Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract 50 on immunity and antioxidant enzyme activities in ischemia reperfusion rats

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract 50 (GBE50), a well-known natural antioxidant, against immunity and antioxidant enzyme activities in ischemia reperfusion (IR) rats. Rats were then divided into six groups fed for 15 days with the same diet: three groups (IV, V, VI) were treated by different doses of GBE50 suspension [20, 40, or 60 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage every day at a fixed time (10.00 a.m.)] (equal to 5, 10 and 20 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose), and three groups (I, II, III) were untreated. At the end of the experiment, rats' hearts were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 90 min of reperfusion. Results showed that IR significantly enhanced heart rate, S-T height, myocardium (myeloperoxidase) MPO activity and blood interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor Alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels, blood aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatinine kinase (CK) activities, reduced myocardium sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase), calcium-magnesium adenosine triphosphatase (Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase) activities and antioxidant enzyme activities in IR group (III) compared to sham control group (II). Pretreatment of GBE50 markedly significantly reduced heart rate, S-T height, myocardium MPO activity and blood IL-8, TNF-a, IL-1β levels, blood AST, LDH, and CK activities, enhanced myocardium Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase activities and antioxidant enzyme activities in IR group (II) compared to IR group (III). The results suggested that the GBE50 may reduce the oxidative stress in the reperfused myocardium, and increased immunity and antioxidant activities in IR rats.     

Evaluation of antioxidant and immunity activities of quercetin in isoproterenol-treated rats

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of quercetin on myocardial oxidative stress and immunity function impairment induced by isoproterenol in rats. To induce myocardial ischemia, Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol (70 mg/kg). Blood immunity index, cardiac marker enzymes and antioxidative parameters in hearts were measured. It was found that the levels of blood AST, creatine kinase, NO, NOS, IL-10, IL-1, IL-8 and lactate dehydrogenase in isoproterenol-treated rats were significantly increased. The rats administrated with isoproterenol showed the declines in myocardial antioxidant enzymes activities. Administration of quercetin significantly ameliorated myocardial oxidative injury and immunity function impairment induced by isoproterenol. The results indicated that quercetin possesses activity against isoproterenol-induced myocardial oxidative injury and immunity function impairment, and that the mechanism of pharmacological action was related at least in part to the antioxidant activity of quercetin.     

Effect of Andrographis paniculata leaf extract on wound healing in rats

This work was carried out to study the effect of topical application of Andrographis paniculata on the rate of wound enclosure and its histological features. A wound was created in four groups of rat in posterior neck region. Blank placebo was applied topically to the wounds of Group 1. Groups 2 and 3 were dressed with placebo containing 5% and 10% extracts of A. paniculata, respectively. Intrasite gel was applied topically to the wounds of Group 4. Macroscopical examination revealed that the rate of wound healing was significantly accelerated in the wound dressed with A. paniculata extract compared to the blank placebo. The wounds dressed with 10% extract or Intrasite gel healed earlier compared to the wounds dressed with placebo containing 5% A. paniculata extract. Histologically, wounds dressed with A. paniculata extracts showed markedly less scar width and contained large amounts of fibroblast proliferation. More collagen and less angiogenesis with absence of inflammatory cells were seen for wounds dressed with 10% A. paniculata compared to the blank placebo. Conclusion, A. paniculata extracts significantly enhanced rate of wound healing in rats.     

Effect of paeonol on antioxidant and immune regulatory activity in hepatocellular carcinoma rats

The study investigated the immunity and antioxidant potential of paeonol by employing a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rat model. Three doses of paeonol (20, 40, 60 mg/kg b.w. orally) were administrated to diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC rats. Results showed that paeonol significantly reduced the serum AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, AFU and liver MDA levels, increased serum WBC, TP, ALB, A/G, TNF-α and IFN-γ and liver antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, GR) in HCC rats. Altogether, these results suggest that the paeonol could effectively decrease oxidative injury and improve immunity function in HCC rats.     

