Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity of pine pollen extract in vitro

To determine the medicinal properties of pine pollen, the antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of pine pollen extract (PPE) were investigated. PPE displayed a strong free radical scavenger activity on 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical and hydrogen peroxide. It was observed also that the antioxidant activity, measured by the ferric thiocyanate method, increased with the addition of PPE to the linoleic acid emulsion system. PPE was also found to inhibit significantly the amount of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls formed from liver homogenate. Like the antioxidant activity, the reducing power of PPE was excellent. Thereafter, the study investigated the effects of PPE in modulating the production of pro‐inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐activated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and the effect of PPE on interleukin (IL)‐1β‐induced matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production and mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation in the human synovial sarcoma cell line, SW982. PPE was found to inhibit the production of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor‐α, IL‐1 and IL‐6 in LPS‐activated macrophages. Treatment with PPE at 10 µg/mL significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited IL‐1β‐induced MMPs (MMP‐1 and ‐3) production in SW982 cells. IL‐1β‐induced JNK activation was inhibited by PPE (10 µg/mL), whereas p38 and ERK1/2 were not affected. These findings suggest that pine pollen is a potential antioxidant and beneficial for inflammatory conditions through down‐regulation of JNK and MMPs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antioxidative and antiinflammatory potential of different functional drink concepts in vitro

The present study was undertaken to investigate the antioxidative effects of three different functional drink concepts especially designed to improve the body's performance and function and to possess high antioxidant activities. The concepts based on the mixture of various plant ingredients were: (1) eQ - equalize your nutrient balance, brain line [acerola-dragon fruit], (2) eQ - equalize your nutrient balance, beauty line [honey-pepper] and (3) Let's get red [intense]. By using a cell-based test assay, the study investigated the potential of the functional drinks to inactivate reactive superoxide anion radicals generated by inflammation-mediating cells as well as the effect on basal metabolism of these cells (antioxidant and antiinflammatory potential). In addition, by using a cell-free test assay the potential of the drinks to inactivate free exogenous superoxide anion radicals (scavenger effect) was investigated. The data presented here demonstrate the different radical scavenging, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of the functional drink concepts. In particular Let's get red [intense] turned out to be the most potent drink in this respect and demonstrated marked efficacy in scavenging, antioxidant and antiinflammatory action.     

Cardioprotective potential of myricetin in isoproterenol‐induced myocardial infarction in wistar rats

The study aimed to evaluate the protective role of myricetin obtained from Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae) on heart rate, electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns, vascular reactivity to catecholamines, cardiac marker enzymes, antioxidant enzymes together with morphological and histopathological changes in isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction (MI) in male Wistar rats. Rats treated with isoproterenol (85 mg/kg, administered subcutaneously twice at an interval of 24 h) showed a significant increase in heart rate and ST elevation in ECG, and a significant increase in the levels of cardiac marker enzymes – lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum. Isoproterenol significantly reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity and increased vascular reactivity to various catecholamines. Pretreatment with myricetin (100 mg/kg, p.o. and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) for a period of 21 days significantly inhibited the effects of ISO on heart rate, levels of LDH, CK, AST, SOD, CAT, vascular reactivity changes and ECG patterns. Treatment with myricetin (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) alone did not alter any of the parameters compared with vehicle treated Wistar rats. Myricetin treated animals showed a lesser degree of cellular infiltration in histopathological studies. Thus, myricetin (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) ameliorates the cardiotoxic effects of isoproterenol and may be of value in the treatment of MI. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antioxidant properties and xanthine oxidase inhibitory effects of Tamus communis L. root extracts

This study was conducted to search for xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors from the root extracts of Tamus communis L. traditionally used in folk medicine in Algeria. Root extracts with different solvents were screened for purified milk xanthine oxidase inhibition. The root extracts (methanol, chloroform and ethyl acetate) and proteins, obtained in distilled water, inhibited bovine, sheep and human milk XO from three species in a concentration-dependent manner, with an additional superoxide scavenging capacity, which reached its highest level with ethyl acetate extract (IC(50) = 0.15, 0.04 and 0.09 g/L) for bovine XO, sheep XO and human XO, respectively. The antioxidant potential was confirmed with the non-enzymatic method, total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) assay, which showed that the Tamus communis L. extracts have a potential antioxidant activity in the same order obtained by using the reduction of cytochrome c, an enzymatic method, in which the antioxidant activity followed a decreasing order: ethyl acetate extract > chloroform extract > protein.     

