No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
Antibacterial properties of beeswax food wraps and enhancement with propolis: a novel study
Abstract
In recent years, wraps made with beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin have emerged both in the form of commercial and home-made products as a sustainable alternative to clingfilm. This study evaluated the antimicrobial properties of their components and explored a potential enhancement with propolis. Food grade beeswax and propolis samples were extracted by reflux, and jojoba oil and pine resin by Soxhlet, and solvent extraction respectively. The antimicrobial effects of the extracts against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were evaluated using the agar disc diffusion method. A novel method using extract-impregnated discs in bacterial suspensions was also trialled. Combinations of extracts were tested to detect interaction effects (IE) between components. Beeswax and jojoba oil showed no antimicrobial activity (P>0·05), resin reduced the growth of S. aureus (P<0.001), and propolis inhibited both S. aureus (P=0·011) and E. coli. Synergistic interactions were detected between the wrap components (IE=-59·73%) and between beeswax and propolis (IE=-27·88%), but only against S. aureus. The results showed that beeswax food wraps possess antimicrobial properties, and that propolis may enhance these by additivity or synergy. Overestimation of bacterial concentrations likely occurred due to method flaws, therefore possible improvements were identified to increase method reliability. Further studies including larger number of replicates are required to confirm the described results.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
In this work, beeswax was used for the first time for finishing polyester/Cotton/Viscose blend fabric and polyester fabric. The aims of the study were: (1) to characterize the composition of beeswax (using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, GC-MS and 109AgNPET laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI MS); (2) to develop a laboratory method for applying beeswax; (3) to assess the antimicrobial activity of beeswax fabrics against bacteria and fungi (AATCC 100–2004 test); and (4) to assess the properties of textiles modified by beeswax. Beeswax was composed of fatty acids, monoacyl esters, glyceride esters and more complex lipids. The bioactivity of modified fabrics was from −0.09 to 1.55. The highest biocidal activity (>1) was obtained for both fabrics against A. niger mold. The beeswax modification process neither affected the morphological structure of the fibers (the wax evenly covered the surface of the fibers) nor their color. The only statistically significant changes observed were in the mechanical properties of the fabrics. The results obtained indicate that modification of fabrics with beeswax may endow them with biocidal properties against molds, which has practical applications, for example, for the prevention of skin mycoses in health and social care facilities.
Although synergy is a pillar of modern pharmacology, toxicology, and medicine, there is no consensus on its definition despite its nearly one hundred-year history. Moreover, methods for statistical determination of synergy that account for variation of response to treatment are underdeveloped and if exist are reduced to the traditional t-test, but do not comply with the normal distribution assumption. We offer statistical models for estimation of synergy using an established definition of Bliss drugs’ independence. Although Bliss definition is well-known, it remains a theoretical concept and has never been applied for statistical determination of synergy with various forms of treatment outcome. We rigorously and consistently extend the Bliss definition to detect statistically significant synergy under various designs: (1) in vitro, when the outcome of a cell culture experiment with replicates is the proportion of surviving cells for a single dose or multiple doses, (2) dose-response methodology, (3) in vivo studies in organisms, when the outcome is a longitudinal measurement such as tumor volume, and (4) clinical studies, when the outcome of treatment is measured by survival. For each design, we developed a specific statistical model and demonstrated how to test for independence, synergy, and antagonism, and compute the associated p-value.
Background: The antimicrobial activity of essential oils has been reported in hundreds of studies, however, the great majority of these studies attribute the activity to the most prevalent compounds without analyzing them independently. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the antibacterial activity of 33 free terpenes commonly found in essential oils and evaluate the cellular ultrastructure to verify possible damage to the cellular membrane. Methods: Screening was performed to select substances with possible antimicrobial activity, then the minimal inhibitory concentrations, bactericidal activity and 24-h time-kill curve studies were evaluated by standard protocols. In addition, the ultrastructure of control and death bacteria were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Results: Only 16 of the 33 compounds had antimicrobial activity at the initial screening. Eugenol exhibited rapid bactericidal action against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (2 h). Terpineol showed excellent bactericidal activity against S. aureus strains. Carveol, citronellol and geraniol presented a rapid bactericidal effect against E. coli. Conclusions: The higher antimicrobial activity was related to the presence of hydroxyl groups (phenolic and alcohol compounds), whereas hydrocarbons resulted in less activity. The first group, such as carvacrol, l-carveol, eugenol, trans-geraniol, and thymol, showed higher activity when compared to sulfanilamide. Images obtained by scanning electron microscopy indicate that the mechanism causing the cell death of the evaluated bacteria is based on the loss of cellular membrane integrity of function. The present study brings detailed knowledge about the antimicrobial activity of the individual compounds present in essential oils, that can provide a greater understanding for the future researches.
Introduction: Plants are a rich source of bioactive compounds. Simmondsia chinensis, also known as Jojoba, is the sole member the Simmondsiaceae's family and has been known traditionally for many medical uses. Objectives: Herein we evaluate the value of crude jojoba oil (J.O) as an antimicrobial agent in vitro. Methods: J.O was tested for potential antimicro bial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Asperigillus flavus. Results: Our results did not show any effect on fungi or yeast. However a significant antibacterial activity was observed against B. subtilis, S. aureus, P. vulgaris, P mirabilis. A high activity was observed for J.O at Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC level of 12.5 mg/ml. Interestingly, S. typhimurium, E. coli and Ps. aeruginosa were found to be highly resistant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that J.O may have a medicinal potentia as natural antibacterial agent.
Propolis is a natural substance collected by honey bees from various plants such as, poplar, palm, pine, conifer secretions, gums, resins, mucilage and leaf buds. It is collected and brought very painstakingly by honey bees to be used for sealing cracks and crevices occurring in their hives. Originally, it as an antiseptic meant for preventing beehive from microbial infections along with preventing decomposition of intruders. Additionally, propolis has been used in folk medicine for centuries. The biological characteristics of propolis depend upon its chemical composition, plant sources, geographical zone and seasons. More than 300 compounds have been identified in propolis such as, phenolic compounds, aromatic acids, essential oils, waxes and amino acids. Many scientific articles are published every year in different international journals, and several groups of researchers have focused their attention on the chemical compounds and biological activity of propolis.
Natural medicines were the only option for the prevention and treatment of human diseases for thousands of years. Natural products are important sources for drug development. The amounts of bioactive natural products in natural medicines are always fairly low. Today, it is very crucial to develop effective and selective methods for the extraction and isolation of those bioactive natural products. This paper intends to provide a comprehensive view of a variety of methods used in the extraction and isolation of natural products. This paper also presents the advantage, disadvantage and practical examples of conventional and modern techniques involved in natural products research.
Reliance on pure cultures was introduced at the beginning of microbiology as a discipline and has remained significant although their adaptive properties are essentially dissimilar from those of mixed cultures and environmental populations. They are needed for (i) taxonomic identification; (ii) diagnostics of pathogens; (iii) virulence and pathogenicity studies; (iv) elucidation of metabolic properties; (v) testing sensitivity to antibiotics; (vi) full-length genome assembly; (vii) strain deposition in microbial collections; and (viii) description of new species with name validation. Depending on the specific task there are alternative claims for culture purity, i.e., when conventional criteria are satisfied or when looking deeper is necessary. Conventional proof (microscopic and plating controls) has a low resolution and depends on the observer’s personal judgement. Phenotypic criteria alone cannot prove culture purity and should be complemented with genomic criteria. We consider the possible use of DNA high-throughput culture sequencing data to define criteria for only one genospecies, axenic state detection panel and only one genome. The second and third of these are preferable, although their resolving capacity (depth) is limited. Because minor contaminants may go undetected, even with deep sequencing, the reliably pure culture would be a clonal culture launched from a single cell or trichome (multicellular bacterium). Although this type of culture is associated with technical difficulties and cannot be employed on a large scale (the corresponding inoculums may have low chances of growth when transferred to solid media), it is hoped that the high-throughput culturing methods introduced by ‘culturomics’ will overcome this obstacle.
Food preservation is a vital issue on a global scale. It reflects both the need to prevent food spoilage as well as the necessity for reduction in the occurrence of food-borne pathogens. Progress of technology allowed for the development of various techniques that inhibit the growth or activity of food contaminating microbes. In the last few years we saw creation of various types of antimicrobial food packaging systems. They contain active antimicrobial agents immobilized on a material that acts as a food wrap. In this paper we have tested the efficiency of Abeego, a commercially available food wrap, against representatives of different groups of microbes. The Abeego wrap contains natural products such as waxes and oils, which can display antimicrobial activity. We analyzed the ability of the wrap and its components to affect the growth and replication of various groups of microorganisms. We have discovered that the Abeego wrap was capable of significantly inhibiting the viable cell count of bacterial species - both gram positive and gram negative. However no noticeable antifungal or antiviral activity has been observed. This implies that Abeego wrap can act as an efficient mean of inhibiting the spread of food-borne bacterial pathogens, as well as contribute to preventing food spoilage.
