Potential therapeutic applications of infusions and hydroalcoholic extracts of Romanian glutinous sage (Salvia glutinosa L.)

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Salvia glutinosa, also known as the glutinous sage, has been used in Romanian folk medicine in the treatment of inflammation, injuries, and mild infections. However, there is no direct scientific evidence to demonstrate these activities. Aim of the Study: The present research was based on evaluating antioxidant, antiproliferative, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of S. glutinosa extracts, as well as the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. Materials and Methods: Infusions and 70% (v:v) ethanol solution extracts of S. glutinosa stems and leaves, collected from two different locations in Romania, were prepared. Ten phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using the LC-DAD-ESI/MSn method, and total phenolic and flavonoid content, as well as in vitro antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays), antiproliferative, antiinflammatory and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities were determined. A rat model of induced inflammation with turpentine oil was used for the examination of in vivo effects of the extracts, using diclofenac as an antiinflammatory control. Results: The highest inhibitory α-glucosidase activity was determined to be IC50 = 0.546 mg/ml for the hydroalcoholic extract made with plant material collected on the road to Sighișoara. The highest cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cell line was determined to be GI50 = 131.68 ± 5.03 μg/ml, for the hydroalcoholic extract made with plant material from Sighișoara. In vivo administration of extract (200 mg lyophilized powder/ml) showed a significant reduction of NO production.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that S. glutinosa extracts exhibit antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, as well as a modest cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cell line. By in vivo administration, the extracts show antiinflammatory and antioxidant activity, which correlates with the traditional use of the species. The environmental conditions seemed to induce important changes in the chemical composition and the bioactivity of the herbal preparations derived from S. glutinosa.This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS–UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019–5360.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

EMG signal processing for the study of localized muscle fatigue—pilot study to explore the applicability of a novel method

This pilot study aimed to explore a method for characterization of the electromyogram frequency spectrum during a sustained exertion task, performed by the upper limb. Methods: Nine participants underwent an isometric localized muscle fatigue protocol on an isokinetic dynamometer until exhaustion, while monitored with surface electromyography (sEMG) of the shoulder’s external rotators. Firstly, three methods of signal energy analysis based on primer frequency contributors were compared to the energy of the entire spectrum. Secondly, the chosen method of analysis was used to characterize the signal energy at beginning (T1), in the middle (T2) and at the end (T3) of the fatigue protocol and compared to the torque output and the shift in the median frequencies during the trial. Results: There were statistically significant differences between T1 and T3 for signal energy (p < 0.007) and for central frequency of the interval (p = 0.003). Moreover, the isometric peak torque was also different between T1 and T3 (p < 0.001). Overall, there were no differences between the signal energy enclosed in the 40 primer frequency contributors and the analysis of the full spectrum energy; consequently, it was the method of choice. The reported fatigue and the decrease in the produced muscle torque was consistent with fatigue-induced alterations in the electromyogram frequency spectrum. In conclusion, the developed protocol has potential to be considered as an easy-to-use method for EMG-based analysis of isometric muscle exertion until fatigue. Thus, the novelty of the proposed method is to explore, in muscle fatigue, the use of only the main contributors in the frequency domain of the EMG spectrum, avoiding surplus information, that may not represent muscle functioning. However, further studies are needed to investigate the stability of the present findings in a more comprehensive sample.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CeDRI (UIDB/05757/2020 and UIDP/05757/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Thymus comosus Heuff. ex Griseb. et Schenk (wild thyme) and their bioactive potential

