Six new naphthalenone derivatives, balticols A-F and the known metabolite altechromone A were isolated from the AcOEt extract of the culture broth of fungal strain 222 belonging to the Ascomycota, which was found on driftwood collected at the coast of the Greifswalder Bodden, Baltic Sea, Germany. All structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data and mass spectrometric analyses. The balticols were found to exhibit inhibitory activity against influenza virus A and herpes simplex virus. The most potent antiviral activity was observed for balticol E with an IC(50) value of 0.01 microg/ml against Herpes simplex virus type I. arabic 14 English 83
Muftah A. Shushni, Renate Mentel, Ulrike Lindequist, Rolf Jansen(2-2009)

A new 12-membered macrolide, balticolid (1) was isolated from the EtOAc extract of the culture broth of fungal strain 222 belonging to the Ascomycota, which was found on driftwood collected from the coast of the Greifswalder Bodden, Baltic Sea, Germany. The structure of balticolid was determined to be (3R,11R), (4E,8E)-3-hydroxy-11-methyloxacyclododeca-4,8-diene-1,7-dione using extensive spectral data as well as the modified Mosher ester method. Balticolid (1) displayed anti-HSV-1 activity with an IC₅₀ value of 0.45 μM.A new 12-membered macrolide, balticolid (1) was isolated from the EtOAc extract of the culture broth of fungal strain 222 belonging to the Ascomycota, which was found on driftwood collected from the coast of the Greifswalder Bodden, Baltic Sea, Germany. The structure of balticolid was determined to be (3R,11R), (4E,8E)-3-hydroxy-11-methyloxacyclododeca-4,8-diene-1,7-dione using extensive spectral data as well as the modified Mosher ester method. Balticolid (1) displayed anti-HSV-1 activity with an IC₅₀ value of 0.45 μM. arabic 16 English 92
Muftah A. Shushni, R Singh, R Mentel, U Lindequist(9-2011)

Because of the evolving resistance of microorganisms against existing antibiotics, there is an increasing need for new ones, not only in human, but also in veterinary medicine. The dichloromethane extract of a fungal strain of the genus Lophiostoma, isolated from driftwood collected from the coast of the Baltic Sea, displayed antibacterial activity against some fish pathogenic bacteria. Ergosterol epoxide (1), cerebroside C (2) and oxasetin (3) were isolated from the extract and structurally elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. Compound 3 exhibited in vitro activity against Vibrio anguillarum, Flexibacter maritimus and Pseudomonas anguilliseptica with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 12.5, 12.5 and 6.25 microg/mL, respectively. Molecular docking studies were performed to understand the interaction of compound 3 with different macromolecular targets. Analysis of in silico results, together with experimental findings, validates the antimicrobial activity associated with compound 3. These results may be exploited in lead optimization and development of potent antibacterial agents. arabic 23 English 137
Muftah A Shushni, Faizul Azam, Ulrike Lindequist, (9-2013)

The antibiotic elansolid C1 (8) was isolated from Chitinophaga sancti strain FxGBF13 after fermentation in the presence of anthranilic acid. Remarkably, 8 was also obtained by addition of anthranilic acid to a crude fermentation extract containing the macrolide elansolid A2 (1*). This Michael-type conjugate addition allowed us to generate 21 new derivatives of elansolid C1 (9-29) by using various nucleophiles. Biological activities of all derivatives were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, and the mouse cell line L929. arabic 9 English 74
Heinrich Steinmetz, Wiebke Zander, Muftah A. M. Shushni, Rolf Jansen, Klaus Gerth, Richard Dehn, Gerald Dräger, Andreas Kirschning, Rolf Müller(8-2012)

Marine fungi are a promising source for bioactive compounds [1]. The fungal strain 222 has been isolated from wood collected at the coast of the Greifswalder Bodden, Baltic Sea, Germany and produces structurally new naphthalenone derivatives, balticols A to F. They possess antiviral activities [2]. Since other naphthalene compounds are known for their anti-inflammatory activities we investigated whether the balticols have an influence on inflammatory immune cells. Balticols (1 and 10µg/ml) were added to rat mononuclear cells (F344-MNC) which were cultured alone or together with H9c2-cardiomyocytes. The latter represents a model of inflammation similar as observed after myocardial infarction. MNC's were collected after 48h and analyzed for T-, B-, NK-, TH-cells and CTL's by flow cytometry. Dexamethasone (Dexa, 10–9 mol/l) served as positive control. None of the balticols except balticol E changed the number of control MNC's. The proportion of T-cells was decreased by balticol B and D, but ICAM-1+T-cells increased. Balticol D decreased TH- and increased B-cells as Dexa which additionally decreased CTL's. None of the substances influenced NK cells. After co-culture with cardiomyocytes TH-cells were decreased while CTL's and ICAM-1+T-cells increased. Balticol D partly anticipated the decrease of TH. Balticol E decreased T-cells, especially TH-cells, but stimulated ICAM-1+T-cells. Dexa anticipated the increase of CTL's, had no influence on the proportion of TH-cells and diminished ICAM-1+T-cells. In summary, balticols B, D and E influence unstimulated MNC's. Unambiguous anti-inflammatory effects were detected using Dexa and balticol E which exerts its effect due reduction of T-cells. arabic 14 English 83
B. Haertel, Muftah A. Shushni, Ulrike Lindequist(1-2010)

