Background Nigella sativa is a herb from the Mediterranean region with antidiabetic, bronchodilator, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, lipid lowering, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Purpose This study aimed to reveal the antifungal activity of aqueous, methanolic and chloroform extracts obtained from the plant seeds, compared with the effect of traditional antifungals. Materials and methods Using standard mycological diagnostic methodology The authors isolated and identified 20 strains of Candida albicans from pathological products collected from patients hospitalised in different departments of the Craiova Emergency Hospital. Aqueous, methanolic and chloroform extracts were made from the seeds of Nigella sativa, in decreasing dilutions, in which Wattman filter paper discs were soaked and dried and then used to achieve the antifungal graph by using the Kirby-Bauer diffusion technique. Simultaneously, the testing was repeated using standard antifungal disks (Becton Dickinson) and the two sets of results compared. The antifungal effect was assessed by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone, noting the concentration per disk. Results The results show that methanolic extracts of Nigella sativa have the strongest antifungal effect followed by the chloroform extracts. Aqueous extracts showed no antifungal activity. Conclusions The research shows treatment with natural products in a good light as an alternative for treating fungal infections. The authors envisage Nigella sativa extract enhancing the effect of conventional therapy.

Background Plant species Robinia pseudoacacia L. (Fabaceae) has been used as a medicinal plant since ancient times, as its infusions and extracts have antacid, antibacterial, purgative and emenagogic properties. The volatile oil of the flowers is also used in perfumery and cosmetics. Purpose Due to its high content of volatile oil phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins with antimicrobial properties, the present study proposed to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal effect of the species Robinia pseudoacacia. Materials and methods The dry powdered flowers, leaves, bark and seeds of Robinia pseudoacacia were subjected to extraction in a Soxhlet extractor with 90% ethanol. The alcoholic extract obtained in the concentration of 100 mg / ml, was tested using sterile discs of Whatman No. 1 filter paper, impregnated with 100 mg extract. Antibacterial and antifungal effects was evaluated by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, in accordance with the NCCLS / CLSI standard, using the following infectious agents isolated from patients and the corresponding reference strains: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-sensitive haemolytic S. epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella choleraesuis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus, Candida albicans. Results Extracts from various different parts of the plant had different antibacterial activities. Extracts of flowers and seeds are efficient antibacterials for Gram positive cocci. Bark and leaf extracts were active against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Salmonella choleraesuis, Candida albicans. Conclusions These results prove the antimicrobial or antifungal properties of certain extracts of Robinia pseudoacacia L., which offers an alternative treatment with a natural product with synergistic effects with conventional antibacterial treatment.

Background Escherichia coli is the most common bacteria involved in the aetiology of the urinary tract infections (UTI). Purpose The aim of the study is to compare the susceptibility to antibacterial agents of Escherichia coli strains isolated from adults and children. Materials and methods The study was conducted between 1.01.2009-31.12.2010 on 192 patients divided in two groups. Group A-72 hospitalised children under 15 years with clinical signs of UTI. Group B – 120 adult outpatients who had presented various conditions of the reno-urinary tract. Urine samples were investigated using biochemical and microbiological (urine culture) methods. The authors used culture media to isolate specific bacterial species, whose identification was performed with API 20 E galleries. The antibiotic susceptibility test was performed on Mueller Hinton agar plates using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, according to NCCLS / CLSI – 2009 guidelines. Results The morbidity by UTIs in children was 40.90%, mostly in girls (54.4%), in the age group of 1-3 years (43.91%) and infants (37.16%). The isolated E. coli strains (65.2%) were resistant to Ampicillin (65.14%), Ciprofloxacin (30.12%), Cefuroxime (26.18%) and Nalidixic acid (14.92%). In adults the prevalence of UTIs was 43.33%, the infections were more common in women and in patients over 60 years. The isolated E. coli strains (55.77%) were resistant to Ampicillin (74.25%), Cefuroxime (39.29%), Ciprofloxacin (27.59%) and Nalidixic acid (24.14%). There was a significant difference in antibiotic resistance of the strains isolated from the two patient categories (Student's T test, p=0.0168). Conclusions The tested strains of Escherichia coli involved in UTIs in adults had a higher resistance to antibiotics, compared with those isolated from children. It is recommended that the neonatologists, paediatricians and family physicians initiate therapy for these infections only after antibiotic susceptibility tests, in order to prevent selection of multidrug-resistant strains.