In the field of orthopaedic surgery, bacterial invasion of implants and the resulting periprosthetic infections are a common and unresolved problem. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods help to define the optimal treatment and identify antimicrobial resistance. This review discusses proven gold-standard techniques and recently developed models for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, while also providing a future outlook. Conventional, gold-standard methods, such as broth microdilution, are still widely applied in clinical settings. Although recently developed methods based on microfluidics and microdroplets have shown advantages over conventional methods in terms of testing speed, safety and the potential to provide a deeper insight into resistance mechanisms, extensive validation is required to translate this research to clinical practice. Recent optical and mechanical methods are complex and expensive and, therefore, not immediately clinically applicable. Novel osteoblast infection and tissue models best resemble infections in vivo. However, the integration of biomaterials into these models remains challenging and they require a long tissue culture, making their rapid clinical implementation unlikely. A method applicable for both clinical and research environments is difficult to realise. With a continuous increase in antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need for methods that analyse recurrent infections to identify the optimal treatment approaches.
Graphical abstractTimeline of published and partly applied antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods, listed according to their underlying mechanism, complexity and application in research or clinics.
Jojoba is considered a promising oil crop and is cultivated for diverse purposes in many countries. The jojoba seed produces unique high-quality oil with a wide range of applications such as medical and industrial-related products. The plant also has potential value in combatting desertification and land degradation in dry and semi-dry areas. Although the plant is known for its high-temperature and high-salinity tolerance growth ability, issues such as its male-biased ratio, relatively late flowering and seed production time hamper the cultivation of this plant. The development of efficient biotechnological platforms for better cultivation and an improved production cycle is a necessity for farmers cultivating the plant. In the last 20 years, many efforts have been made for in vitro cultivation of jojoba by applying different molecular biology techniques. However, there is a lot of work to be done in order to reach satisfactory results that help to overcome cultivation problems. This review presents a historical overview, the medical and industrial importance of the jojoba plant, agronomy aspects and nutrient requirements for the plant’s cultivation, and the role of recent biotechnology and molecular biology findings in jojoba research.
Honeybees produce honey, royal jelly, propolis, bee venom, bee pollen, and beeswax, which potentially benefit to humans due to the bioactives in them. Clinical standardization of these products is hindered by chemical variability depending on honeybee and botanical sources, but different molecules have been isolated and pharmacologically characterized. Major honey bioactives include phenolics, methylglyoxal, royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), and oligosaccharides. In royal jelly there are antimicrobial jelleins and royalisin peptides, MRJPs, and hydroxy-decenoic acid derivatives, notably 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuromodulatory, metabolic syndrome preventing, and anti-aging activities. Propolis contains caffeic acid phenethyl ester and artepillin C, specific of Brazilian propolis, with antiviral, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. Bee venom consists of toxic peptides like pain-inducing melittin, SK channel blocking apamin, and allergenic phospholipase A2. Bee pollen is vitaminic, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant phenolics, as well as antiatherosclerotic, antidiabetic, and hypoglycemic flavonoids, unsaturated fatty acids, and sterols. Beeswax is widely used in cosmetics and makeup. Given the importance of drug discovery from natural sources, this review is aimed at providing an exhaustive screening of the bioactive compounds detected in honeybee products and of their curative or adverse biological effects.
The idea of synergistic interactions between drugs and chemicals has been an important issue in the biomedical world for over a century. As complex diseases, especially cancer, are being treated with various drug cocktails, understanding the interactions among these drugs is increasingly vital to ensuring successful treatment regimens. However, the idea of synergy is not limited to only the biomedical realm and these ideas have developed across many different disciplines, as well. In this review, we first discuss the various terminology surrounding the idea of synergy, providing a comprehensive list of terms defined across numerous disciplines. We then review the most common methodology for detection and quantification of synergy, including the two most prominent reference models for describing additive interactions: Loewe Additivity and Bliss Independence. We also discuss advantages and limitations to each method, with a focus on the Chou-Talalay Combination Index method. Finally, we describe how methods development and terminology have developed among disciplines outside of biomedicine and pharmacology, to synthesize the literature for readers.
Objective: To evaluate the performance of preliminary phytochemical, antioxidant and
antimicrobial activities of Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f. (Agavaceae) (D. cinnabari) resin, collected
from Socotra Island (Yemen).
Methods: The powdered stem resin is extracted with different solvents by using Soxhlet
apparatus and evaluated for antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against three Gram positive
bacteria (Bacillus cereus NCIM 2106, Staphylococcus aureus NCIM 2127, and Micrococcus luteus
NCIM 2169), seven Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli NCIM 2924, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
NCIM 2863, Salmonella typhimurium NCIM 2501, Klebsiella aerogenes NCIM 2281, Proteus morganii
NCIM 2860, Escherichia coli dh5α, Escherichia coli CSH) and three fungi (Candida albicans MTCC
227, Aspergillus flavus MTCC 873, Aspergillus niger MTCC 1781).
Results: The antimicrobial activity data revealed that, the selected microorganisms possess
varied sensitivity response to chloroform extract followed by methanol and benzene extract of D.
cinnabari stem resin. The samples also possess a potent DPPH, OH and SO radical scavenging
activity. In addition, the preliminary phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of
alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids and other organic compounds which could be reason for
antimicrobial activities of D. cinnabari resin.
