Acinetobacter sp. represent an important cause of nosocomial infections. Their resistance to some antibiotics, their ability to survive on inanimate surfaces in the hospital environment and their ability to produce biofilms contributes to their virulence. The aim of the study was to determine the antibacterial properties of cinnamon, lavender and geranium essential oils against bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter isolated from several clinical materials and from the hospital environment. A comprehensive evaluation of the susceptibility of Acinetobacter sp. clinical strains to recommended antibiotics was performed. The constituents of cinnamon, lavender and geranium essential oils were identified by GC-FID-MS analysis, and their Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) against tested clinical strains were determined by the micro-dilution broth method. In addition, the effects of essential oils on the viability of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and glioblastoma cell line (T98G) were evaluated. Cinnamon bark oil was the most active against clinical and environmental strains of Acinetobacter baumannii with MIC values OPEN ACCESSMolecules 2014, 19 20930 ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 µL/mL. The MIC values for geranium oil were between 7.5 and 9.5 µL/mL, and between 10.5 and 13.0 µL/mL for lavender oil. These essential oils can be best employed in the fight against infections caused by bacteria from Acinetobacter genus as components of formulations for hygiene and disinfection of hospital environment.

No abstract

The obtained results showed that hypoxia/ischemia may trigger down-regulation of the brain AC-coupled PACAP/VIP receptors, with a consequent decrease of PACAP- and/or VIP-ergic-dependent cAMP-driven signaling. Moreover, our findings indicate that PACAP and VIP can prevent the deleterious effect of OGD on rat neuronal cells.

Many central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including major depressive disorder (MDD), are underpinned by the unfolded protein response (UPR) activated under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. New, more efficient, therapeutic options for MDD are needed to avoid adverse effects and drug resistance. Therefore, the aim of the work was to determine whether UPR signalling pathway activation in astrocytes may serve as a novel target for antidepressant drugs. Among the tested antidepressants (escitalopram, amitriptyline, S-ketamine and R-ketamine), only S-ketamine, and to a lesser extent R-ketamine, induced the expression of most ER stress-responsive genes in astrocytes. Furthermore, cell viability and apoptosis measuring assays showed that (R-)S-ketamine did not affect cell survival under ER stress. Under normal conditions, S-ketamine played the key role in increasing the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), indicating that the drug has a complex mechanism of action in astrocytes, which may contribute to its therapeutic effects. Our findings are the first to shed light on the relationship between old astrocyte specifically induced substance (OASIS) stabilized by ER stress and (R-)S-ketamine; however, the possible involvement of OASIS in the mechanism of therapeutic ketamine action requires further study.

Panax quinquefolium is a perennial herb of the Araliaceae family native to North America. Its roots have been used in traditional and Chinese medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the phenolic profile of methanolic extracts of P. quinquefolium hairy roots cultivated in flasks and a bioreactor, as well as extracts from the roots of three-year-old field-grown plants. Additionally, the phenol and ginsenoside components of the tested extracts were identified by HPLC, and their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties were evaluated. The antioxidant effect was evaluated by FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and ABTS ([2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) cation scavenging tests, and their effect on the viability of the glioblastoma cell (T98G) line was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The LC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of 16 phenolic compounds identified as phenolic acids (ten compounds) or flavonoids (six compounds). The highest phenol content was observed in the transformed roots of flask-grown P. quinquefolium (1.6 mg g −1 d.w.), followed by these grown in the bioreactor (1.1 mg g −1 d.w.). However, the highest ginsenoside content was found in the roots of the naturally-cultivated plants (67.6 mg g −1 d.w.). The methanolic extracts from hairy root culture of P. quinquefolium appear to have significant antioxidant and cytotoxic potential. Such transformed American ginseng root cultures could represent a potential source of bioactive metabolites for the food or pharmaceutical industry. Key message First time phenolic compound level, antioxidant and cytotoxic properties were estimated in hairy root cultures of Panax quinquefolium cultivated in flasks and nutrient sprinkle bioreactor. Ginsenosides content was also determined.