10 research outputs found
Effect of ginkgo extract on eye microcirculation in patients with diabetes
Funding Information: This research is a part of international “Eureka“ project „Creation of the methodology for effects of natural antioxidants on the development of the Diabetes mellitus complications“ financially supported by the European Social Fund Agency, Lithuania according to the “Human Resource Development Action Program”, project No. VP1-3.1-SMM-06-V-01-003. Also we would like to thank Laboratory of Biochemistry of Riga Stradins University, Latvia for performing biochemical tests of blood plasma and for the residents of Endocrinological Clinic, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics, Lithuania for the help. Provision of capsules of Ex.Gb from “Aconitum” and placebo capsules from “Sanitas” is appreciated too.The prevalence of Diabetes mellitus has increased around the world in the last decade. Anyone with diabetes is at risk of diabetic eye complications. The aim of the study was to compare effects of standardized Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo biloba L.) dry extract (Ex.Gb) with the placebo on the microcirculation lesions of the eye in randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. 44 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized to Ex.Gb 160 mg per day or placebo, and were followed up for nine months. Dose of Ex.Gb was increased to 240 mg in next nine months. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) of plasma was measured using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay. Ophthalmologic examination was performed by the biomicroscopic method. Vascular, intravascular and perivascular alterations were evaluated, and total conjunctival index was calculated. Though the values of the total conjunctival index and its constituent decreased (P<0.05) during the study in Ex.Gb group, there were no significant differences between these parameters as compared with placebo group. Evaluation of plasma TAS showed gradually increment, although insignificant and very small, in Ex.Gb group. The significance of Ex.Gb on development of the alterations of eye microcirculation, especially in elder patients needs to be explored further.publishersversionPeer reviewe
Fractionation and evaluation of proteins in roots of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench
Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, a member of the Asteraceae family, is a plant rich in flavonoids, essential oils, phenolic compounds, saponins, polysaccharides and glycoproteins. The aim of the study was to evaluate the protein content in dried roots of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench after homogenization of roots with liquid nitrogen, extraction in 0.01 mol L–1 phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and purification followed by fractionation of proteins using gel filtration chromatography. Total concentration of proteins was measured using the Bradford method, and evaluation of the molecular mass of proteins was accomplished by applying the SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis. The Bradford assay revealed that the highest concentration of proteins in fractions collected after gel filtration chomatography was 4.66–6.07 mg mL–1. Glycoproteins, alkamides and polysaccharides in roots of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench are chemical compounds responsible for their immunomodulatory properties. However, information about the difference of protein contents in fresh and dried roots of E. purpurea is insufficient
Efficacy of proanthocyanidins from Pelargonium sidoides root extract in reducing P. gingivalis viability while preserving oral commensal S. salivarius
Funding Information: Funding: This research is a part of the project PELARGODONT (“Engineering and functionalization of delivery system with Pelargonium sidoides biologically active substance on inflamed periodontal surface area”) funded by a grant (No. S-M-ERA.NET-17-2) from the Research Council of Lithuania, the State Education Development Agency of Latvia, and Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 by the authors.Bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the disruption of beneficial microbiota are key problems in contemporary medicine and make the search for new, more efficient infection treatment strategies among the most important tasks in medicine. Multicomponent plant-derived preparations with mild antibacterial activity created by many simultaneous mechanisms together with anti-inflammatory, innate immune and regenerative capacity-stimulating properties are good candidates for this therapy, and proanthocyanidins are among the most promising compounds of this sort. In this study, we have isolated proanthocyanidins from Pelargonium sidoides DC root extract and characterized and compared the composition, antioxidant properties and antibacterial activity of the proanthocyanidin fraction with those of the whole extract. The results revealed that proanthocyanidins had significantly stronger antioxidant capacity compared to the root extract and exhibited a unique antibacterial action profile that selectively targets Gram-negative keystone periodontal and peri-implant pathogenic strains, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, while preserving the viability of beneficial oral commensal Streptococcus salivarius. The finding suggests that proanthocyanidins from Pelargonium sidoides root extract are good candidates for the prolonged and harmless treatment of infectious diseases.publishersversionPeer reviewe
