Biological activities (antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic) of secondary metabolites of Ircinia spp.

Sponges are the most primitive of the multicellular, These organisms don’t have any mechanical defense system, so their early appearance in evolution has given them a lot of time for the development of advanced secondary metabolites as chemical defense system. Sponges have the potential to provide drugs from chemical components against diseases. In this investigation the sponge samples, which it is Ircina spp., were collected at depth of 15- 24 meter, from locations on the coastline of Island Kish in Persian Gulf of Iran. For identifying natural components, methanolic and diethyletter were used as extraction solvents, after removal of the solvents, the GC/MS spectra of the fraction were obtained. Then in vitro cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antifungal were identified. In vitro cytotoxity screening, by XTT assay, against KB/ C359 and HUT-56/ C365 cell line, was conducted in this study in 1 - 544 μg/ml. IC54 for winter diethyletter extract was 325 μg/ml, winter methanolic extract was 364 μg/ml, IC54 for summer diethyletter extract was 544 μg/ml, and summer methanolic extract was 454 μg/ml in HUT-56. IC54 for winter diethyletter extract was 454 μg/ml, winter methanolic extract was 444 μg/ml, IC54 for summer diethyletter extract was 344 μg/ml, and summer methanolic extract was 424 μg/ml in KB. In vitro antimicrobial activity by Broth Dilution Methods against clinical gram-positives and gram negatives (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis). The results conducted that the MIC values of winter diethyletter extract for Escherichia coli 24mg/ml, the MIC values of winter diethyletter extract for Escherichia coli 24mg/ml, the MIC and MBC values of winter diethyletter extract for Staphylococcus aureus was 2mg/ml and 24mg/ml. The MIC and MBC values of winter diethyletter extract for Bacillus subtilis was 1.5 mg/ml and 2mg/ml. In vitro antifungal activity by Broth Dilution Methods against clinical pathogens; Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. The results conducted that the aqueous extracts didn’t have any antifungal activities on pathogens, the MFC of the summer and winter diethyletter extract was 30 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml A. fumigates, the summer and winter methanolic extract was 0722 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml A. fumigates, the summer and winter methanolic was 4/75mg/ml, MFC 5 mg/ml on C. albicans.

In vitro effects of fungicides on the fungus Haliphthoros philippinensis

Pure cultures of Haliphthoros philippinensis, isolated from infected Penaeus monodon larvae, were exposed for 24 hours to varying concentrations of antifungal agents. The efficiency of each agent to inhibit sporulation and mycelial growth was measured. Effects on P. monodon eggs and larvae were also investigated. It is concluded that preliminary bioassay of larval tolerance to the suggested effective doses should always be made prior to prophylaxix or therapeutic applications.

Evaluate the efficiency of hydrogen peroxide and levaemisole hydrochloride in the treatment of Persian sturgeon, Chinese carp eggs and juveniles

During a two years research hydrogen peroxide efficacy evaluated for Persian sturgeon, Chinese carps and common carp eggs. These series of the experiments conducted in various conditions different concentration of hydrogen peroxide include 250, 500, 750, 1,000 1,500 2,000 3,000 and 9,000 PPM used as ten and fifteen minutes baths, compared with Malachite green and natural control . In the next phase effect of Levaemisole hydrochloride as an immunostimulator which applied as 5 mg/I in twenty minutes baths from day sixth after hatch evaluated by daily mortality rate and leukocytes counts. The results shown that according fertilization percent and temperature condition hydrogen peroxide at 1,000 and 1,500 PPM concentrations is a effective antifungal agent during incubation periods of Persian sturgeon and even sometimes increasing hatching rates significantly comparing with natural controls and Malachite green. In Chinese carps although hydrogen peroxide controls water molds but it is not recommended in high temperatures because it make shortened incubation time and mold infections will decrease. Also the results shown 750 PPM concentration of hydrogen peroxide in common carp eggs controls water moulds infections and increase hatching rate significantly comparing with Malachite green and natural control. Daily mortality rates accessing of Persian sturgeon fries show that 20 minutes baths of 5mg/1 levamisole hydrochloride decreases daily mortality rate during yolk sac absorption. Nitrogenous compounds: nitrate and ammonium differ significantly between treated tanks with control. Blood leucocytes concentrations as an immune index was different significantly in treated fishes by levamisole hydrochloride comparing with controls. In Chinese carps because yolks sac absorption time is short there is not necessary to use the levamisole hydrochloride. Although treated larvae were more active than controls. As a result our suggestions is to use hydrogen peroxide in Persian sturgeon and common carp artificial propagation and also suggest the use levamisole hydrochloride for Persian sturgeon beside management method in stress and pollution condition

Study on the inhibitory effects of native medicinal plants on growth and aflatoxin production by toxigenic Aspergilli isolated from rainbow trout feed

In the present study, natural occurrence of fungi and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in pellet feed and feed ingredients used for rainbow trout was investigated with emphasis to Aspergillus section Flavi members and medicinal plants inhibitory to Aspergillus growth and/or AF production. The feed samples were cultured on the standard isolation media including dichloran rosebengal chloramphenicol agar (DRCA) and Aspergillus flavus/parasiticus agar (AFPA) for 2 weeks at 28 °C. Identification of fungal isolates was implemented based on the macro- and microscopic morphological criteria. AFs were detected using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Based on the results obtained, a total of 109 fungal isolates were identified of which Aspergillus was the prominent genus (57.0%), followed by Penicillium (12.84%), Absidia (11.01%) and Pseudallscheria (10.10%). The most frequent Aspergillus species was A. flavus (60.66%) isolated from all the feed ingredients as well as pellet feed. Among 37 A. flavus isolates, 19 (51.35%) were able to produce AFB1 on yeast extract-sucrose (YES) broth in the range of 10.2 to 612.8 [tg/g fungal dry weight. HPLC analyses of trout feed showed that pellet feed and all feed ingredients tested except gluten were contaminated with different levels of AFB1 in the range of 1.83 to 67.35 lig/kg. In order to finding natural inhibitors of fungal growth and/or AF production, essential oils (EOs) and extracts of 49 medicinal plants were studied against an aflatoxin-producing A. parasiticus using a microbioassay technique. The EOs was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Based on the results obtained, Achillea millefolium sub sp. elborsensis, Ferula gummosa, Mentha spicata, Azadirachta indica, Conium maculatum and Artemisia dracunculus remarkably inhibited A. parasiticus growth without affecting AF production by the fungus. Besides of Thymus vulgaris and Citrus aurantifolia, the EO of Foeniculum vulgare significantly inhibited both fungal growth (-70.0%) and AFs B1 and G1 (-99.0%) production. The EO of Carum carvi and ethyl acetate extract of Platycladus orientalis suppressed AFs B1 and G1 by more than 90.0%, without any obvious effect on fungal growth. The IC50 values of bioactive plants for AFs B1 and G1 were determined in the ranges of 90.6 to 576.2 and 2.8 to 61.9 µg/ml, respectively. Overall, results of the present study indicate the importance of AF contamination of trout feed as a risk factor for fish farming and thus, an urgent necessity for constant monitoring of trout feed for any unacceptable levels of AF contamination. Likewise, antifungal activities of bioactive plants introduced here would be an important contribution to explain the use of these plants as effective antimicrobial candidates to protect feeds from toxigenic fungus growth and subsequent AF contamination.