Horse chestnut – efficacy and safety in chronic venous insufficiency: an overview

The extract from horse chestnut seeds (Aesculus hippocastanum L., Sapindaceae), standardised for the content of aescin, is used as the treatment for chronic venous insufficiency. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-oedematous properties and indicates a positive effect on the venous tone, rheological properties, and blood coagulability. The mechanism of horse chestnut seed extract/aescin activity was proposed on the basis of in vitro and in vivo studies, and its effectiveness was documented with numerous randomised clinical trials. The results of the studies have proven that horse chestnut seed extract not only significantly improves subjective symptoms in patients with chronic venous insufficiency like calf spasm, leg pain, pruritus, fatigue, but it also reduced leg volume, the ankle and calf circumference. The preparations containing horse chestnut seed extract are very popular and they have similar effectiveness as compression therapy and a preparation with O-(β-hydroxyethyl)-rutosides. Moreover, horse chestnut seed extract has been proven to be safe and very well tolerated. The study was to present the results of the studies that have been conducted so far and that have confirmed the effectiveness of use of horse chestnut seed extract or aescin as the treatment for chronic venous insufficiency. Keywords: Aescin, Chronic venous insufficiency, Horse chestnut seed

Analysis of essential oil of Galium aparine.

Summary Galium aparine L. (clivers, goosegrass) (Rubiaceae) is used in folk medicine as diuretic and medicinal plant alleviating different dermatoses as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, and improves the immune system. So far, scientific studies have shown as a main constituents: iridoids (mainly asperuloside), flavonoids (luteolin, chrysoeriol, apigenin and quercetin derivatives), numerous of phenolic acids and phytosterols. Previous studies confirmed antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of clivers. The aim of this work was to investigate the chemical profile of essential oil isolated from G. aparine collected in Poland. The essential oil was extracted from the herb of G. aparine by hydrodistillation in Deryng-type apparatus and the volatile constituents were identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 0,1 ml of essential oil (3,33 ml/kg) was obtained from the of G. aparine herb, in which 74 volatile ingredients were identified (100%). According to GC/MS analysis 9-diazo-9H-fluorene (31,93%), palmitic acid and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (8,89%) were as major constituents. 9-diazo-9H-fluorene is very rare in the plant world, previously identified only in Bidens pilosa. Terpene compounds represented 22,31% of essential oil, including 15 sesquiterpenes (18,23%), 6 monoterpenes (2,00%) and 1 diterpene (3,08%). The other active ingredients of the oil include: phytol, β-ionone, anethole, spatulenol, α-cadinol, phenylethyl alcohol, eugenol, methyleugenol, α-carvacrol, α-caryophyllene, α-terpineol, isoaromadendren epoxide, carvone, linalool, santalol, β-farnesene and eucalyptole. The ingredients of the essential oil are multi-directional activity - anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, antiproliferative, effect on angiogenesis, and also have occlusive properties. Quantify and a number of ingredients of the essential oil have proven that it may be one of the bioactive important fractions of the clivers herb and partly justify the traditional use of G. aparine.Streszczenie Galium aparine L. (przytulia czepna) (Rubiaceae) jest stosowana w medycynie ludowej jako diuretyk i środek łagodzący różne schorzenia skóry. W wyniku dotychczasowych badań stwierdzono, że głównymi związkami ziela są irydoidy, flawonoidy, kwasy fenolowe i fitosterole. Badania naukowe potwierdziły aktywność przeciwdrobnoustrojową, antyoksydacyjną i cytotoksyczną surowca. Celem naszych badań była analiza składników olejku lotnego otrzymanego z rosnącego w Polsce G. aparine. Olejek otrzymano metodą hydrodestylacji w aparacie Derynga, a jego skład analizowano metodą GC-MS. W efekcie otrzymano 0,1 ml olejku (3,33 ml/kg), w którym zidentyfikowano 74 składniki (100%). Dominującymi związkami były: 9-diazo-9H-fluoren (31,93%), który dotąd został wykryty jedynie w Bidens pilosa oraz kwasy palmitynowy i dihomo-γ-linolenowy (8,89%). Związki terpenowe, które stanowiły 22,31% olejku, reprezentowane były przez 15 seskwiterpenów (18,23%), 6 monoterpenów (2,00%) i 1 diterpen (3,08%). Ze względu na wykazaną w licznych pracach aktywność biologiczną, na uwagę zasługują takie składniki olejku, jak: fitol, β-jonon, anetol, spatulenol, α-kadinol, alkohol fenyloetylowy, eugenol, metyloeugenol, α-karwakrol, α-kariofilen, α-terpineol, epitlenek izoaromadendrenu, karwon, linalol, santalol, β-farnezen i eukaliptol. Zawartość oraz skład olejku otrzymanego z analizowanego przez nas surowca wskazuje, że może być jedną z istotnych frakcji czynnych surowca i częściowo uzasadniać tradycyjne zastosowanie G. aparine

