Antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties and zinc content of five south Portugal herbs

Context: Crataegus monogyna L. (Rosaceae) (CM), Equisetum telmateia L. (Equisataceae) (ET), Geranium purpureum Vil. (Geraniaceae) (GP), Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. (Lamiaceae) (MS), and Lavandula stoechas L. spp. luisieri (Lamiaceae) (LS) are all medicinal. Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities of plant extracts and quantify individual phenolics and zinc. Material and methods: Aerial part extracts were prepared with water (W), ethanol (E) and an 80% mixture (80EW). Antioxidant activity was measured with TAA, FRAP and RP methods. Phenolics were quantified with a HPLC. Zinc was quantified using voltammetry. Antibacterial activity (after 48 h) was tested using Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes. Antiproliferative activity (after 24 h) was tested using HEP G2 cells and fibroblasts. Results: Solvents influenced results; the best were E and 80EW. GP had the highest antioxidant activity (TAA and FRAP of 536.90mg AAE/g dw and 783.48mg TE/g dw, respectively). CM had the highest zinc concentration (37.21 mg/kg) and phenolic variety, with neochlorogenic acid as the most abundant (92.91 mg/100 g dw). LS was rich in rosmarinic acid (301.71 mg/100 g dw). GP and LS inhibited the most microorganisms: B. cereus, E. coli and S. aureus. GP also inhibited E. faecalis. CM had the lowest MIC: 5830 mu g/mL. The antibacterial activity is explained by the phenolics present. LS and CM showed the most significant anti-proliferative activity, which is explained by their zinc content. Conclusion: The most promising plants for further studies are CM, LS and GP.FCT, Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia of Portugal [SFRH/BSA/139/2014

The serum zinc concentration as a potential biological marker in patients with major depressive disorder

Despite many clinical trials assessing the role of zinc in major depressive disorder (MDD), the conclusions still remain ambiguous. The aim of the present clinical study was to determine and comparison the zinc concentration in the blood of MDD patients (active stage or remission) and healthy volunteers (controls), as well as to discuss its potential clinical usefulness as a biomarker of the disease. In this study 69 patients with current depressive episode, 45 patients in remission and 50 controls were enrolled. The zinc concentration was measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS). The obtained results revealed, that the zinc concentration in depressed phase were statistically lower than in the healthy volunteers [0.89 vs. 1.06 mg/L, respectively], while the zinc level in patients achieve remission was not significantly different from the controls [1.07 vs. 1.06 mg/L, respectively]. Additionally, among the patients achieve remission a significant differences in zinc concentration between group with and without presence of drug-resistance in the previous episode of depression were observed. Also, patients in remission demonstrated correlation between zinc level and the average number of depressive episodes in the last year. Serum zinc concentration was not dependent on atypical features of depression, presence of psychotic symptoms or melancholic syndrome, age, age of onset or duration of disease, number of episodes in the life time, duration of the episode/remission and severity of depression measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS), and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Concluding, our findings confirm the correlation between zinc deficit present in the depressive episode, and are consistent with the majority of previous studies. These results may also indicate that serum zinc concentration might be considered as a potential biological marker of MDD

Some micro- and trace elements in selected bottled natural waters from the Polish market evaluated by electrochemical methods

Although beneficial properties of mineral waters are acknowledged by law in many countries, the use of water for medicinal purposes is not universally accepted. Notably numerous waters (especially mineral and curative ones) have high concentrations of mineral and trace elements. These mineral waters are common on the market and their availability is not regulated by law. Due to the hazard of overdosing, quantification of trace elements and minerals seems to be necessary. The World Health Organization, European Standards and Polish Standards recommend different methods for elemental determination, i.e. spectrometry, photometry for zinc determination, colorimetry or spectrometry for copper, and ionic chromatography for calcium, chloride and fluoride. In this paper, alternative, electrochemical methods have been applied to determine zinc, copper, calcium, chloride and fluoride in most popular natural and curative waters from southern Poland. The determined elemental content varied between 3.85-33.54 μg L-1 for zinc, 85-15.33 μg L-1 for copper, 2.8-2433.63 mg L-1 for chloride, 0.4-1.66 mg L-1 for fluoride and 11.05-478.48 mg L-1 for calcium. The voltammetric method was tested according to the validation procedures, taking into account the following parametes: linearity range, limit of detection and limit of quantification and precision. The results show that the applied electroanalytical methods are suitable for determination of the selected elements in waters of natural origin, ensuring low instrumental and analysis costs while providing results comparable with ones achieved with recommended methods

Some micro- and trace elements in selected bottled natural waters from the Polish market evaluated by electrochemical methods

Although beneficial properties of mineral waters are acknowledged by law in many countries, the use of water for medicinal purposes is not universally accepted. Notably numerous waters (especially mineral and curative ones) have high concentrations of mineral and trace elements. These mineral waters are common on the market and their availability is not regulated by law. Due to the hazard of overdosing, quantification of trace elements and minerals seems to be necessary. The World Health Organization, European Standards and Polish Standards recommend different methods for elemental determination, i.e. spectrometry, photometry for zinc determination, colorimetry or spectrometry for copper, and ionic chromatography for calcium, chloride and fluoride. In this paper, alternative, electrochemical methods have been applied to determine zinc, copper, calcium, chloride and fluoride in most popular natural and curative waters from southern Poland. The determined elemental content varied between 3.85-33.54 μg L-1 for zinc, 85-15.33 μg L-1 for copper, 2.8-2433.63 mg L-1 for chloride, 0.4-1.66 mg L-1 for fluoride and 11.05-478.48 mg L-1 for calcium. The voltammetric method was tested according to the validation procedures, taking into account the following parametes: linearity range, limit of detection and limit of quantification and precision. The results show that the applied electroanalytical methods are suitable for determination of the selected elements in waters of natural origin, ensuring low instrumental and analysis costs while providing results comparable with ones achieved with recommended methods