Effect of X-radiation on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant systems in rats treated with saponin-containing compounds

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of three saponin-containing plant species extracts (Aesculuc hippocastanum L. seed extract [AHE], Medicago sativa L. extract [MSE] and Spinacia oleracea L. extract [SOE]) on lipid peroxidation and on antioxidant systems in rats exposed to X-rays (XR). The rats were divided into three categories. The first category served as controls and received only a standard diet. The second category served as the radiation group and received 5 and 10 Gy XR dose. The third category (XR+extract-treated) received plant extracts (25.0 or 50.0 mg kg(-1) live weight) and 5 or 10 Gy XR dose. Blood samples were analyzed for their content of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), plasma vitamin C, beta-carotene and retinol. In animals receiving XR, the plasma MDA (P < 0.001) value significantly increased but the level of GSH (P < 0.01), vitamin C (P < 0.001), retinol and beta-carotene (P < 0.001) decreased significantly with increasing XR doses. In the XR+extract-treated groups, the concentrations of MDA increased significantly with increasing radiation but their concentrations decreased significantly with increasing extract concentrations. Plasma concentrations of GSH, beta-carotene, retinol and vitamin C in XR+extract-treated groups decreased significantly with increasing XR dose but their concentrations increased with increasing extract doses. Further, comparison of blood samples of XR+extract-treated groups with those from the control group showed that GSH, beta-carotene, retinol and vitamin C values increased significantly but that MDA values decreased significantly. The results showed that all extracts have enhanced the antioxidant status and decreased the incidence of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation in blood samples of rats exposed to XR. However, the antioxidant effect of AHE-administered animals was more effective than that of MSE- and SOE-administered whole-body XR rats. We conclude that the supplementation with saponin-containing extracts may serve to reinforce the antioxidant systems, thus having protective effect against cell damage by XR.     

Effect of A-HRS on blood pressure and metabolic alterations in fructose-induced hypertensive rats

Fructose feeding induces a rise in blood pressure in normal rats that is associated with insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia. We have examined the effect of chronic administration of A-HRS (100 and 300?mg?kg?1; p.o.) isolated from Hibiscus rosa sinensis (Malvaceae) on systolic blood pressure (SBP), vascular reactivity, serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, uric acid and insulin in fructose-induced hypertension model. A-HRS treatment (100 and 300?mg?kg?1, p.o. for 6 weeks) reduced SBP, vascular reactivity changes to catecholamines and reversed the metabolic alterations induced by fructose (10%) treatment for 6 weeks. The cumulative concentration response curve (CCRC) of angiotensin II (Ang II) was shifted towards the right in rats treated with A-HRS using an isolated strip of ascending colon. The results suggest that A-HRS could prevent the development of high-blood pressure induced by a diet rich in fructose, probably by reversing the metabolic alterations induced by fructose. In conclusion, A-HRS has an antihypertensive action in a fructose model.     

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of olive leaf extracts

The total phenolic content and antioxidant activities of olive leaf extracts were determined. Plant material was extracted with methanol and fractionated with solvents of increasing polarity, giving certain extracts. The qualitative changes in the composition of the extracts were determined after the storage of leaves for 22?h at 37°C, before the extraction. Total polyphenol contents in extracts were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu procedure. They were also analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Their antioxidant activities were evaluated using the diphenyl picrylhydrazyl method and the β-carotene linoleate model assay. Moreover, the effects of different crude olive leaf extracts on the oxidative stability of sunflower oil at 40°C and sunflower oil-in-water emulsions (10% o/w) at 37°C, at a final concentration of crude extract 200?mg?kg(-1) oil, were tested and compared with butylated hydroxyl toluene.     

