The opium poppy as a symbol of sleep in Bertel Thorvaldsen's relief of 1815

Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844) is one of the most remarkable representatives of Neoclassicist sculptural art in Europe, which was largely inspired by the classical art and culture of Greek and Roman antiquity. A pair of marble reliefs, Night and Day, exhibited in the Thorvaldsen Museum (Copenhagen), marks the culmination of Thorvaldsen's relief art and is of particular interest to the history of sleep medicine. In the first relief, Night, an angel with her neck bent and eyes closed has two babies in her embrace and seems to be floating down in grief, with an owl hovering behind her. Her hair is also twined with opium poppies, the symbol of sleep and death in antiquity. Our findings suggest that this relief not only indicates a mythological association between the opium poppy and sleep but also has a strong connotation with the poppy's medicinal use for inducing sleep throughout the centuries. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770&ndash;1844) is one of the most remarkable representatives of Neoclassicist sculptural art in Europe, which was largely inspired by the classical art and culture of Greek and Roman antiquity. A pair of marble reliefs, Night and Day, exhibited in the Thorvaldsen Museum (Copenhagen), marks the culmination of Thorvaldsen&#39;s relief art and is of particular interest for the history of sleep medicine. In the first relief, Night, an angel with her neck bent and eyes closed has two babies in her embrace and seems to be floating down in grief, with an owl hovering behind her. Her hair is also twined with opium poppies, the symbol of sleep and death in antiquity. Our findings suggest that this relief not only indicates a mythological association between the opium poppy and sleep but also has a strong connotation with the poppy&#39;s medicinal use for inducing sleep throughout the centuries.</p

Inhibitory effects of dietary flavonoids on purified hepatic NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase: Structure-activity relationships

The structure-activity relationships of flavonoids with regard to their inhibitory effects on NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (E.C. 1.6.2.2), a clinically and toxicologically important enzyme, are not known. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of fourteen selected flavonoids of variable structure on the activity of purified bovine liver cytochrome b5 reductase, which shares a high degree of homology with the human counterpart, were investigated and the relationship between structure and inhibition was examined. Of all the compounds tested, the flavone luteolin was the most potent in inhibiting b5 reductase with an IC50 value of 0.11 mu M, whereas naringenin, naringin and chrysin were inactive within the concentration range tested. Most of the remaining flavonoids (morin, quercetin, quercitrin, myricetin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, (-)-epicatechin, and (+)-catechin) produced a considerable inhibition of enzyme activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.81 to 4.5 mu M except apigenin (36 mu M), rutin (57 mu M) and (+)taxifolin (IC50 not determined). The magnitude of inhibition was found to be closely related to the chemical structures of flavonoids. Analysis of structure-activity data revealed that flavonoids containing two hydroxyl groups in ring B and a carbonyl group at C-4 in combination with a double bond between C-2 and C-3 produced a much stronger inhibition, whereas substitution of a hydroxyl group at C-3 was associated with a less inhibitory effect. The physiologically relevant IC50 values for most of the flavonoids tested regarding b5 reductase inhibition indicate a potential for significant flavonoid-drug and/or flavonoid-xenobiotic interactions which may have important therapeutic and toxicological outcomes for certain drugs and/or xenobiotics. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

In vitro effects of myricetin, morin, apigenin, (+)-taxifolin, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, naringenin and naringin on cytochrome b5 reduction by purified NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase

The microsomal NADH-dependent electron transport system consisting of cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 participates in a number of physiologically important processes including lipid metabolism as well as is involved in the metabolism of various drug and xenobiotics. In the present study, we assessed the inhibitory effects of eight dietary flavonoids representing five distinct chemical classes on cytochrome b5 reduction by purified cytochrome b5 reductase. From the flavonoids tested, myricetin was the most potent in inhibiting cytochrome b5 reduction with an IC50 value of 0.35 mu M. Myricetin inhibited b5 reductase noncompetitively with a K-i of 0.21 mu M with respect to cofactor NADH, and exhibited a non-linear relationship indicating non-Michaelis-Menten kinetic binding with respect to cytochrome b5. In contrast to the potent inhibitory activity of myricetin, (+)-taxifolin was found to be a weak inhibitor (IC50 =.9.8 mu M). The remaining flavonoids were inactive within the concentration range tested (1-50 mu M). Analysis of structure-activity data suggested that simultaneous presence of three OH groups in ring B is a primary structural determinant for a potent enzyme inhibition. Our results suggest that inhibition of the activity of this system by myricetin or myricetin containing diets may influence the metabolism of therapeutic drugs as well as detoxification of xenobiotics. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.tThe microsomal NADH-dependent electron transport system consisting of cytochrome b5 reductaseand cytochrome b5 participates in a number of physiologically important processes including lipidmetabolism as well as is involved in the metabolism of various drug and xenobiotics. In the presentstudy, we assessed the inhibitory effects of eight dietary flavonoids representing five distinct chemicalclasses on cytochrome b5 reduction by purified cytochrome b5 reductase. From the flavonoids tested,myricetin was the most potent in inhibiting cytochrome b5 reduction with an IC50value of 0.35 M.Myricetin inhibited b5 reductase noncompetitively with a Kiof 0.21 M with respect to cofactor NADH,and exhibited a non-linear relationship indicating non-Michaelis&ndash;Menten kinetic binding with respectto cytochrome b5. In contrast to the potent inhibitory activity of myricetin, (+)-taxifolin was found to bea weak inhibitor (IC50= 9.8 M). The remaining flavonoids were inactive within the concentration rangetested (1&ndash;50 M). Analysis of structure&ndash;activity data suggested that simultaneous presence of three OHgroups in ring B is a primary structural determinant for a potent enzyme inhibition. Our results suggestthat inhibition of the activity of this system by myricetin or myricetin containing diets may influence themetabolism of therapeutic drugs as well as detoxification of xenobiotics.</p

