ABSTRACT
We studied the effects of cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine, on nicotine-induced decrease in prostacyclin (PGI2) synthase activity of microsomes from isolated rabbit heart after sympathetic stimulation. Rabbit hearts were isolated along with their sympathetic nerves and perfused in accordance to the Langendorff method. Hearts were randomly divided into 10 groups treated with cotinine, either during sympathetic stimulation or prior to nicotine administration. PGI2 formation in cardiac microsomes was assessed by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that sympathetic stimulation increased PGI2 synthase activity of heart microsomes by 32 %. Nicotine dose dependently decreased PGI2 while cotinine increased it. In addition, perfused before nicotine, cotinine prevented the PGI2 decreasing effect of nicotine. The results suggest that pre-treatment with cotinine can be involved in the modulation of nicotine effects on PGI2 in hearts subjected to sympathetic stimulation.
ABSTRACT
Pomegranate molasses (PM) is a large compound of the eastern diets, yet no research has been performed on this product. In this study, we measured the total polyphenols content of PM, compared to fresh pomegranate juice, obtaining 252.28 and 79.49 mg of Gallic Acid equivalent/L respectively. The antioxidant effect of PM and juice was then measured in vitro using electrolysis as a free radical generating system. At the concentrations of 100 to 600 l PM has strong antioxidant properties (4 times more active than juice). Moreover, molasses or juice were added to the drinking water of mice (4 ml/l) during 11 weeks leading to a significant decrease of weight curve compared to control animals; also triglycerides and lipid peroxidation were decreased in the heart, lungs, and the liver, while superoxide dismutase activity increased. In conclusion, Pomegranate molasses possesses a powerful antioxidant activity and a weight loss effect in mice.