Ganoderma terpenoid extract exhibited anti-plasmodial activity by a mechanism involving reduction in erythrocyte and hepatic lipids in Plasmodium berghei infected mice

Abstract Bioactive components of Ganoderma lucidum has recently gained intense research attention due to their acclaimed nutritional and medicinal properties. Thus, the terpenoid extract from the fruit bodies of G. lucidum (GT) was evaluated for activity against Plasmodium berghei in mice in two separate experiments. In addition, the effects of the extract on erythrocyte and hepatic lipids as well as liver HMG-CoA reductase activity before and after the treatments were also assessed. Mice with established infection were administered 100 and 250 mg/kg/day GT alone and in combination with chloroquine (CQ), in either case two separate controls designated: CQ (30 mg/kg chloroquine) and INF-CTR (1 mL DMSO) were also included. Treatment was administered orally for 12 days and parasitemia determined every three days. Percentage survival was significantly increased to 87% from 66% due to combination of GT100 with CQ compared to GT100 alone and to 75% from 62% when GT250 was administered with CQ compared to GT250 alone. Erythrocyte triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), LDL and phospholipids contents were significantly lower in GT + CQ-treated mice compared to CQ alone and INF-CTR. Similarly, hepatic TC and phospholipid levels were significantly lower in the GT + CQ-treated mice compared to CQ alone and INF-CTR and HMG-CoA reductase activity in the liver was significantly inhibited due to administration of GT + CQ. Data from this study suggest that the anti-plasmodial action of GT could involve mechanisms associated with its hypolipidemic activity. It was also demonstrated that chloroquine, when administered in combination with GT, potentiates its curative effect in P. berghei-infected mice

Phenolic composition of Nebbiolo grape (Vitis vinifera L.) from Piedmont: characterization during ripening of grapes selected in different geographic areas and comparison with Uva Rara and Vespolina cv

Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are rich in polyphenols; the phenolic composition of grape is very complex and depends on several factors, including grape varieties, ripening stage and pedoclimatic conditions. In this work the amount of total polyphenols, anthocyanins and tannins, the antioxidant activity and the chromatic characteristics of Nebbiolo grapes from Piedmont were determined. Four different cultivation areas and three different ripening stages (starting of veraison, veraison completion and physiological ripeness) were considered. The quantification of individual polyphenols and hydroxycinnamates was performed by RP-HPLC/DAD. In a general way, anthocyanins and flavonols increased during ripening, while antioxidant activity and tannin content remained constant. Differences in specific phenolic composition were observed depending on the sample origin. Nebbiolo samples at different maturity stages were compared among them and with Uva Rara and Vespolina cv: overall Nebbiolo showed the lowest anthocyanin content, evidencing a different profile in respect to the other cultivars (major relative content of peonidin-3-O-glucoside). Multivariate statistical methods (principal components analysis and hierarchical clustering) further permitted recognition of Nebbiolo samples of different geographic origin, particularly those dedicated to \u201cBarolo\u201d winemaking