24 research outputs found
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 1981–1996, 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’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