Antiinflammatory and analgesic effects of Carthamus lanatus aerial parts.

Fractions of methanol, dichloromethane, water extracts and volatiles of Carthamus lanatus aerial parts given by oral route at a dose of 2 mg/kg showed significant antiinflammatory activities in rats. On the contrary, only the water fraction of MeOH extract possesses a significant analgesic activity.

Aromatic monoterpenoid glycosides from Cruciata taurica.

Two new aromatic monoterpenoid glycosides, cruciaside A (2,5-O-beta-D-diglucopyranosyl-3-hydroxy-p-cymene) (1) and cruciaside B (5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2,3-dihydroxy-p-cymene) (2), were isolated from aerial parts of Cruciata taurica. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectral and chemical methods. The new compounds seem to be promising as taxonomic markers for C. taurica.

Triterpene saponins and iridoid glucosides from galium rivale.

Three new glycosides of the oleanene-type triterpenes, rivalosides C-E (1-3), along with three known triterpene saponins, momordin IIb (4) and rivalosides A-B (5-6), and five known iridoid glucosides: monotropein, scandoside, deacetylasperulosidic acid, geniposidic acid and asperulosidic acid, were isolated from aerial parts of Galium rivale. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral methods and chemical means as 2alpha-acetoxy-3alpha, 19alpha-dihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 2alpha,3alpha, 19alpha-trihydroxy-olean- 12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-24-hydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, for rivalosides C-E, respectively. The taxonomic significance of the rivalosides in G. rivale was discussed.

Rivalosides A and B, two 19-Oxo triterpenoid saponins from Galium rivale.

Two new oleanene-type triterpene glycosides, rivaloside A (2alpha-acetoxy-3alpha-hydroxy-19-oxo-olean-12-en-28-o ic acid 28-O-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside) (1) and rivaloside B (2alpha,3alpha-dihydroxy-19-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside) (2), were isolated from aerial parts of Galium rivale. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical transformations. Under alkaline or acid hydrolysis, rivalosides A and B undergo allylic rearrangement with migration of the double bond. These compounds are the first representatives of 19-oxo substituted oleanenes, and they seem to be promising as taxonomic markers for G. rivale.

Detection of antibodies against Campylobacter jejuni serogroup PEN O:19 purified flagellar protein in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

C. jejuni serogroup PEN O:19 was isolated from a stool specimen from a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Flagellar protein was isolated and purified from reference strain C. jejuni PEN O:19, ATCC 43,446, as well as from a homologous patient strain. Antibodies against flagellar protein were detected by means of immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and tube agglutination test. The antibody titres were found to be directly correlated at the beginning and in the recovery phase of GBS. Antibodies of IgG and IgA classes were present from the very onset of the disease as well as 5 months later, but with a lower titre population. However, antibodies of the IgM class were persistent only at the onset of the infection and disappeared during the following 5 months. Our results strongly support the hypothesis that in GBS patients, antiflagellar antibodies are induced during C. jejuni infection and can be used in the diagnosis of C. jejuni-associated GBS.

[Effect of celiprolol on isoprenaline-induced myocardial necrosis]. / Ovlivnení izoprenalinových nekróz myokardu celiprololem.

The assessed elevated catecholamine levels in the organism during substantial physical or mental stress lead to changes in the heart rate and to intensification of contractions. The demands of the heart muscle as regards increased oxygen supplies and are not met. This may have serious consequences for the patient. The authors wanted to find out therefore whether the beta-blocker celiprolol will be able to reduce the negative effect of large amounts of catecholamine in the organism and thus play a part in the prevention of myocardial damage. When celiprolol was administered half an hour before isoprenaline, the extent of necrosis caused by catecholamine was reduced. When administered half an hour after isoprenaline administration, the marked protective effect was no longer observed. The necroses in the heart muscle were similar as in animals given catecholamine only.

[The effect of Neo-Gilurytmal on heart lesions induced with isoprenaline]. / Vliv Neo-Gilurytmalu na poskození srdce vyvolané isoprenalinem.

Influence of Neo-Gilurytmal was studied upon catecholamine heart lesion in rats of two weight categories: In bigger ones (350-420 g) the lesion was diminished, in smaller animals (200-230 g) any protective influence did not occur. Sensitivity of myocardium to Neo-Gilurytmal is supposed to concur with that to catecholamine effect in rats of increasing weight.

The effect of cordarone on isoproterenol-induced damage to the myocardium in rats.

In this experimental work we evaluated the effect of preventively administered Cordarone on the myocardial damage of rats, caused by isoproterenol. Cordarone had prevented the early mortality of rats up to 1 h, however, after the administration of high doses of Cordarone the late mortality of experimental animals was increased. In the group of rats, which were treated by Cordarone there were almost no small necroses of myocardium, which were, however, contrary--very often found in the control animals. We guess that this effect of Cordarone is caused by its influence on the heart rate, which is slowing down, by its antiarrhythmic effect and by its efficiency to improve the perfusion of myocardium by its power to decrease the resistance of coronary vessels.

[The effect of analgesics and psychopharmaceuticals on myocardial injury]. / Vliv nekterých analgetik a psychofarmak na poskozený myokard.

The development of rat myocardial lesion induced by isoprenaline was studied under the influence of Faustan, morphine and Spasmo-eunalgit. A protective effect diminishing the myocardial lesion was limited to morphine.

[Use of long term administration of ATP in repeated heart injury with isoprenaline and its effect on the reparative process in the myocardium]. / Uplatnení dlouhodobe podávaného ATP pri opakovaném poskození srdce isoprenalinem a jeho vliv na reparacní pochody v myokardu.

ATP failed to influence the rate of myocardial healing having been administered to rats 1 hour after Isoprenaline. Further long-term administering of ATP diminished the intensity of repeated myocardial lesion due to catecholamine. However, myocardial fibrosis was not sure to be influenced.

Influence of physical exertion on early isoproterenol-induced heart injury.

The effect of swimming instantly following an injection of isoproterenol was studied in rats in whom the administration of the drug caused changes in the cardiac muscle. The animals were compared with those of a group kept only under normal cage activity after the administration. Oxygen inhalation in the exercised group of rats was higher than in the sedentary group and after 4 minutes of measuring, continually remained at a higher level. It was determined that swimming prevented the early death of the rats. This was more pronounced in the animals of higher body weight. The extent of myocardial damage in the exercised group was markedly smaller. The intensity of enzyme reaction, SDH, LDH and G6PDH, in the area of undamaged tissue was the same in both the exercised and sedentary groups, in areas of damage it was minimal. The intensity of alpha GP was lowered in the exercised group, but in the sedentary group it was lowered throughout the entire section. Electron optic examination of the tissue, which under the light microscope appeared normal, revealed no substantial differences between the exercised and sedentary groups. We presume that the better condition of the rats was in part due to the peripheral breakdown of the catecholamine owing to the increased blood flow created by muscular activity.