Free radical-scavenging activities of Crataegus monogyna extracts

The aim of this study was to investigate antiradical activity of aqueous and ethanolic hawthorn fruit extracts, their flavonoids, and flavonoid combinations. Material and methods. Total amount of phenolic compounds and the constituents of flavonoids were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant activity of Crataegus monogyna extracts and flavonoids (chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, vitexin-2O-rhamnoside, epicatechin, catechin, and procyanidin B2) quantitatively was determined using the method of spectrophotometry (diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) radical scavenging assay and 2,2\u27-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)(ABTS·+) radical cation decolorization assay). The level of tyrosine nitration inhibition was determined using a highperformance liquid chromatography. Results. Ethanolic hawthorn fruit extract contained 182±4 mg/100 mL phenolic compounds, i.e. threefold more, as compared to aqueous extract. The antioxidant activity according to DPPH· reduction in the ethanolic extracts was higher 2.3 times (P<0.05). The ABTS·+ technique showed that the effect of ethanolic extracts was by 2.5 times stronger than that of aqueous extracts. Tyrosine nitration inhibition test showed that the effect of ethanolic extracts was by 1.4 times stronger than that of aqueous extracts. The investigation of the antiradical activity of the active constituents in aqueous and ethanolic extracts revealed that epicatechin and catechin contribute to radical-scavenging properties more than other components. Procyanidin B2 only insignificantly influenced the antiradical activity of the extracts. Conclusion. Both aqueous and ethanolic hawthorn extracts had antiradical activity, but ethanolic extract had stronger free radical-scavenging properties, compared to the aqueous extract. The antioxidant activity of the studied preparations was mostly conditioned by epicatechin and catechin. The individual constituents of both extracts had weaker free radical-scavenging properties than the combination of these substances did

Ginkmedžių, ežiuolių ir ženšenių tinktūrų antioksidacinis aktyvumas

The aim of this study was to determine the amount of phenol compounds in tinctures prepared from Ginkgo leaves, Echinacea plant, and Ginseng roots and to evaluate the antioxidative activity of these preparations. We studied the antioxidative activity using the standard 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.) radical cation scavenging and tyrosine nitration inhibition tests. The obtained findings showed that the amount of phenol compounds in the studied tinctures differed and ranged between 114 to 340±29 gallic acid equivalents (GAE) mg/100 mL. We found that the amount of phenol compounds in Ginkgo tincture was statistically significantly greater than that in Echinacea or Ginseng tinctures. The effectiveness of Ginkgo tincture was by 52.7% (P<0.01) lower (from 1343±11 mmol catechin/100 mL solution to 637±64 catechin/100 mL solution), compared to Echinacea tincture. Ginseng tincture was the weakest scavenger of free radicals – only 8±1 mmol catechin/100 mL solution. The inhibition of tyrosine nitration was by 34% (P<0.01) greater in Echinacea tincture, compared to Ginkgo tincture (from 892±36 mmol catechin/100 mL solution to 588±17 mmol catechin/100 mL solution). Ginseng tincture was the weakest inhibitor of tyrosine nitration – only 20±8 mmol catechin/100 mL solution, which was by 44.6 times less, compared to Echinacea tincture. Tests on DPPH. radical cation scavenging and inhibition of nitration showed that the antioxidative activity of Echinacea tincture was statistically significantly greater compared to that of Ginkgo or Ginseng tinctures. This allows us to conclude that antioxidative activity is determined not only by phenol compounds, but also by a complex of other components of medicinal raw material

The Determinants of access to information on the Internet and knowledge of health related topics in European countries

The aim of this study is to analyze the determinants of access to health-related information on the Internet and their influence on perceived knowledge of health-related topics in European countries. Referring to the European citizens’ digital health literacy survey and applying structural equation modelling hypothe- ses, the obtained results showed that assumption of acceptance of information and capacity level are the main determinants which have the biggest influence on the perception of access to health-related information on the Internet. The access to health-related information negatively determined the per- ceived level of knowledge about health-related topics, which reveals that people making more use of the information are more critical in assessing the level of their knowledge. People who evaluated their health status as poor stated that they knew about health-related topics less. Therefore, the high level of access to health-related information does not mean that people would assume having more knowledge about health-related topics. The establishment of a platform on the Internet, which would supply all understandable information on health-related topics, would be the main tool for enhancing the level of knowledge of health-related topicsAplinkotyros katedraLietuvos sveikatos mokslų universitetas. Medicinos akademijaVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