Conclusions: The present study is strengthened for the discovery and development of new
antioxidant and antimicrobial drugs from D. cinnabari resin which encourage us to continue with
pure fractions.
Plastics are integral part of society and have varied application. Plastics are composed of a network of molecular monomers bound together to form macromolecules. There are increasing concerns due to non degradability and generation of toxic gases on combustion during incineration. Due to fabrication of desired shape colour and specification convenient to customers there is increasing application in packaging, agriculture, automobiles and biomedical. They are indispensable to the modern generation due to development in information technology, intelligent and smart packaging system. Efforts are in progress for development of efficient and precise conversation of renewable raw materials into innovative polymeric product through recent technologies which are superior in terms of performance, environmental and cost perspectives. In rivers and at coastal regions the marine pollution is increasing at a faster rate due to indiscriminate disposal by the consumers. R&D studies are now centred for investigating whether consumption of plastic debris by marine organism translates into toxic exposures for people who consume seafood with particular relevance to plasticisers, stabilizers, heavy metals viz phthalates, BPA, lead cadmium, methyl mercury. Biological effects from pollution are linked with resulting economic effects and losses. A cornerstone of sustainable development is the establishment of affordable, effective and truly sustainable waste management practices in developing countries.
Microorganisms are the major cause of spoilage in most seafood products; however, only few microbes, called the specific spoilage organisms (SSOs), contribute to the offensive off-flavors associated with seafood spoilage. In food, microbial degradation manifests itself as spoilage, or changes in the sensory properties of a food product, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption. The use of antimicrobial substances can control the general microflora as well as specific microorganisms related to spoilage to provide products with higher safety and better quality. Many antimicrobial compounds have been evaluated in film structures for use in seafood, especially organic acids and their salts, enzymes, bacteriocins; some studies have considered inorganic compounds such as AgSiO2, zinc oxide, silver zeolite, and titanium oxide. The characteristics of some organic antimicrobial packaging systems for seafood and their antimicrobial efficiency in film structures are reviewed in this article.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in researching and developing new antimicrobial agents from various sources to combat the emergence of the microbial resistance. Therefore, a greater attention was paid on antimicrobial activity screening and evaluating methods. Several bioassays are well known and commonly used such as disk-diffusion, well diffusion and broth or agar dilution, but others are not widely used such as flow cytofluorometric and bioluminescent methods because they require specified equipment and further evaluation for reproducibility and standardization, even if they can provide a rapid results of the antimicrobial agent’ effects and a better understood of their impact on the viability and cell damage inflicted to the tested microorganism. In this present review article, an exhaustive list of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods and detailed information on their advantages and limitations are reported.
The current study was intended to investigate biological and chemical assessment of the Sudanese Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) oil. Physical and chemical properties were investigated using standard methods and GC-MS, respectively. Total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents were studied using Folin–Ciocalteu reagent method and AlCl3 methods. Antiproliferative and antibacterial activities were also investigated. Physical and chemical properties of Sudanese were observed to be comparable to published data of the oil studied from different parts of the world. Based on the dose-response graph plotted, oil was not effective against CEM-ss cancer cells. On the other hand Jojoba oil failed to exhibit any antibacterial against MRSA, Bacillus subtilis B29, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 60690 and Salmonella choleraesuis. TPC and TFC of this oil is 18.421±12.2 (GAE mg/g oil) and 12.2±2.8 (RE mg/g oil), respectively. The IC50 of DPPH free radical scavenging activity was observed to be 126.2±23 µg/mL. The minor differences in the properties of the Sudanese jojoba seed oil should not reduce its usefulness as commercial seed oil.
Propolis is a honeybee product with broad clinical applications. Current literature describes that propolis is collected from plant resins. From a systematic database search, 241 compounds were identified in propolis for the first time between 2000 and 2012; and they belong to such diverse chemical classes as flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, terpenenes, stilbenes, lignans, coumarins, and their prenylated derivatives, showing a pattern consistent with around 300 previously reported compounds. The chemical characteristics of propolis are linked to the diversity of geographical location, plant sources and bee species.
Resin is a chemical and physical defensive barrier secreted by many plants, especially coniferous trees, with insecticidal and antimicrobial properties. The degradation of terpenes, the main components accounting for the toxicity of resin, is highly relevant for a vast range of biotechnological processes, including bioremediation. In the present work, we used a resin-based selective medium in order to study the resin-tolerant microbial communities associated with the galls formed by the moth Retinia resinella; as well as resin from Pinus sylvestris forests, one of the largest ecosystems on Earth and a yet-unexplored source of terpene-degrading microorganisms. The taxonomic and functional diversity of the cultivated, resin-tolerant fraction of the whole microbiota were unveiled by high-throughput sequencing, which resulted in the detection of more than 40 bacterial genera among the terpene-degrading microorganisms, and a range of genes involved in the degradation of different terpene families. We further characterized through culture-based approaches and transcriptome sequencing selected microbial strains, including Pseudomonas sp., the most abundant species in both environmental resin and R. resinella resin-rich galls, and three fungal species, and experimentally confirmed their ability to degrade resin and also other terpene-based compounds and, thus, their potential use in biotechnological applications involving terpene catabolism.