Effect of seasonal variation on the chemical composition and antioxidant and antifungal activities of Convolvulus althaeoides L. leaf extracts

The composition of polyphenols, chlorophylls and carotenoids of eight extracts of Convolvulus althaeoides L. leaves, harvested in two different seasons, winter and spring, and extracted by hot extraction method using four solvents (dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol) with increasing polarity, were evaluated along with their antioxidant and antifungal activities. Qualitative and quantitative variations were observed in the composition based on two different high performance liquid chromatography systems, liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection coupled to either atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry or to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, permitting the identification of 22 polyphenols, 11 chlorophyll derivatives and 10 carotenoid compounds. Polyphenolic compounds were predominant in extracts from leaves collected in winter, whereas pigments were predominant in the spring collections. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were determined by DPPH radical scavenging method, revealing a half inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) ranging from 0.1369 ± 0.0272 mg g⁻¹ to 0.432 ± 0.0018 mg g⁻¹, with no correlation to seasonal fluctuation. Concerning antifungal assays, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts have been shown to be the most active against dermatophytes (T. rubrum, T. menthagrophytes, M. canis), with inhibiting percentages reaching 100% with 50 mg mL⁻¹. Moreover, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts showed a maximum inhibition potential with minimum inhibitory/fungicidal concentrations ranging from 0.78 to 6.25 mg mL⁻¹ on Candida spp. cultures. The winter collect of these extracts showed an inhibitory effect of 90% on Candida albicans germ tubes formation, at a concentration of 3.1 mg mL⁻¹. In conclusion, seasonality seems to influence the quality and the quantity of natural substances from leaves of C. althaeoides L., which have major importance on the antioxidant and the antifungal effectiveness.     

Evaluation of antioxidant and immunity function of tetramethylpyrazine phosphate tablets in vivo

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of tetramethylpyrazine phosphate tablets (TPT), a Chinese medicine used for cardiovascular disease, on immunity activity and oxidative injury in rats. Heart failure (HF) was induced by isoproterenol (ISO). After the animal model was established, the rats were administered the TPT by gavage (once a day). The results indicated that TPT improved left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), ±dP/dt, heart weight/body weight. TPT could decrease the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Furthermore, it also could raise the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), but reduce malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level. The results indicated that TPT improved cardiac function and myocardial fibrosis from myocardial injury, and this cardioprotection might be attributed to a reduction of oxidative stress and regulation of inflammation mediators.     

Radical scavenging activity and antioxidant capacity of bay leaf extracts

Bay leaves (BL) (Laurus nobilis L., Family: Lauraceae) are traditionally used orally to treat the symptoms of gastrointestinal problems, such as epigastric bloating, impaired digestion, eructation, and flatulence. In this study, lyophilized extracts (both water and ethanol) of BL were studied for their antioxidant properties. The antioxidant activity, reducing power, free radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal chelating activities were evaluated to determine the total antioxidant capacity of both BL extracts. Both extracts exhibited strong total antioxidant activity in linoleic acid emulsion. Concentrations of 20, 40, and 60 μg ml^?1 showed 84.9, 95.7, 96.8, and 94.2, 97.7, and 98.6% inhibition of lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion, for water and ethanol extracts, respectively. On the other hand, 60 μg ml^?1 of the standard antioxidants butylated hydroxyianisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and α-tocopherol exhibited 96.6, 99.1, and 76.9% inhibition of lipid peroxidation in linoleic acid emulsion, respectively. In addition, the both BL extracts had effective reducing power, DPPH? free radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal chelating activities at 20, 40, and 60 μg ml^?1. The total amount of phenolic compounds in each BL extract was determined as gallic acid equivalents.     

Accuracy in the determination of thermodynamic solution functions from retention indexes

Conclusions Equations are proposed for evaluating the accuracy in the determination of the relative distribution coefficients, separation factors, differences in partial molar enthalpies, entropies, and free energies of solution from retention indexes which give an error of the same order of magnitude as the gas-chromatographic method of determination from specific retention volumes.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 632–635, March, 1972.     