The diuretic effect of cornflower water extract

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of cornflower water extract and hydrochlorothiazide on diuresis, Na+ and K+ excretion, and the changes in the prostaglandin E2 and kinins levels in the blood plasma.Material and methods. Male Wistar rats were used in all experiments. Animals were divided into nine groups. Diuretic activity was investigated according to the technique proposed by E. B. Berchin; urinary electrolyte contents were analyzed by flame photometry. Prostaglandin E2 content was measured by radioimmunoassay using 3H isotopes, kinins – by enzymatic methods. Results. It has been established that in male rats, receiving hydrochlorothiazide, the volume of urine excreted two and four hours after the administration of the drug was by 18% and 17%, respectively, higher as compared to the rats that were given cornflower water extract (P&lt;0.05). The diuretic effect of cornflower water extract was noted in the animal group receiving this extract as compared to the control group: after two hours, the volume of urine excreted increased from 2.03±0.03 mL to 2.44±0.04 mL and after four hours – from 3.88±0.07 mL to 5.35±0.1 mL. Administration of hydrochlorothiazide under the load of salts and water resulted in a higher excretion of sodium and potassium as compared to the effect of cornflower water extract. The highest prostaglandin levels were found in the blood plasma of the animals receiving hydrochlorothiazide. Under the load of salts and water, a 13% and 15% increase, respectively, in the amount of prostaglandins was observed in the animals that were given cornflower water extract compared to the control animals (P&lt;0.05). The greatest increase in the amount of kinins was found in the groups of animals that were given hydrochlorothiazide under the load of salts and water (14% and 22%, respectively). Kinin levels did not differ statistically significantly between the control group and the groups receiving cornflower water extract. Conclusion. Cornflower water extract possesses diuretic activity, but its effect was lower than that of hydrochlorothiazide

Multiplicity of effects and health benefits of resveratrol

Resveratrol is mainly found in grapes and red wine, also in some plants and fruits, such as peanuts, cranberries, pistachios, blueberries and bilberries. Moreover, nowadays this compound is available as purified preparation and dietary supplement. Resveratrol provides a wide range of benefits, including cardiovascular protective, antiplatelet, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, blood glucose-lowering and anticancer activities, hence it exhibits a complex mode of action. During the recent years, these properties have been widely studied in animal and human models, both in vitro and in vivo. This paper is intended to present information published during the recent years on the biological activities and multiple effects of resveratrol

Microcirculatory effects of L-arginine during acute anaerobic exercise in healthy men: A pilot study

Background/Objective We hypothesized that L-arginine supplementation increases sublingual capillary perfusion during acute anaerobic exercise. Methods In a double-blind randomized study, 20 healthy men were randomly assigned to an L-arginine group or a placebo group. Both groups performed a standard 60-second duration BOSCO jumping test. Before the exercise, immediately after, and 30 minutes after exercise, systemic hemodynamic parameters were recorded. Sublingual evaluation of microcirculation using sidestream dark field (SDF) videomicroscopy was also carried out. Results There were no differences in mean arterial blood pressure and cardiac output between the placebo and L-arginine groups immediately after exercise and at 30 minutes after exercise. Both groups had no changes in the microvascular flow index and proportion of perfused vessels of small vessels over the testing period. We observed significantly higher functional capillary density [14.1 (12.5 – 16.0) vs. 11.7 (10.9 – 12.9) 1/mm, p = 0.021] and total vessel density of small vessels [27.8 (24.4 – 29.2) vs. 23.0 (21.6 – 24.2) mm/mm2, p = 0.041] in the L-arginine group compared with the placebo group immediately after exercise, but after 30 minutes these differences had disappeared. Conclusion Our findings show that supplementation with L-arginine may cause additional effects on the acute anaerobic exercise-induced transient increase in capillary density in the sublingual mucosa of untrained men

Psyllium (Plantago Ovata Forsk) husk powder as a natural superdisintegrant for orodispersible formulations: a study on Meloxicam tablets

Background: In this work, we investigated the application of a natural superdisintegrant, psyllium (Plantago ovata Forsk) husk powder, for the manufacture of orodispersible meloxicam tablets. Meloxicam was chosen as a model compound for the study. (2) Methods: The tablets were prepared using different concentrations of psyllium husk by direct compression. Bulk density, tapped density, hardness, friability, in vitro disintegration, and dissolution time tests were used to assess the quality of the formulations. (3) Results: Psyllium husk powder significantly increased the dissolution rate of meloxicam. The formulation containing 16 mg of psyllium husk powder showed the lowest wetting time, the highest water absorption ratio, and the lowest disintegration time compared to the control and to the other formulations. These effects may be attributed to the rapid uptake of water due to the vigorous swelling ability of psyllium husk powder. (4) Conclusions: The powder could be recommended as an effective natural superdisintegrant for orodispersible formulation