Resveratrol in Parts of Vine and Wine Originating from Bohemian and Moravian Vineyard Regions

Chemically, resveratrol is a substance of a polyphenolic character from the group of phytoalexins - 3,5,4´- trihydroxystilbene - and exists in cis and trans-isomer forms. In natural sources trans-isomer is more common. As a natural polyphenolic substance, it shows a whole range of biological activities, such as anti-oxidizing and anti-microbial features (namely anti-fungal activities), the ability to absorb free radicals, affects blood sedimentation rate etc. Recently, trans-resveratrol has also been attributed anti-mutagen and chemo-protective features against cancer proliferation. It is assumed that resveratrol could be one of the active substances contributing to the health benefits, namely it decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases through a reasonable consumption of red wine. Grapes of Vitis vinifera and especially red wine represent its main source in human diet. Grape peels contain about 0.5 to 2.0 mg of resveratrol/g of dry weight and the average concentration in red wines of world provenience fluctuates between 1.0 and 3.0 mg/l. Resveratrol was determined by HPLC method with electrochemical detection after direct injection of wine or plant extracts. As expected, red wines from vines originating in the Bohemian and Moravian vineyard regions appeared to contain relatively high levels of resveratrol (from 1.3 to 15.4 mg/l) and trans/cis ratio ranged from 0.5 to 4.8, excess of cis-resveratrol to trans-isomer was typical for red wine growing in Most region (northern Bohemia) where vineyards are exposed to higher environmental stress due to frequent air pollutions in this area. In addition, resveratrol determined in different parts of grapevine (leaves, rachis) varied from 6 to 490 mg/kg of the dry matter. Cluster stems were found as the richest source of resveratrol

Development of right-left asymmetry in the chick embryo

Using SEM we have studied the ventral surface of the chick node. In contrast to mouse, we have found neither the pit nor the cilia

Minimally invasive drug delivery to the cochlea through application of nanoparticles to the round window membrane

Direct drug delivery to the cochlea is associated with the risk of irreversible damage to the ear. In this study liposome and polymersome nanoparticles (NPs), both formed from amphiphilic molecules (lipids in liposomes, block copolymers in polymersomes), were tested as potential tools for drug delivery to the cochlea through application onto the round window membrane (RWM) in adult mice (strain C3H). One day after RWM application both types of NPs labelled with fluorescent markers were identified in the spiral ganglion in all cochlear turns without producing any distinct morphological or functional damage to the inner ear. NPs were detected, although to a lesser extent, in the organ of Corti and the lateral wall. The potential of liposome and polymersome NPs as therapeutic delivery systems into the cochlea via the RWM was evaluated using disulfiram, a neurotoxic agent as a model payload. Disulfiram-loaded NP delivery resulted in significant decrease in the number of spiral ganglion cells starting two days post-application, with associated pronounced hearing loss reaching 20-35 dB two weeks post-application as assessed through auditory brainstem responses. No changes in hair cell morphology and function (as assessed by recording of otoacoustic emissions) were detected after disulfiram-loaded NP application. No effects were observed in controls where solution of free disulfiram was similarly administered. The results demonstrate that polymersome and liposome NPs are capable of carrying a payload into the inner ear that elicits a biological effect, with consequences measurable by a functional readout