Monitoring cell growth and measuring physical features of food-borne pathogenic bacteria are important for better understanding
the conditions under which these organisms survive and proliferate. To address this challenge, buoyant masses of live and
dead Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria innocua were measured using Archimedes, a commercially available suspended microchannel resonator (SMR). Cell growth was monitored
with Archimedes by observing increased cell concentration and buoyant mass values of live growing bacteria. These growth data
were compared to optical density measurements obtained with a Bioscreen system. We observed buoyant mass measurements with
Archimedes at cell concentrations between 105 and 108 cells/ml, while growth was not observed with optical density measurements until the concentration was 107 cells/ml. Buoyant mass measurements of live and dead cells with and without exposure to hydrogen peroxide stress were also
compared; live cells generally had a larger buoyant mass than dead cells. Additionally, buoyant mass measurements were used
to determine cell density and total mass for both live and dead cells. Dead E. coli cells were found to have a larger density and smaller total mass than live E. coli cells. In contrast, density was the same for both live and dead L. innocua cells, while the total mass was greater for live than for dead cells. These results contribute to the ongoing challenge to
further develop existing technologies used to observe cell populations at low concentrations and to measure unique physical
features of cells that may be useful for developing future diagnostics.
Propolis is the generic name given to the product obtained from resinous substances, which is gummy and balsamic and which is collected by bees from flowers, buds, and exudates of plants. It is a popular folk medicine possessing a broad spectrum of biological activities. These biological properties are related to its chemical composition and more specifically to the phenolic compounds that vary in their structure and concentration depending on the region of production, availability of sources to collect plant resins, genetic variability of the queen bee, the technique used for production, and the season in which propolis is produced. Many scientific articles are published every year in different international journal, and several groups of researchers have focused their attention on the chemical compounds and biological activity of propolis. This paper presents a review on the publications on propolis and patents of applications and biological constituents of propolis.
The aim of this study was to test the antimicrobial activity of propolis, bee pollen loads and beeswax samples collected in the year 2009 from two locations in Slovakia to pathogenic bacteria, microscopic fungi and yeasts. The antimi-crobial effect of the bee product samples were tested using the agar well diffusion method. For extraction, 99.9% and 70% methanol (aqueous, v/v) and 96% and 70% ethanol (aqueous, v/v) were used. Five different strains of bacteria, i.e. Listeria monocytogenes ccM 4699, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ccM 1960; Staphylococcus aureus ccM 3953; Salmonella enterica ccM 4420, Escherichia coli ccM 3988, three different strains of microscopic fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and seven different strains of yeasts Candida krusei, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Geotrichum candidum, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, were tested. After 48 hours S. aureus was the bacterium most sensitive to the 70% ethanol extract of pollen, A. fumigatus was the most sensitive microscopic fungus (70% ethanol) and C. glabrata the most sensitive yeast (70% methanol). Microorganisms most sensitive to propolis extracts were L. monocytogenes, A. fumigatus (70% ethanol) and G. candidum (70% methanol). Most sensitive to beeswax extracts were E. coli, A. niger and C. tropicalis.
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is the causative agent of typhoid fever in humans, and the use of antibiotics is essential for controlling this infection; however, the excessive use of antibiotics may select resistant strains. Propolis is a honeybee product and its antimicrobial activity has been intensively investigated. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate a possible synergism between propolis (collected in Brazil and Bulgaria) and antibiotics acting on the ribosome (chloramphenicol, tetracycline and neomycin) against Salmonella Typhi in vitro. The synergism was investigated by using ½ and ¼ of the minimum inhibitory concentration for propolis and these antimicrobial agents, evaluating the number of viable cells according to the incubation time. Brazilian propolis showed a bacteriostatic action against S. Typhi, while Bulgarian propolis showed a bactericidal activity and a synergistic effect with the three antibiotics. Variations in the biological assays might be due to the differences in their chemical compositions. Based on the results, one may conclude that Bulgarian propolis showed an important antibacterial action, as well as a synergistic effect with antibiotics acting on the ribosome, which points out a possible therapeutic strategy evaluating the use of propolis preparations for the treatment of Salmonella Typhi infection.
