Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Satureja montana Supercritical and Spray-Dried Extracts on Ehrlich's Ascites Carcinoma Bearing Mice.

Satureja montana herbal species belongs to aromatic medicinal plants with a significant place in traditional medicine. However, products produced with conventional procedures do not meet the requirements of the modern market which include environmentally-safe processes that provide quality, safe, and standardized products. In this study, the antiproliferative activity of S. montana extracts obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide and solid-liquid extraction followed by spray drying was investigated using the in vivo model of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice. The impact of two concentrations of extracts on the growth of tumor and the redox status of malignant cells was monitored. It was determined that the extracts induced oxidative stress in the malignant cells which was confirmed by the changes in activity of biochemical indicators of oxidative stress. The posttreatment was not an efficient approach, while the extracts applied as pretreatment and treatment resulted in an increase in the xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity, a decrease in catalase (CAT) activity, and an increase in the intensity of lipid peroxidation (LPx). Furthermore, a decrease in the values of reduced glutathione (GSH) and an increase in glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) in EAC cells were recorded.

Potential use of deodorised water extracts: polyphenol-rich extract of Thymus pannonicus All. as a chemopreventive agent.

Deodorised water extracts of aromatic plants are obtained as by-products of essential oil isolation and usually discarded as waste. However, phytochemical composition of these extracts encourages their further utilization as food additives or functional food ingredients. In this study we investigated phytochemical composition, antioxidant and in vivo antiproliferative activity of deodorised water extract of Thymus pannonicus All. (DWE). HPLC analysis revealed rosmarinic acid (RA) (71.11 ± 1.54 mg/g) as the most abundant constituent of the extract, followed by salvianolic acid H (14.83 ± 0.79 mg/g, calculated as RA). DWE exhibited pronounced antioxidant activity in vitro, in FRAP and DPPH tests (FRAP value: 7.41 mmol Fe/g and SC50: 3.80 µg/g, respectively). Using the model of Ehrlich carcinoma cells in mice that were treated with DWE prior, at the time, and after tumour cells implantation, the tumour growth suppression and redox status of malignant cells (i.e., activities of antioxidant enzymes, level of glutathione and intensity of lipid peroxidation) were followed. DWE applied as pretreatment caused disturbance of antioxidant equilibrium as well as apoptosis/necrosis of up to 90% EAC cells. Results obtained in the present study revealed chemopreventive potential and possibility of T. pannonicus DWE usage. High content of RA and other phenolic compounds explains, at least in part, the observed effects.

Phenolic Profile, Antiradical and Antitumour Evaluation of Raspberries Pomace Extract from Serbia.

Raspberry waste, obtained from two cultivars, Meeker (ERM) and Willamette (ERW) was subjected to evaluation antioxidants and antitumour activities as a potential source of phenolics. Some phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified and quantified by HPLC. Antioxidant activity was tested by measuring ability to scavenge DPPH• and •OH by ESR spectroscopy. IC50DPPH• varied from 0.67 for ERM to 0.54 mg/mL for ERW, while IC50•OH values varied from 3.73 for ERM to 1.23 mg/mL for ERW. Cytotoxic activity was investigated using in vivo model of Ehrlich Ascite carcinoma cells (EAC) in mice. Pretreatment with extracts exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against EAC cells (up to 60%) and both extracts inhibited the tumour growth. Activity of xanthine oxidase (XOD) was extremely increased in pretreated animals, while the activity of enzyme complex glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) was significantly increased. This study suggests that raspberry pomace could be used as nutraceutic resource and functional food ingredient.

Antibacterial effect of Herniaria hirsuta, Prunus avium, Rubia tinctorum and Sempervivum tectorum plant extracts on multiple antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli / Efeito antibacteriano de Herniaria hirsuta, Prunus avium, Rubia tinctorum e Sempervivum tectorum extratos vegetais em vários resistentes a antibióticos Escherichia coli

