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The oleo gum resin of Boswellia sacra Fleuck. (Burseraceae) is widely consumed for treatment of several diseases and disorders. To determine the effect of repeated administration of this resin on liver and kidney functions, three different doses of standardized methanolic extract were administered orally to rats for 28 days. Apart from histological studies and determination of biomarkers of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, other parameters of sub-chronic toxicity such as behavioral change, food consumption and change in body weight were assessed. The extract contained about 36.91% of total boswellic acids; of which 11-keto beta boswellic acid, acetyl-11-keto beta boswellic acid, boswellic acids (α and β) and acetyl boswellic acid (α and β) were found to be 5.81%, 1.91%, 21.92% and 7.27% respectively. Oral administration of the extract for 28 consecutive days did not show any sign of behavioral toxicity and did not affect food consumption or weight gain significantly. Determination of biomarkers of hepatic and nephrotoxicity revealed that extract was safe at the tested doses as it did not produce any significant change in the studied biomarkers except producing a dose dependent increase in serum total protein levels. The histological examination supported biochemical findings. To conclude, methanolic extract of Boswellia sacra doen not produce any significant toxicity to liver and kidney up to doses of 100 mg/kg body weight. The results contradict earlier reports that members of boswellia species produce organ toxicity in rats. Keywords: Frankincense, Boswellic acid, Biomarkers, Sub-chronic toxicity, HPLC

Al-Ghanayem AA, Al Sobeai SM, Alhussaini MS, Joseph B, Saadabi AM. 2017. Antibacterial activity of certain Saudi Arabian medicinal plants used in folk medicine against different groups of bacteria. Nusantara Bioscience 9: 392-395. Medicinal plants from Saudi Arabia has been used in folk medicine for treatment of many diseases. The present research is on medicinal plants, which are locally available such as Acacia ehrenbergiana (Arabic: Salam) (Fabaceae), Calotropis procera (Arabic: Ausher) (Apocynaceae), Haloxylon salicornicum (Arabic: Rimth) (Amaranthaceae), Panicum turgidum (Arabic: Thuman) (Poaceae), Tamarix arabica (Arabic: Athal) (Tamaricaceae), Rhazya stricta (Arabic: Harmal) (Apocynaceae) Rumex vesicarius (Arabic: Humeid) (Polygonaceae) for antimicrobial activity by agar well diffusion method. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) has been determined by broth micro dilution method. A. ehrenbergiana was active against Klebsiella pneumoniae. R. vesicarius and T. arabica showed antibacterial activity against Proteus vulgaris. C. procera showed a moderate inhibitory activity against the bacterial pathogens tested. H. salicornicum extract was more effective towards Gram-positive bacteria. However, other extracts such as P. turgidum and R. stricta were less active against both Gram-positive and negative bacteria tested. The results will be helpful in discovering new phytochemical components with antibacterial activity that can be used against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is an important gastrointestinal pathogen associated with gastritis, peptic ulcers, and an increased risk of gastric carcinoma. The present study was carried out to determine the relationship between this organism with different gastrointestinal ailments.Methods: 150 outpatients referrals to Saudi Arabian Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was recruited in January to June 2015. Each patient was subjected to endoscopic examination. Biopsy specimens were taken from the stomach for rapid urease test and culture. Suspected H. pylori colonies were subjected to colony morphology identification, microscopical examination and biochemical reactions. The samples were also subjected to PCR to detect ureA subunit of urease gene.Results: The endoscopic examination of patients revealed normal, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastritis, and gastric cancer with a rate of 20.7%, 20%, 24%, 33.3%, and 2%, respectively. Direct smear exam revealed that 52% of patients were H. pylori positive while culture and rapid urease test showed a prevalence of 71.33%. Fifty four biopsies (36%) were urease positive after 1 hour at room temperature, 39 (62%) after 1 hour incubation at 37°C and 14 (71.33%) after 24 hours incubation. Isolated H. pylori showed that they were catalase, oxidase, and urease positive. PCR results showed 411-bp fragment, which is indicative for the ureA subunit of urease gene.Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was high among tested population. Strong association between H. pylori and duodenal ulcer was noticed. A 411-bp fragment indicative of the ureA subunit of urease gene was detected in all the tested isolates.

Background This investigation compared genetic similarities and diversities within and among Cladosporium species populations using the two PCR-based markers; Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS)-PCR and microsatellite-PCR. Methodology Nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers have been used to analyze intraspecific and interspecific relationships in various fungi. In the present study, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-PCR and microsatellite-PCR were used to identify the genetic diversities in Cladosporium species. Results The Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) was amplified using polymerase chain reaction combining primers ITS4 and ITS5. The PCR products were digested with three restriction enzymes and separated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Restriction patterns generated by CfoI and Msp I and RsaI were unique for most species assayed. The ITS-PCR fingerprinting methods led to a clear differentiation of the isolates at the species level. Fingerprinting profiles generated readily discriminated between each of the 6 species. Cluster analysis further supported this observation and clusters corresponding to each species were readily identified in the dendrograms. Seven microsatellite primers out of eight primers were unable to generate visible DNA fingerprints. Conclusion Amplification experiments demonstrated that microsatellite primer, T3B and (GTG) 5 are technically simple tools for assaying genetic variability in Cladosporium spp.

The prevalence of Candida infections of the urinary tract (candiduria)has increased significantly over the past few years due to various predisposing factors especially in hospitalized patients. The predisposing factors frequently asso-ciated with candiduria are urinary tract instrumentation, prior antibiotic use, prolonged hospital stay, extremes of age, di-abetes mellitus, female sex and use of immunosuppressive therapy. The purpose of this study was to apply different diag-nostic techniques for characterization of Candida species in urine samples from renal failure patients using urinary cathe-ters. Results showed that 20 % of renal failure patients were suffering from candiduria. Females were more affected than males (64% versus 36% of culture positive cases). Diabetes mellitus and catheterization were the obvious risk factors. Dif-ferent Candida isolates showed variations in their phenotypic (macroscopic and microscopic) characteristics when cultured on CHROMagar Candida, corn meal agar and bovine serum. Candida albicans was the most common species being isolated from 54% of positive cases. C.krusei (Teleomorph: Pichia kudriavzevii), C. glabrata and C.tropicalis were respectively identified in 24%, 16% and 6% of samples. Positive germ tube test (in serum) and production of chlamydospores (on corn meal agar) were only confined to C. albicans. Sequencing of rRNA gene (18S covering ITS1 and ITS2) confirmed the identification of the four Candida species. In vitro antifungal sensitivity test (disc diffusion method) revealed that all Candida strains were inhibited by Amphotericin-B and Nystatin. Other compounds as Clotrimazole, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Tioconazole, Fluconazole and Sertaconazole were effective against 50% - 67% of Candida strains. All isolates of C. glabrata were resistant to Clotrimazole and Sertaconazole.It is highly recommended to follow standard hygienic precautions to avoid cross contamination by Candida during hemodialysis. Complications following candiduria can be avoided by early diagnosis and proper treatment with effective antifungal agents.