A new High-Throughput-Screening-assay for Photoantimicrobials Based on EUCAST Revealed Photoantimicrobials in Cortinariaceae

A spark of light might unravel antimicrobial activity of colored compounds, which otherwise would have been classified as inactive. While many mushrooms contain such colorful pigments but lack antimicrobial activity, we wondered if a controlled irradiation is needed to unleash their effect. To explore such photoantimicrobial actions in the Kingdom Fungi, an efficient high-throughput-screening (HTS) assay is needed. Here we report on the establishment of a reliable photoantimicrobial assay based on the EUCAST recommendations, which was validated with known photosensitzers (i.e., curcumin, phenalenone, rose bengal, an hypericum extract, and methylene blue). Furthermore, an improved LED-irradiation setup enabling with only 24 LEDs a homogenous irradiation of a 96-well plate is presented. The established HTS-assay was utilized to screen six colorful Cortinarius extracts unrevealing C. xanthophyllus and C. rufo-olivaceus as promising sources for new photoantimicrobials.

Efficacy of a hypericum extract (STW3-VI) – A reanalysis

IntroductionThe course of depression during therapy in studies is usually monitored by scales like HAMD. Also the course of single items of the HAMD during therapy might be of specific interest as some symptoms are of highly predictive value. Furthermore early improvement during antidepressive therapy is a new aspect which came into the focus.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to reanalyze clinical data regarding early improvement as well as specific symptoms or symptom cluster – like sleep disturbances.AimsThe aim of this study was to get deeper insight into the data structure of 2 RCTs (n = 398, 42 days treatment) comparing the efficacy of a hypericum extract (STW3-VI/900 mg once daily) to Placebo.MethodsData structure was evaluated by comparing the total scores of the HAMD-17 to a single item analysis and by calculating the factorial structure of the end of treatment data. The treatment potential was evaluated by calculating a positive predictive value from day 7 to the end of treatment. ANCOVA, factor analysis and regression methods were used.ResultsThe single item analyses were widely comparable to the highly significant treatment differences of the total scores as it were the calculated subscales. The positive predictive value of the treatment was about 75%.ConclusionsThe results underline the elsewhere proven treatment efficacy of STW3-VI regarding several new subscale aspects.Disclosure of interestCOI: The authors are employees of Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany.