dietary grape poliphenols modulate oxidative stress in ageing rabbits

The imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant capacity of the organism leads to a condition of oxidative stress (Urso and Clarkson, 2003). Studies in humans and laboratory animals have reported that oxidative stress is related to some common degenerative diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular pathologies (Pellegrini et al., 2003). Oxidative stress has also been identified as causative agent for diseases, such as decline of immune function and atherosclerosis (Meydani et al., 1998). In particular, reactive oxygen metabolites such as superoxide (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical (OH.) have been reported to act as cytotoxic agents and damage unsaturated lipids in membranes (Girotti, 1998)

In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of some naturally occurring O- and N-prenyl secondary metabolites.

A series of O- and N-prenyl secondary metabolites of insect, fungal, and plant origin have been evaluated for their topical anti-inflammatory activity using the Croton oil ear test in mice as a model of acute inflammation. Some of the tested compounds revealed an effect (ID50 = 0.31 +0.56 μmol/cm2) comparable with that of the reference non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin (ID50 = 0.23 μmol/cm2)

Prolonged hospitalisation for immigrants and high risk patients with positive smear pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background and objective. Tuberculosis (TB) occurring in immigrants and resistance to drugs are major problems for TB control in Western countries. Directly observed therapy (DOT) reduces disease transmission, but this approach may have poor results among illegal immigrants. Our aim was to evaluate a prolonged hospitalisation programme to improve early outcome of TB treatment in high risk patients. Methods. All the consecutive adult patients with sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB admitted to 2 Italian referral TB Centres were evaluated. Hospital-based DOT was provided to high risk patients up-to smear conversion. Demographic, microbiological and clinical conditions, as potential factors associated with confirmed smear conversion at 60 and 90 days of anti-tuberculous therapy were evaluated. Results. 122 patients were studied, 45.9% of them were immigrants (20% illegal) from high-prevalence TB countries. HIV testing was negative in all cases. Twelve patients had M. tuberculosis resistant to ≥ 1 first-line anti-tuberculous agents. The rate of defaulting from TB treatment was 7.3%. Sputum smear became negative in 84.4% cases after 60 days and 93.3% cases after 90 days. At such time, smear conversion rates were similar among different high risk subgroups such as illegal immigrants (95.9%), legal foreign-born (92.5%) and Italian persons (94.8%). Persistent sputum smear positivity was independently correlated with the extent of pulmonary lesions at 60 (p<0.0001) and 90 days (p=0.038) of hospital-based DOT. Conclusions. These findings suggest that prolonged hospitalisation for illegal immigrants and high risk TB patients, may positively influence the early outcome of TB treatment despite of drug resistance and legal status

Preliminary examination of the efficacy and safety of a standardized chamomile extract for chronic primary insomnia: A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite being the most commonly used herbal for sleep disorders, chamomile's (<it>Matricaria recutita</it>) efficacy and safety for treating chronic primary insomnia is unknown. We examined the preliminary efficacy and safety of chamomile for improving subjective sleep and daytime symptoms in patients with chronic insomnia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial in 34 patients aged 18-65 years with DSM-IV primary insomnia for ≥ 6-months. Patients were randomized to 270 mg of chamomile twice daily or placebo for 28-days. The primary outcomes were sleep diary measures. Secondary outcomes included daytime symptoms, safety assessments, and effect size of these measures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no significant differences between groups in changes in sleep diary measures, including total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, sleep latency, wake after sleep onset (WASO), sleep quality, and number of awakenings. Chamomile did show modest advantage on daytime functioning, although these did not reach statistical significance. Effect sizes were generally small to moderate (Cohen's <it>d </it>≤ 0.20 to < 0.60) with sleep latency, night time awakenings, and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), having moderate effect sizes in favor of chamomile. However, TST demonstrated a moderate effect size in favor of placebo. There were no differences in adverse events reported by the chamomile group compared to placebo.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Chamomile could provide modest benefits of daytime functioning and mixed benefits on sleep diary measures relative to placebo in adults with chronic primary insomnia. However, further studies in select insomnia patients would be needed to investigate these conclusions.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01286324">NCT01286324</a></p

Lignan Derivatives from Krameria lappacea Roots Inhibit Acute Inflammation in Vivo and Pro-inflammatory Mediators in Vitro

The roots of Krameria lappacea are used traditionally against oropharyngeal inflammation. So far, the astringent and antimicrobial properties of its proanthocyanidin constituents are considered to account for the anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of the present study was to characterize pharmacologically a lipophilic extract of K. lappacea roots and several isolated lignan derivatives (111) in terms of their putative anti-inflammatory activity. The dichloromethane extract (ID50 77 \u3bcg/cm2) as well compounds 111 (ID50 0.310.60 \u3bcmol/cm2) exhibited topical antiedematous properties comparable to those of indomethacin (ID50 0.29 \u3bcmol/cm2) in a mouse ear in vivo model. Two of the most potent compounds, 2-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)benzofuran (5) and (+)-conocarpan (7), were studied regarding their time-dependent edema development and leukocyte infiltration up to 48 h after croton oil-induced dermatitis induction, and they showed activity profiles similar to that of hydrocortisone. In vitro studies of the isolated lignan derivatives demonstrated the inhibition of NFkB, cyclooxygenase-1 and -2, 5-lipoxygenase, and microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 as well as antioxidant properties, as mechanisms possibly contributing to the observed in vivo effects. The present findings not only support the ethnopharmacological use of K. lappacea roots but also reveal that the isolated lignan derivatives contribute strongly to the anti-inflammatory activity of this herbal drug

The chemistry and biological activity of the Hyacinthaceae

Covering: 1914 to 2012The Hyacinthaceae (sensu APGII), with approximately 900 species in about 70 genera, can be divided into three main subfamilies, the Hyacinthoideae, the Urgineoideae and the Ornithogaloideae, with a small fourth subfamily the Oziroëoideae, restricted to South America. The plants included in this family have long been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of medicinal applications. This, together with some significant toxicity to livestock has led to the chemical composition of many of the species being investigated. The compounds found are, for the most part, subfamily-restricted, with homoisoflavanones and spirocyclic nortriterpenoids characterising the Hyacinthoideae, bufadienolides characterising the Urgineoideae, and cardenolides and steroidal glycosides characterising the Ornithogaloideae. The phytochemical profiles of 38 genera of the Hyacinthaceae will be discussed as well as any biological activity associated with both crude extracts and compounds isolated. The Hyacinthaceae of southern Africa were last reviewed in 2000 (T. S. Pohl, N. R. Crouch and D. A. Mulholland, Curr. Org. Chem., 2000, 4, 1287-1324; ); the current contribution considers the family at a global level