Search

The growing interest on the replacement of synthetic antioxidants with natural ones has directed many research toward the plant-derived raw materials. The special attention is focused on inexpensive or residual sources from food agricultural industries. Fruit peels are valuable wastes obtained from domestic and industrial sources. The potential of fruit wastes as sources of natural antioxidants was explored in the present research. The peels of five kinds of fruits commonly used were obtained from domestic consumption. Antioxidant activity of their separate extract was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power. Besides, total phenol, flavonoid anthocyanin, protein and soluble sugar contents of the samples were also determined. According to the results, the apple peel extract contained the most content of total flavonoid, soluble sugar, protein and ferric-reducing antioxidant power. The maximum DPPH radical scavenging activity (256.78 ± 4.54 mg AA.g^-1 dry weight = DW), total phenol (13.17 ± 0.268 mg of GAE.g^-1 DW) and total anthocyanin (0.811 ± 0.024 mg.g-1 DW) were observed in orange peel. This study demonstrated that fruit peels could serve as potential sources of antioxidants in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Background: Nowadays, the plant of Daphne family (Thymelaeacea is used against microorganisms and cancerous cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of two Daphne species and purified betulin and betulinic acid on K562 genome and the cell cycle. Materials and methods: This Study was conducted in a complementary randomized design with three replications. 106 K562 cells were treated with Daphne mucronata, Daphne oleides, betulin and betulinic acid for 24 hours. Then, cells were fixed in 70% ethanol and were stained with pripidium iodide 30 min before analysis by flow cytometery. To extract the DNA of cancer cells Miller saline method with little change was used. Data were analyzed with SPSS. version 16 by ANOVA and Dunnett. Results: Percentage of cancer cells that were treated with Daphne mucronata (59.11±1.16%), Daphne oleides (58.25±1.03%), betulin (51.68±0.43%), and betulinic acid (52.05±0.31%) increased in the G0/G1 phase compared to the control (42.94±0.23%). While most percentage the control cells (51.06±0.16%) were present in S phaseElectrophoresis of genomic DNA of K562 cell lines revealed band boarding and smearing under the effect of plant material. However, a clear sharp band of DNA was seen in control samples. The lowest and highest smeared band was observed in treated cells with Betulin and Daphne mucronata, respectively. Conclusion: Data showed that materials and compounds of Daphne, block cells in G1 phase and will cause damage to DNA. In fact, these results indicate that there are several effective factors in two species Daphne extract which damage DNA integrity and inhibit cell transfer from control point and can facilitate cell death at higher concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Australian Leishmania (Mundinia) macropodum parasite causes cutaneous leishmaniasis among marsupial species. Although cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major public health burden worldwide, it is not clear if humans are naturally exposed to the unique L. macropodum. To assess whether humans have an immunoglobulin (Ig) G response to L. macropodum, we examined anti-Leishmania antibodies among humans residing in a region of marsupial Leishmania endemicity in Australia., Methods: Using a serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we characterized Leishmania-specific IgG and IgG subclass responses to soluble Leishmania antigen from L. macropodum, and other Leishmania species (L. donovani, L. major, and L. mexicana) in 282 blood donor samples., Results: We found that 20.57% of individuals demonstrated a positive total IgG response to L. macropodum. For individuals with antibodies to soluble Leishmania antigen from one Leishmania species, there was no increased likelihood of recognition to other Leishmania species. For samples with detectable L. macropodum IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 were the prevalent subclasses detected., Conclusion: It is not yet clear whether the IgG antibody detection in this study reflects exposure to Leishmania parasites or a cross-reactive immune response that was induced against an unrelated immunogen. Future studies should investigate whether L. macropodum can result in a viable infection in humans., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Over the last decade, an arbovirus surveillance system based on the preservation of nucleic acids (RNA/DNA) has been developed using Flinders Technology Associates (FTA Ⓡ ) cards. Soaked in honey, FTA Ⓡ cards are applied in the field to detect arboviruses expectorated during mosquito sugar feeding. This technique has been shown to be inexpensive and efficient, and the implementation of this system for detecting parasites could be of international importance. As Leishmania parasites are highly prevalent in developing countries, FTA Ⓡ cards may offer an alternative inexpensive tool to enhance field surveillance activities for leishmaniasis. The simple approach of applying the cards in programs can substitute the necessary extensive training of personnel. In our hands, Leishmania macropodum DNA was shown to be stable on FTA Ⓡ cards during a 10-week time course, supporting their suitability for projects where direct access to laboratories is unobtainable and samples require storage prior to processing. This method may benefit programs in remote areas where accessibility to laboratory facilities are limited and samples need to be stored long-term.•This study found that FTA cards could be a valuable tool in the surveillance of leishmaniasis.•The method is based on the long-term preservation and detection of Leishmania DNA expectorated during insect sugar feeding.•The application of FTA cards can preclude the need to screen large samples and analysis of insect populations to provide evidence of disease transmission., Competing Interests: The Authors confirm that there are no conflicts of interest., (© 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Up until recently, Australia was considered free of Leishmania due to the absence of phlebotomine sandfly species (Diptera: Phlebotominae) known to transmit Leishmania parasites in other parts of the world. The discovery of Leishmania ( Mundinia ) macropodum (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in Northern Australia sparked questions as to the existence of alternative vectors of Leishmania . This has added to the complexity of fully understanding the parasite's interaction with its vector, which is known to be very specific. Previous findings demonstrated L. macropodum infection beyond the blood meal stage in the day-biting midges Forcipomyia ( Lasiohelea ) Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) implicating them in the parasite's life cycle. Currently, there is no conclusive evidence demonstrating this suspected vector to transmit L . macropodum to a naïve host. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the vector competency of day-biting midge F. ( Lasiohelea ) to transmit L . macropodum utilising a novel technology that preserves nucleic acids. Honey-soaked Flinders Technology Associates (FTA®) filter-paper cards were used to obtain saliva expectorated from biting midges while sugar-feeding. F . ( Lasiohelea ) were aspirated directly off macropods from a known Leishmania -transmission site and were kept in a waxed-paper container holding a honey-coated FTA® card for feeding. Insect identification and Taqman quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) screening assays revealed L. macropodum DNA in F. ( Lasiohelea ) up to 7 days post field-collection, and in an unidentified biting midge, previously known as F. (Lasiohelea ) sp.1. Moreover, 7/145 (4.83%) of FTA® cards were confirmed positive with L . macropodum DNA after exposure to field-collected F. (Lasiohelea ). Additionally, FTA® cards were found to be a valuable surveillance tool, given the ease of use in the field and laboratory. Overall, our findings support previous reports on L . macropodum transmission by an alternative vector to phlebotomine sandflies. Further studies identifying and isolating infective L. macropodum promastigotes is necessary to resolve questions on the L. macropodum vector., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2020 The Authors.)