Effect of lead poisoning on the thiamine status and function in liver and blood of rats

Three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a thiamine deficient diet, which was supplemented by daily subcutaneous injections of a minimum requirement of thiamine, and treated with lead(II) acetate in different molar ratios to thiamine (1:1, 2:1, 10:1) for 5 and 9 months, respectively. The prolonged administration of lead(II) acetate decreases the thiamine level in lead-treated rats and diminishes the enzymatic activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase as well as that of transketolase. The thiamine level in the liver decreased by 30 to 40% compared with a reference group and the activity of the erythrocyte transketolase diminished by 5 to 40%. The level of the blood pyruvate increased by about 20% and the rate of the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate by liver mitochondria decreased.     

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic acid glycosides in Ginkgo biloba L. leaf,G. biloba leaf extract and its injection

Ginkgo biloba L. leaf (GBL) is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world. Phenolic acids with biological activities have a relatively high content in G. biloba leaf extracts (GBE); therefore they are of great significance for the quality control of GBL, GBE and its preparations. However, there have been few studies focused on their analysis. In this work, 12 phenolic acids, including 11 phenolic acid glycosides, were identified by liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–Q-TOF/MS). Then, a method combining enzymolysis with HPLC was established for quantification of phenolic acid glycosides. It was found that the aglycones of phenolic acid glycosides mainly comprised five phenolic acids: 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid and p-coumaric acid. The quantitative method was validated, and the correlation coefficient (0.9993–0.9999), recovery (≥88.4%), repeatability (≤0.8%), and inter-day precision (≤5.5%) were satisfactory. Finally, the contents of glycosides of five phenolic acids in GBL, GBE and GBE injection from different sources were determined by the developed method. The method was accurate, repeatable and practicable, which could be helpful for the quantification of phenolic acid glycosides in other products containing GBL or GBE.     

An efficient microwave assisted extraction of phenolic compounds and antioxidant potential of Ginkgo biloba

Flavonoid glycosides are a significant group of compounds found in Ginkgo biloba leaves, but the long extraction procedures in existing methods are a challenging problem. In this work, a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method has been developed for extracting bioactive compounds from G. biloba. Several variables were optimized, such as extracting solvent, microwave power, and extraction time that can potentially affect the extraction yield. The total phenolic content, antioxidant activity (using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays) and flavonoid glycosides of different extracts using RP-HPLC were assessed. The antioxidant capacity was found to be highest with MAE using 60% aq. ethanol as extracting solvent and microwave power of 120W for 20 min.     

Nephroprotective and antioxidant activities of Salacia oblonga on acetaminophen-induced toxicity in rats

Salacia oblonga, a woody climbing plant belonging to the family Celastaceae, is widely distributed in India and other southeast Asian countries. The genus Salacia have been used particularly for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, gonorrhoea, rheumatism, pruritus and asthma. Acetaminophen (APAP), used as an analgesic drug, produces liver and kidney necrosis in mammals at high doses. The aim of this study was to investigate the nephroprotective and antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract of Salacia oblonga (EESO) at the two dose levels of 250 and 500 mg/kg?bw on APAP-induced toxicity in rats. The results showed that APAP significantly increases the levels of serum urea, creatinine, and reduces levels of uric acid concentration. The EESO reduces these by increasing anti-oxidative responses as assessed by biochemical and histopathological parameters. In conclusion, our results suggest that the EESO possesses nephroprotective and antioxidant effects against APAP-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.     

Isolation and characterisation of novel antioxidant constituents of Croton zambesicus leaf extract

A 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-activity-directed fractionation was used to target antioxidant constituents of the ethyl acetate fraction obtained from a 20% aqueous methanol crude extract of Croton zambesicus leaf. Repeated column chromatography of the fraction on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 led to the isolation of a new natural product, identified as quercetin-3-O-β-6″(p-coumaroyl) glucopyranoside-3'-methyl ether, helichrysoside-3'-methyl ether (1), along with kaempferol-3-O-β-6″(p-coumaroyl) glucopyranoside, tiliroside (2) and apigenin-6-C-glucoside, isovitexin (3) as the antioxidant constituents. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques, namely NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectrometry. Compounds 1 and 2 are reported from this species for the first time. In the qualitative antioxidant assay, the three isolated compounds instantly bleached the DPPH (0.2% MeOH) purple colour indicating antioxidant activity. In the quantitative antioxidant assay, all the isolated compounds demonstrated weak antioxidant activity compared to quercetin and rutin used as positive control antioxidant agents. The compounds displayed little to no cytotoxicity against Vero cells in an in?vitro assay. The presence of these antioxidant compounds in the leaf extract of C. zambesicus could provide a rationale for the ethnomedicinal use of the plant in the management of oxidative-stress-related diseases in folk medicine.     

