PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS CONTENT AND RADICAL SCAVENGING CAPACITY OF WHEAT-LENTIL DOUGH

The lentil (Lens culinarisL.) is a legume plant, one of the oldest known food crops and medicinal plants. The health benefits of lentil are well known: its consumption reduces the risks of cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. It has a low glycemic food index and is important in the dietary treatment of diabetes mellitus.Unfortunately, its consumption in many countries is low. Since bread is a daily consumed food this can be improved by adding the lentil in wheat flour. In this paper the content and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging capacity of phenolic compounds from wheat dough and dough obtained by wheat flour supplemented with 40% of lentil flour were examined and compared. The dough with lentil flour had higher content of phenolic compounds than the dough with wheat flour only (2144.7 and 1592.5 g of chlorogenic acid/g, respectively) and achieved higher DPPH scavenging capacity (SC50 value was 21.2 and 56.3 mg/mL, respectively). Results showed that, after baking, the dough retained the same value of DPPH scavenging capacity, while baked wheat-lentil dough had near three times higher antioxidant activity than baked wheat dough. These investigations indicate that the lentil flour is useful food ingredient for improving the antioxidative potential of wheat flour.Key words: Lentil, dough, phenolic compound, scavenging capacit

Exploring the attitude of Faculty of Medicine students about herbal products usage: a cross-sectional study

Herbal products have gained popularity, and they are often perceived as safe. The roles of the pharmacists and physicians are essential in the proper usage of those products. This study aimed to investigate the students of Faculty of Medicine in Niš about the use of herbal preparations and the differences between medicine, pharmacy and dentistry students. The fifth-year university students were questioned through an anonymous survey. The obtained results were processed statistically and presented graphically. The majority of the students would prefer a combination of herb product and drug (76.9%). Usage of herbal products is based on students' knowledge, on the advice of pharmacists, family members, physicians, and the media. The majority of students purchase herbal products in the pharmacy and nobody obtained them via the Internet. Most of the students used them in preventive purposes (60%) and claimed that there were positive effects. Students (75%) read the instructions for use and side effects, especially pharmacy students (88.3%). Medicine students (60%) consider herbal products completely safe. Pharmacy students are considered to receive the necessary knowledge on herbal products (68.3%), while a smaller percentage of medicine and dentistry students consider the same. Students use herbal medicines but are not entirely familiar with their effects and safety. There is a need for raising awareness, the importance of side effects and interactions of herbs and drugs among medicine and dentistry students. This goal can be achieved by changing curriculum which would contain material from phytotherapy

The fatty acids and alkanes of Satureja adamovicii Silic and Satureja fukarekii Silic (NOTE)

The content and composition of fatty acids and alkanes of Satureja adamovicii Silic and Satureja fukarekii Silic were analized by GC. It was found that unsaturated acids prevailed and that the major components were palmitic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. The hydrocarbon fractions of pentane extracts were shown to consist of the alkane homologues (C17 to C34) with nonacosane and hentriacontane being prevailing compounds

Relaxant Effect of the Ethanol Extract of Helichrysum plicatum (Asteraceae) on Isolated Rat Ileum Contractions

Helichrysum plicatum (Turkish Helichrysum) has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of gastric and hepatic disorders. The aim of the present study was to examine the relaxant activity of an extract of H. plicatum flowers on isolated rat ileum. Segments of ileum of rats were suspended in an organ bath. Cumulative concentrations of H. plicatum ethanol extract induced a relaxant effect on spontaneous rat ileum contractions. H. plicatum extract caused a mean contractile response of 81.68 ± 6.17% (at a dose of 0.01 mg/mL) and 30.08 ± 9.07% (at a dose of 1 mg/mL). A similar effect was observed with papaverine (0.01–3 μg/mL). H. plicatum extract (0.01–1 mg/mL) relaxed high K+ (80 mM) precontractions, an effect similar to that caused by papaverine (0.01–3 μg/mL). The plant extract (0.03–0.3 mg/mL) also induced a significant depression of the cumulative concentration response curve for acetylcholine (5–1500 nM) (p < 0.01). Atropine (140 nM) abolished the acetylcholine effect. The extract (0.03–0.3 mg/mL) reduced the histamine (1–300 nM) and BaCl2 (3–900 μM) induced contractions (p < 0.01). Our results showed the relaxant effect of the ethanol extract of Helichrysum plicatum flowers on the isolated rat intestine Extract of H. plicatum can inhibit the spontaneous ileum contractions and contractions induced by acetylcholine, histamine, barium and potassium ions