Antioxidant effects of Camellia sinensis L. Extract in patients with type 2 diabetes
Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the Department of Analytical and Toxicological Chemistry of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences for using HPLC. This research is a part of an international “Eureka” E! 3695 project “Creation of the methodology for effects of natural antioxidants on the development of diabetes mellitus complications” (“Antioksdiabet”). This project has been established with financial support from the European Social Fund Agency, Lithuania , in the “Human Resource Development Action Program”, project Number VP1-3.1-SMM-06-V-01-003 . We would also like to thank the Laboratory of Biochemistry, Riga Stradins University, Latvia for performing biochemical tests of blood plasma and the residents of the Endocrinological Clinic, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics, Lithuania for their help. The provision of ECs and placebo capsules from the joint-stock company Sanitas is also appreciated. Publisher Copyright: © 2014, Food and Drug Administration, Taiwan. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has dramatically increased in the past decade. Furthermore, increasing evidence from research shows that oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and in its complications. A search for ways to reduce oxidative damage has become the focus of interest for the majority of scientists. In this study, we determined the radical scavenging activity of single green tea constituents by using an on-line high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and evaluated the antioxidant effects on type 2 diabetic patients by performing a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Epigallocatechin gallate was identified as the most potent antioxidant, contributing approximately 50% of the total antioxidant capacity of green tea extract. We also found a statistically significant decrement of lipid peroxidation markers in patients treated with green tea extract after 9 months or after 18 months of follow-up. Overall, these findings are attractive for diabetic patients, helping them to keep a high level of performance and well-being, which ultimately may delay the time of disability and reduce mortality.publishersversionPeer reviewe
Fractionation and evaluation of proteins in roots of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench
Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, a member of the Asteraceae family, is a plant rich in flavonoids, essential oils, phenolic compounds, saponins, polysaccharides and glycoproteins. The aim of the study was to evaluate the protein content in dried roots of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench after homogenization of roots with liquid nitrogen, extraction in 0.01 mol L-1 phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and purification followed by fractionation of proteins using gel filtration chromatography. Total concentration of proteins was measured using the Bradford method, and evaluation of the molecular mass of proteins was accomplished by applying the SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis. The Bradford assay revealed that the highest concentration of proteins in fractions collected after gel filtration chomatography was 4.66–6.07 mg mL-1. Glycoproteins, alkamides and polysaccharides in roots of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench are chemical compounds that are responsible for their immunomodulatory properties. However, information about the difference of protein contents in fresh and dried roots of E. purpurea is insufficient
Bioresorbable electrospun mats of poly(D, L)-lactide / poly[(R, S)-3-hydroxybutyrate] blends for potential use in the treatment of difficult-to-heal skin wounds
This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in European Polymer Journal, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110334
The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.This study describes the preparation, physicochemical characterization and the biological studies of the polymeric delivery systems of proanthocyanidins (PCAN) extracted from Pelargonium sidoides for the potential use as wound dressings. In this study 20 wt% PCAN demonstrated good antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aures, a gram-positive wound pathogen. Poly(D,L-lactide) and atactic poly[(R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate] biopolymers were used to construct biodegradable dressings. A series of polylactide/poly[(R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (P(D,L)LA/a-PHB) blends, containing 10, 20, and 30 wt% of a-PHB were prepared and characterized by means of NMR, GPC, FT-IR, and DSC. Based on the findings, the P(D,L)LA/a-PHB [70/30 wt%] blend with the best thermomechanical properties (Tg value equal 37 °C) was chosen for the preparation of two kinds of electrospun mats, both with and without PCAN. About 50 % of PCAN was released from the tested mats during the first 10-12 days of incubation. The electrospun mats with elastic properties, ensuring compatibility with the wound topology, were obtained. The studies of hydrolytic degradation of the constructed mats allowed us to gain complete knowledge of their hydrolysis process, and examine the PCAN release profile as well as identify and characterize the molecular structure of the degradation products of the developed delivery system. Furthermore, preliminary cytotoxicity MTT tests (in vitro) results support the potential application of PCAN-loaded (P(D,L)LA/a-PHB) electrospun mats in wound dressings.Published versio