Aim: To evaluate the anti- microbial activity of jojoba oil against selected microbes. Objective: The study is to determine the anti-microbial activity of jojoba oil against selected microbes. Background: Jojoba oil is the liquid produced in the seed of the Simmondsia chinensis. It is used as a replacement for whale oil and its derivatives, such as cetyl alcohol. It is found as an additive in many cosmetic products, especially those marketed as being made from natural ingredients. In particular, such products commonly containing jojoba are lotions and moisturizers, hair shampoos and conditioner. Effect of jojoba oil on E. coli, pseudomonas species, klebsiella species and Staphylococcus aureus is determined. Reason: This study is to evaluate the anti microbial activity of jojoba oil against E, coli, pseudomonas species, klebsiella species and Staphylococcus aureus. This may help in the development of other products with jojoba oil as its constituent. Result: The investigation of anti microbial activity of jojoba oil on selected positive and negative bacilli was done by agar well diffusion technique and its zone of inhibition was evaluated.
Beeswax is the substance that forms the structure of a honeycomb; the bees secrete wax to build the honeycombs where to store honey. Thanks to its rich hydrophobic protective properties, the beeswax is in fact present within cosmetics and body products. Also beeswax is used in the food industry: as a film to wrap cheese for maturing or as a food additive (E901) to give shine to the products. Exactly as the honey which it contains, beeswax is also characterized by several therapeutic properties of great interest to us; it is thought to be particularly effective in healing bruises, inflammation and burns. Recently the interest of researchers has moved even on antimicrobial properties of beeswax although there are still few studies in the literature focused only on the action of beeswax. The few studies showed an anitimicrobic effectiveness of beeswax against overall Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Salmonella enterica (S. enterica), Candida albicans and Aspergillus nuger (A. niger); these inhibitory effects are enhanced synergistically with other natural products such as honey or olive oil. This little review aims to be a collection of major scientific works that have considered the antimicrobial activity of beeswax alone or in combination with other natural products in recent years.
Alcoholic and aqueous extracts from 17 Saudi Arabia folkloric plants and some honey bee products were screened for antimicrobial activity against some tested pathogenic microorganisms by zone of inhibition assay and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Compared to honey and bee wax, ethanolic extract of propolis showed the highest zone of inhibition (23mm) against S. aureus ATCC255923. Aqueous extract of Alum (Ming Fan) was highly effective against all tested strains with inhibition zones ranging from 25 to 29 mm followed by Juglans regia (28mm) with S. epidermidis ATCC12228, Rhazya stricta (24mm) with Str. pyogenes ATCC19615, and Commiphora myrrha (24mm) with S. aureus ATCC255923. The combined effect of equimixture of ethanolic extracts of propolis and Bee wax was more effective than a single extract showing 1.5 fold increase of inhibition zone against S. aureus ATCC255923 and C. albicans NCTC2708. Extracts with the most potent action against microorganisms were tested to determine their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Alum (Ming Fan) was found to have the greatest activity with MIC mean value of 0.29% (w/v) followed by Rhazya stricta, Juglans regia and propolis with mean MIC values of 0.4, 2.66, and 3.75, respectively.
The role of plastics and paper as food packaging materials is reviewed with a brief outlook on the historical background of food packages in general. The inherent properties of these food packages that should be considered by food processors are also discussed. The current efforts in meeting the needs of consumers in ensuring food's quality with prolonged shelf life during storage and distribution were highlighted. This review article also reflects on the emerging trends in technology that address innovations on Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), Active packaging (AP), Intelligent packaging (IP) and the use of anti-microbial agents to extend the shelf life of foods under storage and distribution conditions. The future of these packaging materials in the food industries and their impacts on the environment and the society at large will continue to receive attention.
In this age of emerging antibiotic resistance, limited therapeutic options exist for treating multidrug-resistant organisms.
Combination therapy is commonly employed to manage these infections despite little laboratory guidance as to the efficacy
of this approach. Synergy testing methods have been used to assess the interaction of antibiotic combinations in vitro. This review will discuss the four primary methods used to assess synergy, as well as the data that exist for testing of
cystic fibrosis. In the final analysis, this review concludes that there is not enough evidence to endorse synergy testing
for routine clinical use.
With more than 250 plants in operation worldwide, pervaporation is now a mature membrane process for the separation of liquid mixtures. In a first part, this review describes the general principles of pervaporation and its main advantages compared to other common separation techniques such as distillation. The influence of operating conditions (e.g., feed flow rate, temperature, and pressure) is discussed and an introduction on mass-transfer modeling in pervaporation is included.The different types of pervaporation separations are reviewed for organic solvent dehydration, extraction of volatile organic compounds from water, and purely organic mixture separation. A focus is then placed on commercial pervaporation membranes and examples for key industrial applications of this technology. Although alcohol dehydration remains the first industrial application of pervaporation, important breakthroughs have recently been made for separating purely organic mixtures in the fine chemistry and petrochemical industries. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of pervaporation are pointed out. By offering cost-effective alternatives to other separation processes and important energy savings, pervaporation is a sustainable membrane process that is currently finding new opportunities driven by major developments in the petrochemical and biorefinery industries.Keywords:pervaporation;membranes;separation;liquid mixtures;hybrid membrane processes;industrial applications;energy savings;sustainability
The in vitro antibacterial activity of resin rich methanolic extracts (RRMEs) of Commiphora myrrha, Operculina turpethum, and Pinus roxburghii.