The emergence of Escherichia coli isolates with multiple antibiotic resistant phenotypes is considered as a severe health concern. In the present work the antibacterial effect of following plants (Herniaria hirsuta, Prunus avium, Rubia tinctorum and Sempervivum tectorum) was examined. The bacterial model used for estimation of bacterial susceptibility is hospital multiple antibiotic resistant E. coli strain. E. coli ATCC 25922 was used for standard comparison of bacterial susceptibility. Leaves of H. hirsuta, R. tinctorum and S. tectorum as well as petioles of P. avium were collected. Ethanol and aqueous extract of each plant was prepared. Antibacterial activity was examined using the agar well diffusion method. Concentration of total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, antocyanins and saponins was determined in plant extracts. E. coli strain is resistant to four unrelated families of antibiotics. Antibacterial effect is proven for all examined plants. Ethanol extracts of H. hirsuta and P. avium have a more potent antibacterial effect than their aqueous extracts. Aqueous extracts of R. tinctorum and S. tectorum have higher antibacterial potential than theirs ethanol extracts. Examined plant extracts represent good candidates for more extensive research in view of their application in the treatment of multiple antibiotic resistant E.coli strains.

O surgimento de Escherichia coli isoladas com vários fenótipos resistentes aos antibióticos é considerado como um grave problema de saúde. No presente trabalho o efeito antibacteriano das seguintes plantas (Herniaria hirsuta, Prunus avium, Rubia tinctorum e Sempervivum tectorum) foi analisado. O agente bacteriano modelo utilizado para estimativa de susceptibilidade bacteriana é o hospital vários resistentes a antibióticos E. coli. E. coli ATCC 25922 padrão foi utilizado para comparação de antibiogramas. Folhas de H. hirsuta, R. tinctorum e S. tectorum bem como pecíolos de P. avium foram coletados. Etanol e extrato aquoso de cada planta foi preparado. Atividade antibacteriana foi analisada através do método de difusão em ágar-bem. Total Concentração de fenóis, flavonóides, taninos e saponinas antocyanins determinou-se em extratos de plantas. E. coli estirpe é resistente às quatro famílias de antibióticos independentes. Efeito antibacteriano é comprovado para todas as plantas examinadas. Os extratos etanólicos de H. hirsuta e P. avium têm um efeito mais potente antibacteriano de seus extratos aquosos. Extratos aquosos de R. tinctorum e S. tectorum têm maior potencial antibacteriano que os extratos etanólicos. Extratos vegetais examinados representam bons candidatos para pesquisa mais ampla em vista de sua aplicação no tratamento de vários antibióticos resistentes a cepas de E. coli.

Antioxidant activity of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oil and its hepatoprotective potential.

BACKGROUND: Natural antioxidant products are increasingly being used to treat various pathological liver conditions considering the role of oxidative stress in their pathogenesis. Rosemary essential oil has already being used as a preservative in food industry due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, but it was shown to possess additional health benefits. The aim of our study was to evaluate the protective effect of rosemary essential oil on carbon tetrachloride - induced liver injury in rats and to explore whether its mechanism of action is associated with modulation of hepatic oxidative status. METHODS: Chemical composition of isolated rosemary essential oil was determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Antioxidant activity was determined in vitro using DPPH assay. Activities of enzyme markers of hepatocellular damage in serum and antioxidant enzymes in the liver homogenates were measured using the kinetic spectrophotometric methods. RESULTS: In this research, we identified 29 chemical compounds of the studied rosemary essential oil, and the main constituents were 1,8-cineole (43.77%), camphor (12.53%), and α-pinene (11.51%). Investigated essential oil was found to exert hepatoprotective effects in the doses of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg by diminishing AST and ALT activities up to 2-fold in serum of rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver damage. Rosemary essential oil prevented carbon tetrachloride-induced increase of lipid peroxidation in liver homogenates. Furthermore, pre-treatment with studied essential oil during 7 days significantly reversed the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in liver homogenates, especially in the dose of 10 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that rosemary essential oil, beside exhibiting free radical scavenging activity determined by DPPH assay, mediates its hepatoprotective effects also through activation of physiological defense mechanisms.

