Aims: To study the effects of amylomaize starch and modified (carboxymethylated and acetylated) amylomaize starches on the composition of colonic bacteria and the production of volatile fatty acids, in mice. Methods and Results: Balb ⁄ c mice were fed with experimental diets containing various amount of amylomaize and modified amylomaize starches. Colonic bacterial populations and short-chain fatty acids were monitored. Results showed that the increases in indigenous bifidobacteria were detected in mice fed all starches tested; however, the highest numbers were observed in the group fed with 40% unmodified amylomaize starch. The starch type influenced the populations of indigenous Lactobacillus, Bacteroides and coliforms. High Lactobacillus numbers were achieved in the colon of mice fed with high concentration of amylomaize starch. Acetylated amylomaize starch significantly reduced the population of coliforms. In addition, orally dosed amylomaize utilizing bifidobacteria reached their highest levels when fed together with amylomaize or carboxymethylated amylomaize starch and in both cases butyrate levels were markedly increased. Conclusions: These results indicate that different amylomaize starches could generate desirable variation in gut microflora and that particular starches may be used to selectively modify gut function. Significance and Impact of Study: Amylomaize starch appeared to enhance the desirable composition of colonic bacteria in mice, and suggested it possessed the potential prebiotic properties. Therefore, resistant starch and its chemical derivatives may exert beneficial impacts to the human colon.

Plant extract exhibited unique therapeutic characteristics due to their high content of chemical formulas with multiple medical effects. The plant extracts have shown a great advancement in controlling cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, as well as, it was used as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory agents. Cinnamomum has been used a medical herbs from ancient times along with its uses as spice in food. Cinnamomum oild and extract have shown a great perspective in many areas of human health. We have aimed to prepare an ethanolic extract from dry cinnamomum powder, and investigate its influence in vitro against four types of bacteria and one fungal strain, and again in vivo as wound healing agent in rats. The results have shown that cinnamomum extract in ethanol was exhibited good effect in growth inhibition of escherichia coli, klebsiella sp, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Candida albicans. The greatest effect of cinnamomum extract was obtained against the Gram positive bacterial strains S. epidermidis and S. aureus. Furthermore, cinnamomum extract has shown to be a good wound healing agent, in which rats whom treated with cinnamomum extract have shown a faster healing compared to control rats starting from the day 7. These effects make cinnamomum to be very useful in the medical field generally, and in inflammation line specifically.

The use of plant extracts in the medical and pharmacological fields have been increased in the last years. The plants have shown to possess materials with important features that can be used as a treatment in multiple health risks such as inflammation, cardiovascular disorders, bacteria and fungus. Peppermint was used extensively as medical herbs and have given a remarkable results. We aimed to prepare water and alcoholic (methanol) extract of peppermint leaves and characterize the presence of some phytochemical compounds qualitatively, along with some trace elements (copper, zinc and selenium). The antimicrobial activity of peppermint extract was investigated against two Gram negative escherichia coli as well as klebsiella sp, also two Gram positive bacterial strains Staphylococcus epidermidis as well as Staphylococcus aureus, as well as one fungi (Candida albicans). We have obtained the presence of flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, steroids, carbohydrate, and protein contents in the extract of peppermint. Copper, zinc and selenium levels were detected in good amount in the extract. Furthermore, both water and methanol extract of peppermint have shown good antimicrobial activity against the experimented strains. Nevertheless, the extraction by methanol have shown more powerful activity than water against all strains.