In vitro antioxidant potential and in vivo effects of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi leaf extract in diabetic rats and determination of chemical composition by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS

The present study investigated the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential and phytochemical composition of Schinus terebinthifolia, which is widely used in folk medicine for various therapeutic purposes. The in vitro analyses indicated that the hydroethanolic extract (HE) had 312.50 ± 0.50 mg GAE/g of total phenols. It also presented anti-DPPH? and anti-ABTS?⁺ activity, reduced phosphomolybden and metal ions and blocked the bleaching of β-carotene. The HE at concentrations of 3.0 and 2.0 μg/mL had TRAP values of 2.223 ± 0.018 and 1.894 ± 0.026 μM Trolox, respectively. The HE increased the availability of antioxidants in plasma in treated animals in vivo. HPLC-ESI-MS/MS indicated the presence of 11 phenols: cumaric acid, (+)-catechin, myricetin-3-O-glicuronide, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, myricetin, myricitrin, quercetin, gallic acid, methyl galate, pentagalloyl glucose and ethyl galate. Thus, S. terebinthifolia has potential for the prevention or treatment of diseases that are related to oxidative stress, such as diabetes mellitus.     

Composition and antioxidant activities of leaf and root volatile oils of Morinda lucida

Morinda lucida (L.) Benth. (Rubiacae) is used in traditional medicine in many West African countries for the treatment of various human diseases. The leaves and roots of this plant were subjected to hydro-distillation to obtain volatile oils which were analyzed by high resolution GC/MS. Fifty compounds were identified in the leaf volatile oil and the major compounds were alpha-terpinene (17.8%) and beta-bisabolene (16.3%). In the root oil, 18 compounds were identified, the major constituents being 3-fluoro-p-anidine (51.8%) and hexadecanoic acid (12.0%). Antioxidant activities of the oils were examined using the DPPH, ABTS, reducing power and lipid peroxidation assays. All assays were concentration dependent with varying antioxidant potentials. The antioxidant activity of the root volatile oil of M. lucida was similar to that of the standard drugs used.     

Influence of parenteral fat emulsion Intralipos and citric acid on blood viscosity and erythrocyte morphology in vitro

In most studies fat emulsion had been administered by enteral route. Recently a parenteral soybean-oil emulsion has been developed. In this study we assessed the effects of a parenteral soybean-oil emulsion (Intralipos((R))) and citric acid on blood rheology and erythrocyte morphology in vitro. Porcine blood was incubated in vitro with increasing concentrations of fat emulsion Intralipos((R)) and citric acid at 37 degrees C for 1h. Viscosity of plasma and whole blood was measured using a FASCO-2050 digital viscometer. Red blood cell morphology was examined by light microscopy. The viscosity of whole blood represented an ascending dose-dependence for different Intralipos((R)) concentrations at high shear rate of 90 and 225s(-1), however, it decreased with citric acid concentrations. On the other hand, the whole blood viscosity also declined with citric acid concentrations in presence of 30% Intralipos((R)) (v/v), and there is a minimal viscosity at 0.67% citric acid (v/v). There are some thorns on the blood membrane at 40% Intralipos((R)) as compared with control (no Intralipos((R)) addition), which indicates the Intralipos((R)) compound may affect blood cell membranes, and resulted in whole blood viscosity increase. We concluded that the intravenous soybean-oil preparation Intralipos((R)) interacts with the erythrocyte membrane, and citric acid could alleviate the whole blood viscosity.