Anticancer potential and other pharmacological properties of 2 Prunus armeniaca L : an updated overview

Prunus armeniaca L. (Rosaceae)-syn. Amygdalus armeniaca (L.) Dumort., Armeniaca armeniaca (L.) Huth, Armeniaca vulgaris Lam is commonly known as the apricot tree. The plant is thought to originate from the northern, north-western, and north-eastern provinces of China, although some data show that it may also come from Korea or Japan. The apricot fruit is used medicinally to treat a variety of ailments, including use as an antipyretic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, emetic, and ophthalmic remedy. The Chinese and Korean pharmacopeias describe the apricot seed as an herbal medicinal product. Various parts of the apricot plant are used worldwide for their anticancer properties, either as a primary remedy in traditional medicine or as a complementary or alternative medicine. The purpose of this review was to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information on ethnobotanical data, bioactive phytochemicals, anticancer potential, pharmacological applications, and toxicology of the genus Prunus armeniaca, thus providing new perspectives on future research directions. Included data were obtained from online databases such as PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Science direct, and Wiley Online Library. Multiple anticancer mechanisms have been identified in in vitro and in vivo studies, the most important mechanisms being apoptosis, antiproliferation, and cytotoxicity. The anticancer properties are probably mediated by the contained bioactive compounds, which can activate various anticancer mechanisms and signaling pathways such as tumor suppressor proteins that reduce the proliferation of tumor cells. Other pharmacological properties resulting from the analysis of experimental studies include neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antioxidant, immunostimulatory, antihyperlipidemic, antibacterial, and antifungal effects. In addition, data were provided on the toxicity of amygdalin, a compound found in apricot kernel seeds, which limits the long-term use of complementary/alternative products derived from P. armeniaca. This updated review showed that bioactive compounds derived from P. armeniaca are promising compounds for future research due to their important pharmacological properties, especially anticancer. A detailed analysis of the chemical structure of these compounds and their cytotoxicity should be carried out in future research. In addition, translational pharmacological studies are required for the correct determination of pharmacologically active doses in humans

Influence of lyophilized Thymus serpyllum L. extracts on the gastrointestinal system: Spasmolytic, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties

In the presented study, polyphenol profile, spasmolytic, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of lyophilized Thymus serpyllum extracts were examined. The main phenolic acid in the extracts was rosmarinic acid, followed by salvianolic acid I, salvianolic acid K isomer and caffeic acid, whereas chlorogenic acid was detected only in traces; the dominant flavonoids were luteolin 7-O-glucuronide and 6-hydroxyluteolin 7-O-glucoside, while the contents of apigenin glucuronide and 6,8-di-C-glucosylapigenin were significantly lower. All tested extracts have shown spasmolytic effect in a dose-dependent manner on spontaneous contractions, acetylcholine- and potassium chloride-induced contractions; lyophilized extract obtained in maceration has shown significantly better spasmolytic activity. The mentioned extract has shown dosedependent spasmolytic effect in the model of contractions induced by barium chloride and calcium chloride, as well. Furthermore, lyophilized extracts were effective against Gram-positive bacteria and showed only moderate antifungal activity. Ultrasound-assisted extraction provided extracts with better ability of neutralization DPPH radicals, whereas maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction approved to be better regarding beta-carotene bleaching assay. Due to spasmolytic, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties shown in the present study, polyphenols-rich T. serpyllum extract may be used as adjuvant in therapy of gastrointestinal disorders and infections caused by some of the susceptible pathogens