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The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential antimicrobial activity of four commercial essential oils: Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare (two for external use and two for internal one). The antimicrobial activity of the tested essential oils was determined by using the serial two-fold dilutions method. The following bacterial and yeast strains were purchased and used in the study: E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Thyme oil (external use) against E. coli, and C. albicans was 2 µg/ml and 4 µg/ml, respectively. The observed minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for Thyme oil (external use) against S. aureus was 8 µg/ml. The Thyme oil for internal use demonstrated higher antimicrobial activity than the topical form. The evaluated MBC against S. aureus was 4 µg/ml, and for E.coli, and C. albicans, it was even lower than 1 µg/ml.  While determining the MBC of Oregano oil (external) against S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans, antimicrobial activity is reported as : 16 µg/ml against S. aureus, 4 µg/ml for E.coli and 32 µg/ml against C. albicans. Also, the observed antimicrobial activity of Oregano oil for internal use is higher than external form – 2 µg/ml against S. aureus and lower than 1 µg/ml for the other pathogens. The results of MIC and MBC determination of Thyme and Oregano oils showed that E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans demonstrate high sensitivity and  can be used in therapeutic practice, and some of them probably in combination with other antimicrobial agents.

Cultivation of anaerobes is not a routine procedure. In most cases, it is carried out in reference laboratories with the help of special equipment, including an anaerobic chamber or anaerobic jar with Gas pack system. There are some older methods so-called the Candlejar system and the Fortner principle. The aim of the study is to compare two alternative methods for anaerobic cultivation of Bacteroides fragilis ATCC 25285 with cultivation by Gas Pack system, which is a widely used and well studied method. We made anaerobic cultivation using the GasPack system, Candle jar and Fortner principle. The bacteria were seed in two different types of agar media - suitable for anaerobic cultivation Wilkins-Chalgren agar and Mueller-Hinton agar, useful for antibiotic sensitivity testing. The results of our study showed that in all bacterial cultures, B. fragilis ATCC 25285 demonstrated heavy growth. The Candle jar system and Fortner principle were found to be a sensitive and cost-effective alternative that might be used in resource-limited settings.

INTRODUCTION:Retinoids are natural and synthetic compounds part of the family of polyisoprenoid lipids. These compounds are involved in several important physiological processes in the human body because of their ability to bind to different nuclear receptors. Retinoids are used in the therapy of some precancerous lesions, the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), T-cell lymphoma, and the prevention of malignancies in high-risk cancer groups. In this work we discuss the possibilities for analysis of the newly synthesized hydrazone of the retinoid bexarotene. AIM:The purpose of this study is to conduct FTIR spectral analysis of newly synthesized hydrazone of bexarotene. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Infrared spectra 500-4000 cm -1 were taken on a Bruker FTIR spectrometer using ATR -a plug with Smart iTR adapter. RESULTS:The infrared spectra of the newly synthesized compound were strikingly similar in the relative positions and intensities of the resulting peaks, confirming its close structural relationship with bexarotene. Despite the structural similarity, there were significant differences that point to the introduction of a substituent and the formation of a new hydrazone derivative. CONCLUSION:In order to confirm the data obtained by FTIR spectroscopy, a further reversed-phase HPLC-UV analysis of the new hydrazone derivative should be performed.

INTRODUCTION: Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the scientific knowledge about cancer, which has accordingly led to the development and increase of interest in new medicines and therapeutic approaches with potential applications in oncology. Activity research and the identification of potential therapeutic and toxic effects of bexarotene-like structures underpin the development of new approaches to the treatment of a number of untreated diseases. This requires a further and in-depth study of the potential of newly synthesized compounds to produce active metabolites. AIM: In view of the potential for dermal administration of bexarotene, the potential for toxic metabolism in the skin needs to be investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the purpose the OECD (Q) SAR Application Toolbox was used. It is a software application for evaluating the properties of chemicals based on their molecular structure. RESULTS: The application of the model for predicting metabolic changes makes it possible to assess the risk based on the chemical structure of the compounds. CONCLUSION: The skin metabolic prediction of new hydrazones of third-generation retinoid bexarotene indicates that not one of them predicts binding to DNA or proteins.