Antioxidant Activity of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Turmeric Flowers

Antioxidants are compounds needed by the body to fight free radicals that can cause adverse effects on health. All parts of turmeric plant have antioxidant activity, so does the flower. It is thought that the endophytic fungi from turmeric flowers also have antioxidant activity and no studies have reported it yet. The purpose of this study was to study the antioxidant activity of single and mixed cultures of endophytic fungi isolated from turmeric flowers. In vitro antioxidant activity assay was conducted using the DDPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging method by measuring its absorption using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 517 nm. The extract of single and mixed cultures of endophytic fungi isolated from turmeric flowers showed antioxidant activity. The combination of fungal cultures can increase the antioxidant activity of a single culture. This study is the first to report that the combination of endophytic fungi from turmeric flowers can increase its antioxidant activity. Therefore, the presence of the endophytic fungi in turmeric flowers that have antioxidant activity can provide additional information so that the utilization of turmeric flowers as a source of natural antioxidants will increase.

INFLUENCE OF ANTIBACTERIAL FACTORS ON THE MIXED CULTURE OF ESCHERISCHIA COLI AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS UNDER CONDITIONS OF INCREASED OSMOTIC PRESSURE

Commensal strains of the human intestine Escherichia coli K12 and of the human skin Staphylococcus epi-dermidis are often found in the same atypical biotopes, where they can act as infectious agents. The metabo-lism of bacteria changes in polymicrobial associations and in the presence of increased osmotic pressure in biotopes, associated with a number of pathological conditions that may affect their sensitivity to antibacterial factors of various nature. In this regard, the aim of the work was to study the effectiveness of chlorampheni-col, ceftriaxone, polyvalent pyobacteriophage and chlorhexidine on single and mixed cultures of opportunistic microorganisms E. coli K12 and S. epidermidis at a background of 2% NaCl. It was shown that the effect of ceftriaxone, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and chloramphenicol, with antibacterial properties only against E. coli, were leveled under conditions of increased osmotic pressure at concentrations of 12-200 mg/l in a mixed culture. For E. coli K12, a decrease in the effectiveness of the bacteriophage at high osmotic pressure was noted, which is the opposite in effect towards S. epidermidis. As for chlorhexidine, its effect on E. coli K12 and S. epidermidis was enhanced in single and mixed cultures under conditions of 2% NaCl. In general, in most cases, an increase in the osmotic pressure of the medium acted as a synergist for inhibiting bacterial growth with antibiotics and bacteriostatic.

Laboratory Study for Biodegradation of Oxymatrine Insecticide by Single and Mixed Cultures of Fungi Isolated from Agriculture Soils in Basrah Governorate, Iraq

This study focuses on the biodegradation of oxymatrine insecticide by some soil fungi isolated from four agriculture stations. The results showed that the highest degradation rate 94.66% was recorded by Ulocladium sp. at 10 days and A. niger recorded the lowest degradation rate 45.86%, while at 20 days Ulocladium sp. also showed the highest degradation rate 94.98% and the lowest degradation rate reached to 82.49% with A.niger. The mix (Exerohilum sp.+Ulocladium sp.) recorded the highest degradation rate of oxymatrine insecticide 90.22%, 88.51%, 85.34% at 4, 8 and 12 ppm.The use of mixed isolates enhanced the biodegradation process. There is no study of oxymatrine biodegradation so this study is the first of its kind in the region which can be used as a baseline study for incoming studies