The antibacterial activity of peppermint oil and different extracts of Mentha piperita against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains was evaluated in the present research work by agar well diffusion method. It was found that the distilled concentrations of essential oil inhibited the growth of microorganisms and the results were comparable with those of antibiotic gentamycin. Essential oils showed a wider spectrum of activity but less strong inhibition as compared to the investigated commercial antibiotic. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the bacterial species ranged from 0.4% to 0.7% v/v. The oil and extracts also exhibited significant antioxidant activity and the oil showed about half potency when compared to the standard BHT. These results indicated the strong antibacterial and antioxidant activities of peppermint oil but additional investigations need to be performed in order to confirm the safety of these concentrations (MIC) for human consumption. Peppermint oil could be used as a good conservation agent by inhibiting some food borne pathogens. arabic 8 English 54
Rajinder Singh, Muftah A. Shushni, Asma Belkheir(5-2015)

Annona muricata (Graviola) has many medicinal properties and used widely in traditional medicine for treatment various disorders. The present study was conducted to evaluate phytochemical and quality control (QC) of random sample of graviola dietary supplement capsules (DS) which sold in the Libyan market as anticancer product. As well as the present work designed to evaluate heatoprotective effects of aqueous extract of graviola fruit pulp or aqueous DS of graviola capsules against trichloroacetic acid (TCA) induced hepatotoxicity in albino mice. Quality control parameters were determined on random samples of graviola DS using standard methods. A total of 120 female mice were divided into 6 groups and were used for biological screening to determine biochemical and histopathological alteration in liver of mice treated with TCA with or without aqueous extract of A.muricata fruit pulp or DS of graviola. The results of quality control and phytochemical screening revealed that all quality control tests conducted on the random sample of DS capsules of graviola were within normal values according to the standards of the Quality Control Center for Pharmaceuticals in Tripoli, only few samples showed slight increase in the moisture content. However, all samples appeared free from microbial contamination. While, growth of fungal contamination (Pencillium Spp) in the same samples were detected but all samples appeared free from aflatoxins contamination. Also, all samples were free from industrial radioactive contamination. Phytochemical study revealed presence of alkaloids, tannins, steroids, glycosides, falvonoids, anthraquinones, saponin and coumarins in extracts of graviola fruit pulp and graviola DS capsules. However, absence some phytochemical components in DS capsules was detected. The result of biological screening revealed that no clinical signs and abnormalities in behavior and external feature in mice treated with aqueous extract of graviola fruit pulp or aqueous extract of graviola DS capsules. However, the treatment with aqueous extract of graviola fruit pulp and DS of graviola reduced the abnormal changes in behavior and external features in female mice intoxicated with TCA, markedly reduced the mortality in TCA administrated mice and induced slight improvement in the final body weight comparing to TCA only intoxicated group. Biochemical study revealed that administration of aqueous extract of graviola fruit pulp or aqueous extract of DS of graviola significantly decreased the elevated serum activities of AST and ALT compared to TCA only intoxicated mice. Histological examination revealed that administration of aqueous extract of graviola fruit plup or aqueous extract of DS of graviola with TCA induced ameliorative changes and disappearance of the most pathological changes in the liver tissue compared to of TCA only intoxicated mice and the ameliorating changes were more obvious in the mice treated with aqueous extracts of DS of graviola and TCA. The present results demonstrate that A. muricata play an important role in the protection against TCA induced hepatotoxicity. It can be concluded that the present study provide some pharmacological and therapeutical informations about extract of the graviola fruit pulp and DS of graviola capsules which can use in future investigations and applications and demonstrated presence of important phyochemical constituents in the graviola fruit pulp extract and DS of graviola capsules. The extract of the graviola fruit pulp and DS of graviola capsules have protective effects against TCA induced liver toxicity in mice. arabic 33 English 168
Ajlal A. A. Alzergy, Mukhtar R. Haman, Muftah A. M. Shushni, , Fairouz A. Almagtouf (2-2018)