Different concentration were studied by agar-well diffusion method against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae).
Among all the bacterial strains tested, E. faecalis was most sensitive and S. typhi was resistant to C. myrrha and P. roxburghii. The extracts of O. turpethum were active against all tested strains in which B. subtilis and S. aureus were the most sensitive.
This suggested that the antibacterial activity of RRMEs of O. turpethum was more than C. myrrha and P. roxburghii. This probably explains the potential of these plants against a number of infections caused by bacterial strains tested.
The quality and quantity of flavonoids from two types of propolis collected by two different varieties of Apis mellifera bee in the same region were investigated. There was found a remarkable quantitative and qualitative difference of flavonoids in propolis. These results indicate that the chemical composition of propolis was dependent on the variety of the bee.
In this authoritative and comprehensive volume the authors explain the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on access and benefit-sharing, the effect of national laws to implement these, and aspects of typical contracts for the transfer of materials. They provide a unique sector-by-sector analysis of how genetic resources are used, the scientific, technological and regulatory trends and the different markets for products using biotechnology.
The Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower incidence of chronic degenerative diseases and higher life expectancy. These health benefits have been partially attributed to the dietary consumption of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) by Mediterranean populations, and more specifically the phenolic compounds naturally present in EVOO. Studies involving humans and animals (in vivo and in vitro) have demonstrated that olive oil phenolic compounds have potentially beneficial biological effects resulting from their antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This paper summarizes current knowledge on the biological activities of specific olive oil phenolic compounds together with information on their concentration in EVOO, bioavailability and stability over time.
Sipponen A, Laitinen K. Antimicrobial properties of natural coniferous rosin in the European Pharmacopoeia challenge test. APMIS 2011; 119: 720–24.
Rosins (resins) are natural products of the coniferous trees. Purified rosin from the trunk of Norway spruce (Picea abies) is antibacterial against the gram-positive bacteria, but not against the gram-negative bacteria in agar plate diffusion test. In this study, we examined the antimicrobial properties of the coniferous rosin against bacteria and yeasts using the European Pharmacopoeia (EP) challenge test. The microbes tested were Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans. To prepare challenge media, purified rosin was mixed with a biologically inert salve in varying concentrations. The microbes were inoculated (5 × 105 microbes (bacteria) or 5 × 104 microbes (yeast, C.albicans)) into 10 g of the rosin-containing challenge medium for 14 days at maximum. Samples were taken from the media for re-cultivation of the microbes at time intervals of 1 h, 24 h, 4, 7, and 14 days. The microbicidal efficacy of the challenge media was estimated by reduction of the number of the colony forming units (CFU) of microbes in the test samples. A reduction of more than 103 CFU for bacteria and 102 CFU for fungi in 7 days was considered to indicate a significant microbicidal action. Pure rosin was antimicrobial within 24 h against all microbes tested. The 0.5% rosin-salve medium (w/w) did not differ in microbicidal effects from the rosin-free salve medium (control). A raise of the rosin concentration resulted in increase of the microbicidal effect of the rosin-salve medium against all micro-organisms tested. Rosin concentration of 10% (w/w) in the medium significantly reduced the colonization of S. aureus (including MRSA) within 24 h and significantly reduced the colonization of all other micro-organisms within 4 days. Rosin is strongly microbicidal against a wide range of microbes, against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and against C. albicans, in the EP challenge test. The minimum concentration of rosin is 10% (w/w) to prevent the preservation of the microbes in the rosin-salve media.
The search for antimicrobial agents from plants has been a growing interest in the last few decades. However, results generated from many of these studies cannot be directly compared due to the absence of standardization in particular antimicrobial methods employed. The need for established methods with consistent results for the evaluation of antimicrobial activities from plant extracts has been proposed by many researchers. Nevertheless, there are still many studies reported in the literature describing different methodologies. The aim of this study was to find optimal methods to give consistent quantitative antimicrobial results for studying plant extracts. Three different agar-based assays (pour plate disc diffusion (PPDD), streak plate disc diffusion (SPDD) and well-in agar (WA)) and one broth-based (turbidometric (TB)) assay were used in this study. Extracts from two plant species (Duabanga grandiflora and Acalypha wilkesiana) were tested on two bacterial species, namely Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Amongst the agar-based assays, PPDD produced the most reproducible results. TB was able to show the inhibitory effects of the test samples on the growth kinetic of the bacteria including plant extracts with low polarity. We propose that both agar- (i.e PPDD) and broth-based assays should be employed when assessing the antimicrobial activity of plant crude extracts.