Endocan is useful biomarker of survival and severity in sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: Coagulation abnormalities which occur as a consequence of endothelial changes are recognized as diagnostic criteria for sepsis, but significance of these changes in the outcome prognosis and prediction of the course of sepsis is still not accurately defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 60 patients who fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of sepsis were included in our study. Patients were categorized in two groups according to sepsis severity and organ failure and MODS development was assessed in the first 48 h from ICU admission. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and endothelial cell specific molecule-1(endocan) levels, as well as procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined within the first 24h of the onset of the disease. Predictive APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) and SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) scores were calculated on the day of ICU admission. Data were used to determine an association between day 1 biomarker levels, organ dysfunction score values and the development of organ failure, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and mortality during 28 days. These connections were determined by plotting of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Differences between groups were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. RESULTS: Concentration of endocan was significantly higher in the group of patients with sepsis induced organ failure, MODS development and in the group of non- survivors in contrast to group with less severe form of the disease, without multiorgan failure, and in contrast to group of survivors (p<0.05). Values of areas under the ROC curves showed that endocan levels had good discriminative power for more severe course of sepsis, MODS development and possible discriminative power for mortality prediction (AUC: 0.81, 0.67, 0.71 retrospectively), better than PCT for fatality (AUC:053) and better than APACHE II (AUC:0.55) and SOFA (AUC: 0.57) scores for organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study show that endocan can be used as strong and significant predictor of sepsis severity and outcome, perhaps even better than SOFA and APACHE II scores.

Multivitamin mineral supplementation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by medically unexplained persistent or reoccurring fatigue lasting at least 6 months. CFS has a multifactorial pathogenesis in which oxidative stress (OS) plays a prominent role. Treatment is with a vitamin and mineral supplement, but this therapeutic option so far has not been properly researched. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 38 women of reproductive age consecutively diagnosed by CDC definition of CFS and treated with a multivitamin mineral supplement. Before and after the 2-month supplementation, SOD activity was determined and patients self-assessed their improvement in 2 questionnaires: the Fibro Fatigue Scale (FFS) and the Quality of Life Scale (SF36). Results There was a significant improvement in SOD activity levels; and significant decreases in fatigue (p=0.0009), sleep disorders (p=0.008), autonomic nervous system symptoms (p=0.018), frequency and intensity of headaches (p=0.0001), and subjective feeling of infection (p=0.0002). No positive effect on quality of life was found. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with a vitamin and mineral supplement could be a safe and easy way to improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with CFS.

Antiradical, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of commercial beetroot pomace.

The by-product of food processing is often utilized as feed, and for the preparation of dietary fiber and biofuel. However, these products are also promising sources of bioactive antioxidants and color giving compounds, which could be used as additives in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical profile, and the antiradical, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of industrial beetroot pomace extract (BPE). The content of phenolics (45.68 mg gallic acid equivalents g(-1)), flavonoids (25.89 mg rutin equivalents g(-1)) and betalains (4.09 mg betanin g(-1); 7.32 mg vulgaxanthin I g(-1)) were determined spectrophotometrically. The antiradical activity on DPPH (EC(50)(DPPH·) = 0.0797 mg ml(-1)), hydroxyl (EC(50)(·OH) = 0.0655 mg ml(-1)) and superoxide anion (EC(50)(O2·-) = 1.0625 mg ml(-1)) radicals were measured by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar-well diffusion method. Gram(-) bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Citrobacter freundii) and Gram(+) bacteria, (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus sciuri, Bacillus cereus) showed high susceptibility, while yeasts and moulds were resistant. BPE exhibits cytotoxic properties against Ehrlich carcinoma (EAC) cells in vivo due to induction of oxidative stress. The largest decreases in EAC cell numbers were observed in the pre-treated male (approximately 53%) and female (approximately 47%) mice, and also the EAC cell viability was decreased after administration of BPE. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes, xanthine oxidase (XOD) and peroxidase (Px), were significantly different between the untreated EAC control group and all other groups that were treated with BPE. The XOD and Px activities were very low in untreated malignant cells, but increased significantly after administration of BPE. Our results show that BPE holds promise in the food industry as a source of bioactive compounds.

Hepatoprotective effect of Filipendula hexapetala Gilib. (Rosaceae) in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The influence of methanol extract produced from the flowers of Filipendula hexapetala Gilib. (Rosaceae) on some liver biochemical parameters in rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride (CTC) was evaluated in this study. The results Obtained revealed that pretreatment with the extract investigated inhibited CTC-induced liver injury by decreasing lipid peroxidation and increasing the content of reduced glutathione in a dosage dependent manner, bringing the levels of all antioxidant enzymes close to control values. The administration of CTC diminished hepatic antioxidant defense mechanisms by significant reduction of peroxidase and catalase activities. The catalase activity was significantly recovered in groups treated with the extract investigated and intoxicated with a single CTC dose. A similar impact on hepatic peroxidase activity has also been observed, indicating a partial detoxication of hydrogen peroxide by both catalase and peroxidase.