In vitro antioxidant properties and phenolic composition of Salvia halophila Hedge from Turkey

An endemic plant of Turkey Salvia halophila Hedge (Lamiaceae) was examined for its antioxidant activity and phenolic compositions. The aerial part of S. halophila was extracted with different solvents in an order of increasing polarity such as hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and 50% methanol using a Soxhlet apparatus. Water extract was also prepared from S. halophila by reflux. All solvent fractions were investigated for their total phenolic contents, flavonoids, flavonols, qualitative-quantitative compositions, iron(III) reductive activities, free radical scavenging activities and the effect upon linoleic acid peroxidation activities. The peroxidation level was also determined by the TBA method. The results of activity tests given as IC50 values were estimated from non-linear algorithm and compared with standards via BHT, ascorbic acid, gallic acid. Polar fractions were found more active among the others in free radical activity system whereas non-polar fractions protected the peroxidation of linoleic acid. Rosmarinic acid was the most abundant component, in the extracts. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Advanced Analytical Methods for Phenolics in Fruits

Phenolic compounds are a group of secondary plant metabolites, many with health-promoting properties that are present in all parts of plants. They have an aromatic structure, including either one or more hydroxyl groups giving them the ability to stabilize free radicals and protect biological tissues against damage related to reactive oxygen species. Phenolic compounds are concentrated in the fruit of plants, and therefore, the fruit can be an important dietary source of these phytochemicals, which exist as monomers, or bound to one another. Polyphenolic compounds are classified into different subclasses based upon the number of phenol ring systems that they contain, saturation, and length of the carbon chain that bind the rings to one another. The phenolic acids present in fruit tissues protect the plant against disease, infections, UV radiation, and insect damage. For this reason, the beneficiary effects of phenolic compounds are continually being investigated for their health-promoting properties and for meeting increased consumer demand for healthy nutritious food. Due to the functional properties of polyphenolic compounds, there is increased interest on improving extraction, separation, and quantification techniques of these valuable bioactive compounds, so they can be used as value-added ingredients in foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. This review provides information on the most advanced methods available for the analysis of phenolics in fruits

Antimicrobial activity of Pelargonium endlicherianum Fenzl. (Geraniaceae) roots against some microorganisms

Pelargonium endlicherianum Fenzl. (Geraniaceae) is one of the important species of Pelargonium growing in Turkey. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of P. endlicherianum roots on medically important microorganisms. The antimicrobial activities of 11% ethanol and 70% methanol P. endlicherianum extracts against various bacteria and yeast were studied using the agar dilution method at concentrations ranging from 0.375 to 30.00 mg/ml. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of P. endlicherianum extracts against some microorganisms was determined. The highest inhibition was exhibited against Staphylococcus aureus by the 70% methanol extract of P. endlicherianum at 1.38 +/- 0.36 mg/ml. The results of this study suggest that P. endlicherianum extracts possess antimicrobial activity against some of the tested microorganisms

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND MORPHO-ANATOMICAL PROPERTIES OF ALCHEMILLA MOLLIS (BUSER) ROTHM. GROWING IN TURKEY

Stem, leaf and petiol morphoanatomy were-studied in an important medicinal plant Alchemilla mollis (Buser) Rothm. for the pharmacognostic and taxonomic species identification. There are eglandular and glandular hairs on the stem, petiole and leaf. Leaf is bifacial. Cluster and rosette crytals of calcium oxalate are seen in the leaf and stem. Stomata type is anomocytic. Tanninsare found in both anatomical and prechemical studies. In addition, phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of carbohydrate, flavonoids and coumarins

Iron(III) reducing and antiradical activities of three Sideritis from Turkey

Objective: The antiradical activities of the various solvent extracts of Sideritis species are investigated here for the first time

Comparison of natural NQO2 inhibitors as a new target for cancer treatment in different cell lines

Objective: Quinones are highly reactive compounds undergoing either one-or two-electron reductions. Enzymatic one-electron reduction generates unstable semiquinone radicals which readily undergo redox cycling over NQO1 and NQO2 enzymes, in the presence of molecular oxygen, leading to the production of highly reactive oxygen species (ROS). NQO1 is responsible form detoxification where NQO2 inhibitors are found to show potent anticancerogenic effects. The aim of this study is to investigate some natural inhibitors of the NQO2 enzyme and to identify their action mechanisms over this enzyme on different cancer cell lines