Medicinal – Page 117

Potential of Indonesian Herbal as an Anti-Cancer Therapy: A Systemic Review of in vitro Studies

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This review examined eight Indonesian herbal plants that show promise in laboratory studies for fighting various types of cancer. Soursop leaves were the most researched and consistently showed the ability to kill or slow cancer cells in test tubes by triggering natural cell death pathways. The herbs work through bioactive compounds like flavonoids and alkaloids that can interfere with how cancer cells divide and survive. While these results are encouraging, more research is needed to confirm effectiveness in humans.

A rare case of invasive necrotizing myositis of the thigh caused by Basidiobolus ranarum: a multi-pronged approach to successfully managing a near-fatal polybacterial mycotic infection

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A 46-year-old man developed a severe fungal infection of his thigh caused by Basidiobolus ranarum, a rare fungus found in soil and animal feces. The infection worsened with secondary bacterial contamination, leading to tissue death and eventually requiring amputation. Doctors successfully treated the infection using a combination approach: antifungal medications (voriconazole and potassium iodide), antibiotics, and multiple surgical cleanings, though earlier treatment would have saved his limb.

Engineered biosynthesis and characterization of disaccharide-pimaricin

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Scientists engineered a bacterium to produce a modified antibiotic called disaccharide-pimaricin that fights fungal infections with much better safety. This new compound dissolves better in water (107 times more soluble) and is much less toxic to human blood cells (12.6 times safer) compared to regular pimaricin, while still maintaining antifungal effectiveness. Through optimized fermentation processes, they achieved high production yields of 138 mg/L, making this a promising candidate for safer antifungal treatments.

Fungal vaccines: so needed, so feasible, and yet so far off

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Fungal infections kill millions of people worldwide each year, particularly those with weakened immune systems, yet no vaccines exist to prevent them. Scientists have discovered that a specific fungal enzyme called Eng2 can trigger protective immune responses against three major disease-causing fungi. A vaccine containing this enzyme from all three fungi species could potentially protect against multiple dangerous fungal infections, though challenges like cost and the need to work in immunocompromised patients remain before such vaccines reach patients.

First Step on the Way to Identify Dermatophytes Using Odour Fingerprints

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Researchers have developed a new method to quickly identify fungal skin infections caused by dermatophytes by detecting the unique smells (volatile compounds) they produce. Instead of waiting days or weeks for culture-based tests, this approach uses advanced chemical analysis to create a fingerprint of the fungus based on its odor. The study analyzed 47 different dermatophyte strains and found that each species and even individual strains have distinctive chemical signatures, which could one day allow doctors to diagnose infections rapidly using portable devices similar to electronic noses.

Nutritional contents and antimicrobial activity of the culinary-medicinal mushroom Leccinum scabrum

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This study examined the health benefits of Leccinum scabrum, a mushroom used both as food and medicine. Researchers tested extracts from this mushroom against harmful bacteria and found they were very effective at stopping bacterial growth. The extracts were created using two different methods and both worked well, suggesting this mushroom could have practical antimicrobial applications.

Deletion of RAP1 affects iron homeostasis, azole resistance, and virulence in Candida albicans

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Researchers found that a protein called Rap1 plays a critical role in how the dangerous fungus Candida albicans acquires and uses iron, which is essential for its survival in the human body. When the RAP1 gene was deleted, the fungus became much less virulent and lethal in infected mice, while paradoxically becoming more resistant to the antifungal drug fluconazole under iron-limited conditions. These findings suggest that targeting iron acquisition through Rap1 could be a new therapeutic strategy against serious fungal infections.

Vernicia fordii leaf extract inhibited anthracnose growth by downregulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in vitro and in vivo

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Researchers found that leaves from the tung tree (Vernicia fordii) contain natural compounds that effectively kill a fungus (Colletotrichum fructicola) that damages oil tea plants. The extract works by increasing harmful oxidative stress in fungal cells and turning off genes the fungus needs to survive. This explains why farmers have successfully grown these trees together for centuries to naturally reduce disease.

Overexpression of efflux pump and biofilm associated genes in itraconazole resistant Candida albicans isolates causing onychomycosis

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Researchers studied why some fungal nail infections caused by Candida albicans stop responding to the antifungal drug itraconazole. They found that resistant fungal cells have higher activity of genes that pump the drug out of cells and produce slimy protective coatings called biofilms. These resistant fungi also formed less dense biofilms when the drug was present from the start. Understanding these resistance mechanisms could help develop new treatments by targeting the pump systems or breaking down the protective biofilm layers.

Characterization of the Spatiotemporal Localization of a Pan-Mucorales–Specific Antigen During Germination and Immunohistochemistry

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Researchers developed a new diagnostic test using a special antibody that can detect Mucorales fungi, which cause a serious infection called mucormycosis. The antibody glows to mark growing fungal threads in tissue samples, helping doctors identify the infection early and distinguish it from other mold infections like Aspergillus. This breakthrough could significantly improve patient outcomes by enabling faster diagnosis and treatment of this aggressive fungal disease.

Research Topic: Medicinal