17ß-estradiol eye drops protect the retinal ganglion cell layer and preserve visual function in an in vivo model of glaucoma.

Neuroprotection in glaucoma as a curative strategy complementary to current therapies to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) is highly desirable. This study was designed to investigate neuroprotection by 17ß-estradiol (E2) to prevent retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in a glaucoma model of surgically elevated IOP in rats. We found that daily treatment with E2-containing eye drops resulted in significant E2 concentration in the retina with concomitant profound neuroprotective therapeutic benefits, even in the presence of continually elevated IOP. The number of apoptotic cells in the RGC layer was significantly decreased in the E2-treated group, when compared to the vehicle-treated controls. Deterioration in visual acuity in these animals was also markedly prevented. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, beneficial changes in the expression of several proteins implicated in the maintenance of retinal health were also found in the retina of E2-treated animals. On the other hand, systemic side effects could not be avoided with the eye drops, as confirmed by the measured high circulating estrogen levels and through the assessment of the uterus representing a typical hormone-sensitive peripheral organ. Collectively, the demonstrated significant neuroprotective effect of topical E2 in the selected animal model of glaucoma provides a clear rationale for further studies aiming at targeting E2 into the eye while avoiding systemic E2 exposure to diminish undesirable off-target side effects.

[Effect of "Pintes" white wine on metabolic parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome]. / Pintes fehérbor hatása az anyagcsere-paraméterekre metabolikus szindrómás betegekben.

UNLABELLED: Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with decreased cardiovascular mortality in the general population. Relatively few studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of white wine on insulin sensitivity. AIMS: The authors studied the impact of moderate Pintes white wine consumption on insulin sensitivity and other metabolic parameters. METHODS: The prospective study involved 18 patients with metabolic syndrome. The patients consumed Pintes white wine for 4 weeks, and parameters were measured before and after consumption. RESULTS: The HOMA-IR decreased significantly after white wine consumption (2.28±2.04 vs 1.08±0.6; p = 0.002). There were no changes in serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose levels. CONCLUSION: White wine consumption improved insulin sensitivity in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Polyphenol composition and antioxidant capacity of Epilobium species.

Epilobium species (Onagraceae) are commonly used herbal remedies in traditional, adjuvant therapy of benignus prostate hyperplasia (BPH), however the pharmacological and clinical standardization of commercially available Epilobii herba (willow-herb) remains difficult. Willow-herb products usually consist of mixtures from various species, with different phenoloid content, often only partially identified. The present study reports comprehensive LC-MS/MS investigation on the polyphenol composition of the most common Epilobium species, emphasizing the pharmaceutical importance of a uniform standardization protocol in case of their products. The antioxidant capacity of species was evaluated by a simple spectrophotometric method, using ABTS(+) (2,2'azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)). High ratio of macrocyclic tannins, mainly oenothein B was identified in all Epilobium species examined. Flavonoid composition of Epilobium extracts showed several differences, especially comparing E. angustifolium to other species. Myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol and their various glycosides were dominant in samples, but their combination and ratio were distinctive in all cases. Epilobium extracts showed high radical-scavenger activity, comparable to that of well-known antioxidants, Trolox and ascorbic acid. Among species examined, extract of Epilobium parviflorum possessed the highest antioxidant capacity (EC(50)=1.71+/-0.05 microg/ml).

[Antioxidant activity of different phenolic fractions separated from Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne]. / Az Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne fenoloid tartalmú frakcióinak antioxidáns értékelése.

Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne (Eyebright) is a valuable part of the traditional folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory herb since centuries. Since oxidative stress may underlie as a key feature of inflammatory process, the methanolic extract ofEuphrasia rostkoviana Hayne (eyebright) and its methanolic fractions were evaluated for antioxidant activity by the use of ABTS and DPPH decolorization assays. Fractionation of the Soxhlet extract was accomplished by polyamide column chromatography. For chemical characterisation HPLC-DAD-MS/MS was used. Fraction 1., dominated by a glycosilated caffeic acid derivative, exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS assays, IC50: 11.88 microg/ml and 4.24 microg/ml, respectively, which are notable results if compared to the investigated standards. Fractions of flavonoid glycosides proved to have similarly strong, but lower effect. The scavenging reaction of the two radical cations were comparable, IC50 results were differing, while precision not.

Investigation of dietary important components in selected red fleshed apples by GC-MS and LC-MS.

Three red-fleshed apple cultivars (Malus 'Geneva': GFV-03, Hungarian hybrid: GFV-04, Malus pumila Niedwetzkyana: GFV-05) were investigated for their chemical composition by sHS-SPME-GC-MS and HPLC-DAD-MS/MS analytical techniques. In cultivars GFV-03 and GFV-05 sesquiterpene α-farnesene were dominant while the alphatic esters were present mostly in traces. In GFV-04 - the new disease resistant advanced selection of the Hungarian apple breeding program - hexanol and hexyl 2-methylbutanoate were present in larger amounts while the amount of α-farnesene was lower than the other two cultivars. Using HPLC-DAD-MS/MS four phenolic acid derivatives, four anthocyanins, six flavonoids of quercetin derivatives and two dihydrochalcone phloretin glycosides were identified or characterized among the detected sixteen phenolic compounds.