Ferulic acid and derivatives: molecules with potential application in the pharmaceutical field

Ferulic acid is a phenolic acid widely distributed in the plant kingdom. It presents a wide range of potential therapeutic effects useful in the treatments of cancer, diabetes, lung and cardiovascular diseases, as well as hepatic, neuro and photoprotective effects and antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Overall, the pharmaceutical potential of ferulic acid can be attributed to its ability to scavenge free radicals. However, recent studies have revealed that ferulic acid presents pharmacological properties beyond those related to its antioxidant activity, such as the ability to competitively inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and activate glucokinase, contributing to reduce hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia, respectively. The present review addresses ferulic acid dietary sources, the pharmacokinetic profile, antioxidant action mechanisms and therapeutic effects in the treatment and prevention of various diseases, in order to provide a basis for understanding its mechanisms of action as well as its pharmaceutical potential

Czasowa i przestrzenna zmienność biochemicznego składu materii organicznej i liczby bakterii w osadach wybranych plaż południowego Morza Bałtyckiego

Sandy sediments coming from three beaches of the southern Baltic Sea were collected and analyzed. Investigated beaches were divided according to strength of anthropogenic impact and degree of sheltering. The first beach was situated in Ustka on the eastern side of the mouth of the Słupia River, second in Czołpino and the last one in Puck. Core sediment samples were collected seasonally, depending on the influence of the sea water on the examined sediments. At each station, surface sediments (0-5 cm) were collected as well as sediments at the depth of 10-15 cm. The general content of organic matter, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, organic carbon and total bacterial number were determined. The results of the conducted tests reveal, that anthropopressure, degree of sheltering, the depth where the collected sediments were taken and the direct influence of the sea water on the sediments have impact on the chemical composition of organic matter and bacterial number in beach sediments.Pobierano i analizowano piaszczyste osady pochodzące z trzech plaż południowego Bałtyku, które zostały podzielone na podstawie wpływu antropopresji i stopnia osłonięcia plaży. Pierwsza plaża położona była w Ustce we wschodniej części ujścia rzeki Słupi, druga w Czołpinie, a ostatnia w Pucku. Próbki osadów plażowych zbierano sezonowo, w zależności od wpływu wody morskiej na badane osady. Na każdym stanowisku pobierano osady powierzchniowe (0-5 cm), a także osady na głębokości 10-15 cm. Określono zawartość materii organicznej, białek, lipidów, węglowodanów, węgla organicznego i całkowitej liczby bakterii. Wyniki przeprowadzonych badań wykazały, że antropopresja, stopień osłonięcia plaży, głębokość pobieranych osadów i bezpośredni wpływ wody morskiej na osady oddziałują na skład chemiczny materii organicznej i liczbę bakterii w osadach plażowych

Glukozinolany w roznych odmianach kapusty uprawianych w Polsce

Tue content of particular glucosinolates in 4 kinds of cruciferous vegetables, i.e. white, red and savoy cabbage and Brussels sprouts was determined applying HPLC method. Twelve out of thirteen GLS identified were present in all the vegetables analysed except Brussels sprouts which contained also smaJI amounts of glucoerucin. Among aliphatic compounds sinigrin and glucoiberin dominated in all the vegetables and progoitrin in Brussels sprouts and red cabbage. Indole compounds made 30% to 40% oftotal GLS. Out of 4 indole GLS identified glucobrassicin occurred in greatest amounts in all the vegetables. Tue highest GLS concentration was found for Brussels sprouts (126.61 mg/g) and the lowest for red cabbage (26.50 mg/g)

Coumestrol and its metabolite in mares' plasma after ingestion of phytoestrogen rich plants : potent endocrine disruptors inducing infertility

Articles in International JournalsPhytoestrogens exist in plants that are present in forages fed to horses. They may compete with 17-β estradiol and influence the estrous cycle. Therefore, the objective was to determine whether coumestrol from clover-mixed pastures is present in mare's plasma after their ingestion (experiment I), and when this phytoestrogen was present in mare's plasma after ingestion (experiment II). The effect of a long-term ingestion of phytoestrogens on estrous cycle disruption was assessed (experiment III; clinical case). Experiment I was carried out in nonpregnant anestrous and cyclic Lusitano mares (n = 14) kept on clover and grass-mixed pastures, and supplemented with concentrate and hay or cereal straw. Blood and feedstuff were obtained from November to March. In experiment II, stabled cyclic Lusitano mares (n = 6) were fed for 14 days with increasing amounts of alfalfa pellets (250 g to 1 kg/day). Sequential blood samples were obtained for 8 hours after feed intake on Day 0 (control) and on Days 13 and 14 (1 kg/day alfalfa pellets). Experiment III mares were fed with a mixture of alfalfa and clover haylage for 5 months (group 1; n = 4) or for 9 months (group 2; n = 12). Estrous cycle was determined on the basis of plasma estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and ultrasound (experiment III). Concentrations of phytoestrogen coumestrol and its metabolite methoxycoumestrol were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Phytoestrogens decreased in pasture from November until March (P < 0.01) (experiment I), but were always detected in mares' plasma. In experiment II, plasma-conjugated forms of coumestrol and methoxycoumestrol were higher on Days 13 and 14 than in control (P < 0.05). The highest concentrations of conjugated form of coumestrol were at 1.5 and 4 hours (P < 0.001), whereas its free forms peaked at 1 and at 3.5 hours after ingestion (P < 0.05). Methoxycoumestrol-conjugated form concentration was the highest at 1.5 and 5 hours (P < 0.001), whereas its free form peaked at 1 hour (P < 0.05) and at 1.5 hours (P < 0.001). Long-term intake of coumestrol caused lack of ovulation, uterine edema, and uterine fluid accumulation (experiment III). Coumestrol and methoxycoumestrol in both forms were higher in group 2 (while still ingesting haylage) than in group 1, after haylage withdrawal (P < 0.001). These data show that in the mare, coumestrol and its metabolite increase in blood after ingestion of estrogenic plants and can influence reproduction in mares as potent endocrine disruptors