Aromatherapeutic and Antibacterial Properties of Cotton Materials Treated with Emulsions Containing Peppermint Essential Oil (Menthae piperitae aetheroleum).

The objective of the work was to obtain materials with aromatherapeutic and antibacterial properties by applying emulsions based on peppermint essential oil (PEO) onto cotton fabric. For this purpose, some emulsions based on PEO incorporated in various matrices (chitosan + gelatin + beeswax; chitosan + beeswax; gelatin + beeswax and gelatin + chitosan) were prepared. Tween 80 was used as a synthetic emulsifier. The influence of the nature of matrices and of the concentration of Tween 80 on the stability of the emulsions was evaluated by the creaming indices. The materials treated with the stable emulsions were analyzed in terms of sensory activity, of the comfort characteristics, and of the gradual release of the PEO in the artificial perspiration solution. The sum of volatile components retained by samples after exposure to air was determined by GC-MS. The results regarding antibacterial activity showed that materials treated with emulsions have a good inhibitory effect on S. aureus (diameters of the inhibition zones between 53.6 and 64.0 mm) and on E. coli (diameters of the inhibition zones between 38.3 and 64.0 mm). Our data suggest that by applying peppermint-oil-based emulsions on a cotton support, aromatherapeutic patches, bandages and dressings with antibacterial properties can be obtained.

Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Enhancing Properties of Selective Equisetum Extracts.

The sterile stems belonging to the Equisetum species are often used in traditional medicine of various nations, including Romanians. They are highly efficient in treating urinary tract infections, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract infections, and medical skin conditions due to their content of polyphenolic derivatives that have been isolated. In this regard, this study aimed to provide the chemical composition of the extracts obtained from the Equisetum species (E. pratense, E. sylvaticum, E. telmateia) and to investigate the biological action in vitro and in vivo. For the chemical characterization of the analyzed Equisetum species extracts, studies were performed by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC-DAD). In vitro evaluation of the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts obtained from these species of Equisetum genus was determined. The neuroprotective activity of these three ethanolic extracts from the Equisetum species using zebrafish tests was determined in vivo. All obtained results were statistically significant. The results indicate that E. sylvaticum extract has a significant antioxidant activity; whereas, E. pratense extract had anxiolytic and antidepressant effects significantly higher than the other two extracts used. All these determinations indicate promising results for the antioxidant in vitro tests and neuroprotective activity of in vivo tests, particularly mediated by their active principles.

[High levels of sterigmatocystin in patients with chronic liver diseases]. / Detectarea sterigmatocistinei la pacientii cu boala ii hepatica cronica.

UNLABELLED: Sterigmatocystin (STC) is a wide spread mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus fungi, with hepatotoxic and carcinogenetic proprieties. OBJECTIVES: To determine the STC concentration in blood and urine from patient with liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with correlation with liver function parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 166 patients divided in three groups: control--55 patients (27M, 28F); LC--58 patients (31M, 27F); HCC--53 patients (26M, 27F). 20 ml of blood and 50 ml of urine were collected from each patient and liver enzymes and alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) were measured. STC was determined by high performance liquid chromatography, with concomitant detection in ultraviolet and fluorescence. RESULTS: STC was detected in 26.2% of samples, more frequently in LC and HCC groups (p < 0.001). STC mean values were 0.014 ng/ml and 0.005 ng/ml in blood, respective urine of controls, rising to 0.626 ng/ml (p = 0.003) respective 1.053 ng/ml (p = 0.049) in LC and 2.02 ng/ml in blood (p < 0.0001) and 9.39 ng/ml in urine (p = 0.003) in patients with HCC. There is a perfect correlation between serum and urinary levels of STC in controls (r = 1), that become weak in patients with LC (r = 0.48) and insignificant in HCC (r = 0.15). AFP values were significantly correlated with STC concentration in patient with HCC, in both blood (r = 0.31) and urine (r = 0.84). CONCLUSIONS: STC values in patients with LC and HCC were significantly higher compared to controls. Strong positive correlation of STC with AFP in patients with liver cancer suggested a possible role of this mycotoxin in pathogenesis of the disease.