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Background: Microbial infections are important challenges to health, and health care officials have major difficulties dealing with them especially regarding their antibiotic resistance. The main aim of this study was to evaluate drug synergistic and anti-bacterial effects of cuminum cyminum essential oil on some pathogen bacteria. Materials and Methods: Cuminum cyminum essential oil was extracted from its fruit. For evaluation of antibacterial effects of the essential oil, disc diffusion method through the measurement of the inhibitory zone diameter and micro-broth dilution for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on several standard bacteria were used. In evaluation of the synergistic and antagonistic effects, standard bacteria were cultured in the media containing essential oil, and antibiotic discs were, then, placed on it. Results: According to the results of disc diffusion test in Agar, cuminum cyminum essential oil, with a 44 mm inhibition zone, had the greatest antibacterial activity against bacillus cereus. It had the greatest positive co-action with gentamicin (10 µg) on escherichia coli. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that cuminum cyminum essential oil alone or in combination with antimicrobial agents may be useful in treatment of bacterial infections. Additionally, this component can enhance the effect of some antibiotics this implies its application, especially in drug resistance cases.

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Background: Correct use of cuminum cyminum and finding its different applications in medicine and industry necessitates a more clear understanding of this medicinal plant. This study deals with identifying the effects of the essential oil of this herbal plant on macrophages and tumor cell lines. Materials and Methods:Cuminum cyminum essential oil was extracted from its fruit, and its effects on peritoneal macrophages and LPS stimulated macrophages were examined. MTT assay was done for evaluation of macrophages viability and the amount of nitric oxide (NO) in culture supernant was measured by Griess Reagent. WEHI-164 mice fibrosarcoma cell line was cultured with different concentrations of cuminum cyminum and cytotoxicity level was evaluated by MTT assay. Results: The viability of macrophages and also, the amount of NO production in 50 and 500 μg/ml cuminum cyminum essential oil was lower than that of the control group (p<0.001). MTT assay showed that cuminum cyminum essential oil in 50 and 500 μg/ml concentrations significantly inhibits tumor cells growth (p<0.001). Conclusion: Cuminum cyminum essential oil by having immune-modulatory properties can be used in treatment of many inflammatory and immunologic disorders. Also, it can be used as a therapeutic or complementary agent in tumor therapy.

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Background: Due to problems caused by traditional dressings, scientists have long been in search for producing alternative cellulose. Unique characteristics of bacterial cellulose synthesized by acetobacter xylinum, due to its nanostructure cellulose, resulted in attempts to devise an ideal dressing with this cellulose. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of impregnated bacterial cellulose on staphylococcus aureus culture. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, cellulose disks synthesized by bacterial cellulose and cellulose blank disks (without antibiotic) were placed in 3.3% ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. These disks were, then, together with ciprofloxacin standard, control cellulose, and cellulose blank disks, placed on the cultured media of staphylococcus aureus. After 24 hours, the results were obtained through the measurement of growth inhibition zone. Determining the amount of antibiotic absorbed into bacterial cellulose can be done through the comparison of the effects of cellulose disks containing different concentrations of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride and ciprofloxacin standard disks. Results: Both cellulose and blank disks created a growth inhibition zone in staphylococcus aureus media, whereas the growth inhibition zone of cellulose and cellulose blank disks (negative control) were insignificant. Conclusion: Noticing the unique characteristics of bacterial cellulose as a dressing and its proven ability in absorption and release of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, the prospects are seen for production of antibiotics containing dressings of this microbial product in future.

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Background: Some plant extracts, including species of Santolina have antibacterial effects and they can be used as antimicrobial agents in treatment of infections. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the compounds of essential oil and the anti-microbial properties of its essential oil and extract. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, yarrow plant in late spring was collected from Sistan region in 2008. The compounds of the essential oil were analyzed by GC/MS. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and diameter of inhibition zone of growth for the standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, E.coli, P.aeruginosa, and Candida.albicans were determined through disk diffusion and agar-well diffusion methods and dilution in the liquid medium, respectively. Results: Camphor was the major compound of the essential oil. The standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus presented the greatest sensitivity to the stem extract and leaf extract in MIC> 0.573 and MBC> 1.146, respectively and to the flower extract in MBC> 1.663 and MIC> 0.831, respectively. In addition, it presented an intermediate sensitivity to standard strains E.coli with MBC> 2.293 and MIC> 1.146, respectively to the stem and leaf extract and MBC> 6.650 and MIC> 3.325 respectively to the flower extract. However, the standard strains of Candida albicans and P.aeruginosa did not show a significant sensitivity to the extracts. Also, the essential oil of this plant in comparison with the extracts did not have any significant antimicrobial effects. Conclusion: The plant extracts, especially stem and leaf possess anti-bacterial effects. But further investigations are needed for determining its exact mechanism

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Background: Bacterial cellulose synthesized by acetobacter xylinum is a harmless microbial product with unique characteristics as an ideal dress that many studies have been done on. The aim of this study was to consider the capability of this product in absorption and release of tetracycline hydrochloride. Indication of this capability can pave the way for supplying a new dressing containing antibiotic from bacterial cellulose. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, cellulose sheet was initially impregnated on aqueous solution of tetracycline hydrochloride. Then the release process was considered in diluted water and normal saline. Ultra violet spectrophotometry method was applied to the detection of the antibiotic during absorption and release processes. Results: The results of data analysis demonstrated that bacterial cellulose has a great potential in absorption of tetracycline hydrochloride and can release it in a wet environment. Conclusion: Considering the advantages of bacterial cellulose over traditional dressings, the results of this study can provide the ground for further research on supplying an ideal dressing containing antibiotic from this microbial product.

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Background: Vibrio cholera toxin B (CTB) subunit is the pentameric non-toxic portion of cholera toxin (CT) which is responsible for the holotoxin binding to the GM1 ganglioside receptor present on nucleated cells. this study was to produce, purify, and verify recombinant CTB (rCTB) subunitin prokaryotic system. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, rCTB expression vector (pET-28a) which could be induced in E. coli (BL21) was designed and synthesized. Then the recombinant expression strains containing the result of IPTG interaction were induced and the rCTB was generated on small and large scales. The rCTB produced through Ni2+-charged resin, after refolding and free of possible CTA contaminants, was extracted. After purification, rCTB was verified by Western blotting. Results: The results indicated the level of purification to be about 480µg of purified active pentameric rCTB for each liter of the induced culture. Also, Western blotting analysis showed that recombinant CTB is strongly and specifically recognized by polyclonal antibodies against the cholera toxin. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated that E.coli is an available host for production of CTB. In addition, the designed host and vector can be used in large scale production of this protein