Bioactive acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum densiflorum

Three acylphloroglucinol derivatives have been isolated from the hexane and acetone extracts of the aerial parts of Hypericum densiflorum Pursch. The compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry and identified as 4‐geranyloxy‐2,6‐dihydroxybenzophenone (1), 4‐geranyloxy‐1‐(2‐methylpropanoyl)‐ phloroglucinol (2) and 4‐geranyloxy‐1‐(2‐methylbutanoyl)‐phloroglucinol (3). Compounds 1–3 were evaluated for in vitro cell proliferation inhibitory activity against human breast (MCF‐7), lung (NCI H460), CNS (SF‐268), stomach (AGS) and colon (HCT‐116) tumor cell lines; antibacterial activity against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX‐1 and ‐2) enzymes; and antioxidant activity in the lipid peroxidation (LPO) assay. All three compounds showed moderate to strong antitumor, antibacterial, antioxidant and inhibition of COX‐2 activities. Also, this is the first reported occurrence of compound 3 in the Hypericum genus. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pomegranate extract mouth rinsing effects on saliva measures relevant to gingivitis risk

Pomegranate components have properties that could promote oral health, including reducing the risk of gingivitis. The present study examined young adults (n = 32, split evenly among both genders), for the effects of 4 weeks of thrice daily mouth rinsing with the pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) extract PomElla^® dissolved in water. This treatment changed salivary measures relevant to oral health including gingivitis. The changes were: reduced total protein (which can correlate with plaque forming bacteria readings), reduced activities of aspartate aminotransferase (an indicator of cell injury), reduced alpha‐glucosidase activity (a sucrose degrading enzyme), increased activities of the antioxidant enzyme ceruloplasmin (which could give better protection against oral oxidant stress) and increased radical scavenging capacity (though this increase was significant only by nonparametric statistical analysis). A placebo of cornstarch in water did not affect these measures. These data raise the possibility of using pomegranate extracts in oral health products such as toothpaste and mouthwashes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

心适注射液对犬脑组织血流量、脑血管阻力及脑组织抗氧化作用的影响

目的:研究心适注射液(XSI)对麻醉犬脑组织血流量、脑血管阻力及脑组织超氧化物歧化酶(SOD),丙二醛(MDA)和一氧化氮(NO)含量的影响。方法:将健康犬分为生理盐水(NS)对照组,丹参注射液对照组和心适注射液高、中、低剂量组(4,2,1g·kg^-1),3%戊巴比妥钠麻醉后,分离左下肢股静脉,iv心适注射液,分离左颈总动脉测量颈内动脉血流量,分离左下肢股动脉测量平均动脉血压,计算后得出脑组织血流量和脑血管阻力。取脑组织,匀浆,分别测定SOD,MDA和NO含量。结果:心适注射液可显著增加脑组织血流量、降低脑血管阻力、升高脑组织SOD含量、降低MDA和NO含量。结论:心适注射液可改善犬脑部血流、扩张脑血管。     

Susceptibility of red blood cell lipids to in vitro oxidation and antioxidant status in preeclampsia

Objective

To investigate susceptibility of red blood cell (RBC) lipids to oxidation and antioxidant status in preeclampsia.

Study design

Twenty-one women with mild preeclampsia, 21 women with severe preeclampsia, and 20 healthy pregnant women were included in this cross-sectional study. Susceptibility of RBC to oxidative stress was determined by measuring RBC-malondialdehyde levels after incubation with hydrogen peroxide. Vitamins E and C, total carotenoids and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined spectrophotometrically. One-way analysis of variance and correlation analysis were used for statistical analyses.

Results

Compared with the normal pregnant women, susceptibility of RBC to oxidation was enhanced in the mild (p < 0.05) and severe (p < 0.01) preeclampsia groups, TAC was lower in the mild (p < 0.01) and severe (p < 0.001) preeclampsia groups. Vitamin C level was decreased in severe preeclampsia and total carotene level was decreased in mild and severe preeclampsia groups (p < 0.05). GPx activity was also decreased in the mild (p < 0.01) and severe (p < 0.05) preeclampsia groups.

Conclusion

The results of the present study supported the oxidative stress hypothesis of preeclampsia and it is possible that RBC play a role in the pathophysiology of the disease.