The effect of Dentofresh® on yeast-like fungi

Introduction. The mouthwash Dentofresh® produced by Phytopharm Kleka SA, intended for adults and children over the age of 6, is a prophylactic preparation. Using the mouthwash after having brushed the teeth has a preventive and healing influence on the hard tissues of teeth and gingiva. The mouthwash contains: eucalyptus, mint, thyme and sage oils, which show anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. Aim. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Dentofresh® against strains of yeast-like fungi from the genus Candida. Material and methods. The study was conducted on 15 strains of yeast-like fungi from the genus Candida isolated from infections, and five reference strains. The fungicidal activity of the preparation (MFC – Minimal Fungicidal Concentration) against the strains of yeast-like fungi at the concentration recommended by its producer was evaluated. Results. Dentofresh® exhibited great fungicidal activity at the concentration recommended by the producer as quickly as 15 minutes after it was applied (against 87% of the strains), while after 30 minutes, all the tested strains of yeast-like fungi were destroyed. Conclusions. The preparation was effective against the genera of yeast-like fungi which are usually resistant to common antifungal medicines

Herbal infusions as a valuable functional food

Herbal infusions are an underestimated and easy to intake a source of biologically active natural compounds (polyphenols), which, in the dissolved form, are more easily absorbed. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the potential of herbal infusions as a functional food to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia (inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and to reduce the effects of increased blood glucose level (antioxidant effect-DPPH, CUPRAC, and Fe2+ chelating assays, as well as anti-inflammatory activity-inhibition of collagenase). We showed that polyphenols are present in the examined aqueous herbal infusions (including chlorogenic and gallic acids). Subsequently, our research has shown that herbal infusions containing cinnamon bark, mulberry leaves, and blackberry fruits most strongly inhibit glucose release from complex carbohydrates, and that all herbal infusions can, to different degrees, reduce the effects of elevated blood sugar. In conclusion, infusions prepared from herbal blends could be recommended to prevent type II diabetes

Anti-inflammatory Activity and Phytochemical Profile of Galinsoga Parviflora Cav.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a hydroalcoholic extract from Galinsoga parviflora herb (GP) in some aspects of the endothelial cell function necessary for anti-inflammatory activity and wound healing and relate these to the GP phytochemical profile. This study demonstrated that the GP extract caused a dose-dependent reduction of IL-6 secretion on IL-1β-stimulated endothelial cells. The IL-6 release was decreased to 33% ± 9% while this did not influence the IL-6 secretion without stimulation. Additionally, the GP extract exhibited an anti-hyaluronidase activity (IC50 = 0.47 mg/mL), which was evidently stronger than the positive control kaempferol (IC50 = 0.78 mg/mL) as well as a moderate and concentration-dependent, antioxidant activity. The results of the scratch assay showed that exposure of the endothelial cells to GP induced complete healing of the damage after 12 h of the study. The phytochemical profile of the extract was studied by using spectrophotometric (total amount of polyphenols and flavonoids) and UPLC (phenolic acids) methods. The main compound in the GP extract was a chlorogenic acid (2.00 ± 0.01 mg/g by UPLC). The total content of polyphenols was 98.30 ± 0.14 mg of chlorogenic acid equivalent/g of the dry herb and content of flavonoids amounted to 6.15 ± 0.41 mg quercetin equivalent/g of the dry herb. Moreover, the presence of flavonoids in G. parviflora was provided after their isolation and identification by spectroscopic methods. In conclusion, it demonstrated that application of GP in the treatment of skin lesions gives possibility of wound healing based on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hyaluronidase-inhibiting activities of G. parviflora herb extract