Honey, beeswax and olive oil mixture (1:1:1, v/v) is useful in the treatment of diaper dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. The study was designed to investigate effects of honey, olive oil, and beeswax and the mixture on growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans isolated from human specimens.
The following experiments were performed: 1) honey mixture was poured on holes made on plates seeded with S. aureus or C. albicans, 2) the microorganisms were cultured onto media made of honey mixture alone, nutrient agar-honey mixture and Sabouraud glucose agar-honey mixture. The concentration of honey mixture in nutrient agar or Sabouraud glucose agar was 12.5, 25, 33, 50 and 66% (v/v), and 3) honey, olive oil or beeswax was added onto nutrient agar or Sabouraud glucose agar at a ratio of 1:2 (v/v) and then were seeded with S. aureus or C. albicans.
Clear zone of inhibition was observed around holes filled with honey mixture; 3.5 mm on media seeded with C. albicans and 4 mm on media seeded with S. aureus. No growth of either microorganism was obtained on media made of honey mixture alone. The minimum concentration of honey mixture in nutrient agar-honey mixture media required to inhibit S. aureus was 50% and 66% concentration was required to inhibit C. albicans growth onto Sabouraud glucose agar-honey mixture media. No growth of S. aureus or C. albicans was obtained on media containing honey whereas mild to moderate growth was obtained on media containing olive oil or beeswax.
Honey and honey mixture apparently could inhibit growth of S. aureus or C. albicans.
Antimicrobial activity and phytochemicals screening of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) Root extracts and latex
- F Abu-Salem
ABU-SALEM, F. and IBRAHIM, H., 2014. Antimicrobial
activity and phytochemicals screening of Jojoba
(Simmondsia chinensis) Root extracts and latex. International
Journal of Nutrition and Food Engineering, 8(5), pp. 517-522.
Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Jordanian Simmondsia Chinesis
- H Al-Qizwini
AL-QIZWINI, H. et al., 2014. Antioxidant and antimicrobial
activities of Jordanian Simmondsia Chinesis. European
Scientific Journal, 10(27), pp. 229-241.
A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial to compare resin salve and medical honey for effectiveness on wound healing after a peripheral vascular intervention
- T Auvinen
AUVINEN, T. et al., 2016. A prospective, randomized,
controlled clinical trial to compare resin salve and medical
honey for effectiveness on wound healing after a peripheral
vascular intervention. [Poster].
Our sustainability policy
BEEBEE, 2020. Our sustainability policy. [online].
Beeswax: history, uses and trade. Bee Product Science
- S Bogdanov
BOGDANOV, S., 2017. Beeswax: history, uses and trade.
Bee Product Science. [online]. Available
from: http://www.bee-hexagon.net/wax/beeswax-historyuses-trade/ [Accessed 10 January 2020].
How to make beeswax wraps (Reusable Food Wrap)
- H Dessigner
DESSIGNER, H., 2014. How to make beeswax wraps
(Reusable Food Wrap). [online]. 2 January 2014. Available
from: https://mommypotamus.com/diy-reusable-food-wrap/
[Accessed 16 February 2020].
Media preparation for EUCAST disk diffusion testing and for determination of MIC values by the broth microdilution method
- European Committee
- Antimicrobial
- Testing
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON ANTIMICROBIAL
SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING (EUCAST), 2020. Media
preparation for EUCAST disk diffusion testing and for
determination of MIC values by the broth microdilution
method. Basel: EUCAST.
Make your own beeswax food wraps! [online
- L Gummerman
GUMMERMAN, L., 2018. Make your own beeswax food
wraps! [online]. 28 August 2018. Available from:
https://abeautifulmess.com/2018/08/make-your-ownbeeswax-food-wraps.html [Accessed 9 May 2020].
Food spoilage and contamination by pathogens is a global issue
- F Pinu
PINU, F., 2016. Food spoilage and contamination by
pathogens is a global issue. Trends in Food Science and
Technology, 54, pp. 213-215.
Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of resins and essential oil from Pine (Pinus merkusii, Pinuso ocarpa, Pinus insularis) and Agathis (Agathis loranthifolia)
- M Tillah
- I Batubara
- R Sari
TILLAH, M., BATUBARA, I. and KARTIKA SARI, R.,
2017. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of resins and
essential oil from Pine (Pinus merkusii, Pinuso ocarpa, Pinus
insularis) and Agathis (Agathis loranthifolia). Biosaintifika,
9(1), pp. 134-139