses antibacterial, anti-biofilm and anti-inflammatory activities, and the extract should further be studied to develop it for its clinical usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Candidiasis in not uncommon among hospitalized patients. The fungal virulence and antifungal drug resistance make the host-parasite interactions complicated. The threat of azole drug resistance along with scarcity of antifungal therapies prompted the necessity of novel drug development from various natural sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anticandidal activity of Coriandrum sativum seed extracts against Candida albicans and Candida tropilcalis. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted at Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia from July 20, 2021 to September 26, 2021. The study analyzed anti-inflammatory assays via inhibition of albumin denaturation and hemolysis inhibition and anticandidal activity of the extract against Candida albicans and Candida tropilcalis by well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was also determined against both the fungi. Results: Anti-inflammatory activity of Coriandrum sativum methanolic seed extracts were evaluated at five different concentrations from 100 µg to 1000 µg. The highest concentration showed 55.31±0.77% of inhibition of albumin denaturation, whereas the aspirin, the standard used, showed 80.33±0.32%. Coriandrum sativum seed extracts at 250 mg/ml, 500 mg/ml and 1000 mg/ml produced zones of growth inhibition with diameters 12.66±0.57, 17.66±0.57 and 24.33±1 mm against Candida albicans, and 10.33±0.57, 16.66±0.57 and 21.66±0.57 mm against Candida tropicalis. The MICs of the Coriandrum sativum seed extracts against Candida albicans was 1.95 mg and Candida tropicalis was 3.9 mg. Conclusion: Phytochemical compounds in methanolic seed extracts of Coriandrum sativum showed significant anticandidal activity against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis with highest zone of inhibition at 1000 µg extract concentration. The lower MICs of Coriandrum sativum seed extracts against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis were also significant. Considering all these findings along with the antioxidant activities, it could be suggested that Coriandrum sativum seed extracts can further be investigated for development of novel anticandidal drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several toxic microalgae species known as Harmful algal bloom (HAB) causing serious effects to the environment and economy. Knowledge on these groups of marine micro-flora is scanty and several areas remain unexplored. The present study focuses on the analysis of microalgal diversity in the Malabar coastal areas at Southwest and Northeast monsoon. The diatoms, dinoflagellates and total microalgal population were analysed and quantified. Predominant species were identified. Physicochemical parameters of the seawater at different time intervals and Correlation between diatoms, dinoflagellates and total microalgae population with physicochemical parameters were identified. From the analysis, a total of 53 diatoms and 15 dinoflagellates were identified. The predominant species including toxic or harmful bloom-forming were found to be Dinophysis caudata, Noctiluca scintillans, Prorocentrum lima and Tripos furca. The total microalgae population varied from 18,592 cells/L to 7,832 cells/L in the months of April and December. Dinoflagellates were positively correlated with salinity (r = 0.848; p = 0.008), nitrite (r = 0.752; p = 0.032) and total phosphorous (r = 0.734, p = 0.038). Diatoms were positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.804; p = 0.016) and nitrate (r = 0.774, p = 0.024). Total microalgal density was positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.825; p = 0.012) and nitrate content (r = 0.811, p = 0.15). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]