Sk. Nazrul Islam

Garlic Extract and Allicin: Broad Spectrum Antibacterial Agents Effective Against Multiple Drug Resistant Strains of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and Shigella flexneri, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae

The effects of an aqueous extract of garlic and its active constituent allicin were tested against 40 drug resistant isolates of the strains of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and Shigella flexneri, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae. The aqueous extract and allicin were shown to have potentially significant activity against all of the bacteria tested, while of the five standard antibiotics, only gentamicin was active. Both allicin and the aqueous extract had a broad spectrum as antibacterial agents. Allicin appeared to have the strongest activity compared with that of the extract and the standard antibiotics.

Serum immunoglobulins and white blood cells status of drug addicts: influence of illicit drugs and sex habit.

The aim of this study was to investigate the serum immunoglobulins and white blood cells status of drug addicts and to assess the extent of influence of drug habit and sexual practice on the immune components. The study was conducted among 253 male drug addicts and 100 non‐addict controls of aged 18  ‐  45 years. An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to analyse the serum immunoglobulin concentrations. White blood cells profile was estimated by counting 200 cells . Results showed a significant increase (p < 0.03) of serum IgG, IgA and IgM in the drug addicts (6.93 ? 1.53g/l, 2.90 ? 1.13g/l and 1.72 ? 0.73g/l, respectively) compared to those in the cohort controls (6.52 ? 1.05g/l, 2.61 ? 0.83g/l and 1.52 ? 0.59g/l, respectively). A significant (p  = 0.00) decrease of peripheral lymphocytes (51.8 ? 15.2 vs. 71.9 ? 11.5) was noted in the drug addicts. Monocytes (8.3 ? 4.9), neutrophils (128.2 ? 18.9) and eosinophils (11.4 ? 5.8) were found to be increased in the drug addicts against those in the controls (5.2 ? 2.5, 113.2 ? 13.0 and 9.6 ? 5.8, respectively). Multiple drug abuse for longer period had resulted in a significant (p  < 0.05) decrease of serum immunoglobulins and lymphocytes. The longer period of addiction had also made a significant (p  < 0.05) decrease of eosinophils (p  = 0.05) and an increase of monocytes and neutrophils. Sex with multiple sexual partners had shown a significant (p  < 0.01) decrease of serum immunoglobulins and eosinophils.