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Objective: Most research on the therapeutic effects of wild pistachio species has focused on bacteria and fungi. This study investigated the flavonoid and phenolic contents of different leaves and hulls of Pistacia atlantica (P. atlantica) subsp. Kurdica (P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica) extracts and their effect on herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1). Methods: In this study, aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts of the leaf and hull of P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica were prepared by the percolation method. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents in different extracts were measured by UV/Vis spectrophotometry using the Folin-Ciocâlteu reagent and the colorimetric method of aluminum chloride, respectively. On African green monkey kidney cells (VERO), the ethanolic extract of P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica was tested for toxicity. Furthermore, 50% cytotoxic and inhibitory concentrations (CC50 and IC50) were identified. Results: Compared with aqueous and methanolic extracts, the ethanolic extract of the leaf and hull of P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica had the highest phenolic and flavonoid concentrations. In addition, our study showed that CC50 values were 661.81 and 795.21 μg/mL. Also, IC50 values were 97.51 and 110.82 μg/mL for leaf and hull extracts, respectively. The selectivity index for the ethanolic leaf and hull extracts were 6.79 and 7.18, respectively. Conclusion: Our results showed that P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica had an anti-HSV1 effect in a dose-dependent manner but at a higher dose than acyclovir. Ethanolic extract of P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica is probably a suitable herbal medicine with anti-herpetic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance has dramatically spread in recent decades and has become a serious problem in modern medicine. Honeybee venom or bee venom (BV) has anticancer, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of BV on certain pathogenic bacteria. The effects of different concentrations of BV against Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated by disk diffusion method (inhibition zone, IZ), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Additionally, the antibacterial activity of BV was compared with that of ampicillin, penicillin, and tetracycline. The results indicated that different concentrations of BV had an inhibitory effect on the pathogen species. The MIC and MBC of BV were 18 and 24 μg/mL for K. pneumonia, respectively, 38 and 42 μg/mL for P. aeruginosa, respectively, and 21 and 31 μg/mL for S. aureus, respectively. Among the bacterial species tested, BV was the most effective against K. pneumonia. Meanwhile, P. aeruginosa was the most resistant against BV. The comparison revealed that 100 μg/mL BV had a greater effect on IZ against P. aeruginosa and K. pneumonia compared with evaluated common antibiotics (p < 0.05). This study showed that BV demonstrated antibacterial effects. Precise toxicology examinations are required for the development of new antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal drugs in this category are in alternative agents and for several years they have been used all around the world. The aim of this study is to examine the antimicrobial properties of three species of Punica granatum on Candida albicans and Escherichia coli and to compare it to some common antibiotics. Firstly the extracts of P. granatum var. pleniflora, P. granatum var. Sweet Alak, P. granatum var. Saveh Black leather and leaf Portulaca olearaceae were prepared and the amount of total phenol and free radical scavenging activity had been measured in the plants. Next the antimicrobial activity of prepared extracts was determined on Candida albicans and Escherichia coli and it was compared to some common antibiotics. Also MIC50, MIC90, MFC and MBC of extracts were determined. The statistical analysis of data for checking inhibition zone (IZ) was done using Factorial test in random design and means comparison was done via Tokey method. Results showed that the high concentration of treatment P. granatum var. pleniflora had the most effect on IZ (P<0.0001) and the highest amounts of phenol and antioxidant activity is related to P. granatum var. pleniflora flower. The comparison of antibiotics and herbal extracts on Candida albicans and Escherichia coli showed that concentration 30% of P. granatum var. pleniflora has a more significant potential compared to Amfoterisin B and antibacterial drugs. From the obtained results, it is clear that the methanolic extract of P. granatum flower can be used against Candida albicans and Escherichia coli in different concentrations. It is suggested to conduct other experiments in alternative medicine and to use the extract on different microbial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichoderma spp. serves as biocontrol and growth promoting agents for many crop plants due to their antagonistic properties against plant pathogens. Nanoparticles have become of an interest relatively recently, mostly because of their possible use in diverse technologies. In this research we have investigated the role of silver nanoparticles on growth rate of two biocontrol agent species of Trichoderma viride and T. harzianum by measuring the diameter of colonies of fungi on potato dextrose agar and the dry weight of mycelia culture medium. In this test in order to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration, 25, 50, 100 and 150 ppm of silver nanoparticles were used. General Regression Analysis was used to determine both the time and concentration variable and the possible interactions. The results showed that silver nanoparticles caused inhibited the growth of the two species of fungi. In this paper we suggest that silver nanoparticles, because of the harmful effects on environment, should be used less. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]