An optimized ultrasound-assisted extractive method was developed to obtain a polyphenol-enriched extract from the aerial parts of Thymus comosus Heuff. ex Griseb. et Schenk. Optimization process was conducted based on Design of Experiment (DoE) principles, determining the influence of three independent variables (time, ultrasound amplitude, ethanol concentration) on the total phenolic content of the extract (dependent variable). Additionally, the phenolic composition of the extract was characterized through UHPLC-HRMS, revealing beside the most abundant flavonoid-type compounds the presence of salvianolic acids C, D and L in high amounts. Phytochemical profile of the extract was correlated with its antioxidant activity (tested through five complementary assays) and enzyme-inhibitory potential, showing important antiglucosidase and anticholinesterase effects. Overall, it was concluded that the developed method is suitable for obtaining a good recovery of both phenolic and non-phenolic compounds from Thymus comosus aerial parts, and their presence in the optimized extract is responsible for its pharmacological potential.This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1- 1.1-PD-2019-1245, within PNCDI III”. The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020), and for the contracts of J. Pinela (CEECIND/01011/2018) and L. Barros (institutional scientific employment program-contract).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of an optimized drying process for the recovery of bioactive compounds from the Autumn Fruits of Berberis vulgaris L. and Crataegus monogyna Jacq

Hot air drying has proven to be an efficient method to preserve specific edible plant materials with medicinal properties. This is a process involving chemical, physical, and biological changes in plant matrices. Understanding these processes will lead to an improvement in the yields of bioactive compounds. This study aims to optimize the drying process of two species’ fruits used in folk medicine, Berberis vulgaris and Crataegus monogyna. The optimized extracts’ antioxidant capacity was assessed using various assays, with the barberry extract showing very good activity (50.85, 30.98, and 302.45 mg TE/g dw for DPPH, TEAC, and FRAP assays, respectively). Both species exerted good fungal α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.34 and 0.56 mg/mL, respectively) but no activity on mammalian α-glucosidase. Additionally, this study identified and quantified the main bioactive compounds. The results presented herein are a breakthrough in industrializing this drying process. Additional studies are necessary to mechanistically understand the drying process involved in these plant materials.This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS–UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-5360.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020), the national funding for F.C.T. and P.I. and through the institutional scientific employment program contract for M.I.D., and L.B. The authors are grateful to FEDER—Interreg España—Portugal programme for financial support through the project TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

New Biomarkers in Screening Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity Only with Peripheral Blood Sampling

Because oxidative stress after administration of doxorubicin was identified as playing a central role in cardiac dysfunction, we hypothesized that the expression (or overexpression) of TLR2 and TLR4 contributes to the pathogenesis of doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are members of the interleukin-1 receptor family (IL1) and are involved in the ability to react to the molecular trigger associated with pathogenic microorganisms. Recent studies have shown that TLR receptors are activated by endogenous signals, such as heat shock proteins and oxidative stress, which can contribute to congestive heart failure. Until recently, the best detection method for cardiotoxicity induced by anthracyclines was myocardial biopsy. Other early screening and early diagnosis methods (biomarkers—cardiac troponins and natriuretic peptide) have not yet proven their efficacy. Our proposed method is a new, revolutionary one that does not imply any kind of physical (and psychic) aggression on the patient: the targeted genetic (TLR2/TLR4) analysis of the human peripheral blood (which is a minimally invasive procedure)

Pierre Claverie: Decolonising Mission

In the early 1980s, the Catholic Church in Algeria was experiencing upheaval, having been depopulated almost overnight when the great majority of Catholic Christians had left the country and resettled in France or elsewhere after the Algerian proclamation of independence two decades earlier. The remaining Christians were regarded not only as a reduced minority but mostly as a reminding symbol of an era of political and religious colonization. The Church in Algeria was in need of a deep reflection to find a new reason for its presence in this totally new context. A man of faith, capable of illuminating this reflection was Pierre Lucien Claverie, a Dominican friar and bishop of Oran between 1981&ndash;1996, who tried to lead the perception of the Church in Algeria from notions such as colonisation or proselytism, to notions such as otherness and plurality in an attempt to liberate the act of mission from any aggressive tendency or colonial roots. Claverie&rsquo;s writings show that he did not shape the concept of mission only on a theological or social level but responded to the needs of his Church through his spiritual experiences and monastic background