Free radical scavenging and membrane protective effects of methanol extracts from Anthriscus cerefolium L. (Hoffm.) and Petroselinum crispum(Mill.) nym. ex A.W. Hill.

The antilipoperoxidant activity of Anthriscus cerefolium L. (Hoffm.), chervil, Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. ex A. W. Hill., parsley extracts were evaluated with ascorbic acid induced lipid peroxidation on rat brain homogenates. These results are completed by the antiradical potential of these extracts against a solution of OH. radical. In all cases luteolin-7-O-glucoside was used as a reference material.

In vitro antioxidant activity of Anthriscus cerefolium L. (Hoffm.) extracts.

Standardised aqueous extracts of chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium L. Hoffm.) (Apiacae) were investigated for antioxidant effect. Numerous in vitro test methods were used to determine whether the extracts, from different vegetative parts (root, herb) had H-donor, metal binding, reductive, free radical scavenging and membrane protective activity. Apiin was used as a reference material. The herb extract showed better activity in all experiments than the root extract. The present results underline that the wateric chervil extracts have antioxidant and anti-lipoperoxidant activity.

[Investigation of the in vitro antioxidant effect of Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. ex A. W. Hill]. / A Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. ex A. W. Hill. in vitro antioxidáns hatásának vizsgálata.

Free radical reactions have excited excessive research in the past two decades. Since then it has been proven that these mechanisms may be important in the pathogenesis of certain diseases and aging. Many synthetic antioxidant components have shown toxic and/or mutagenic effects, which have directed most of the attention on the naturally occurring antioxidants. Their use has mainly centered around prevention, and the maintenance of health. Parsley, Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. ex A. W. Hill belonging to the Apiaceae family, is a well-known spice and vegetable. Its herb and root are widely known for their effects on digestion, stomach, kidney, blood, and liver. The essential oil obtained from the fruit has also strong action on the central nervous system. Characteristic constituents are: flavonoids (apiin, luteolin-, apigenin-glycosides), essential oil (apiol, miriszticin), cumarines, (bergapten, imperatorin) and vitamin C. In our experimental work, various extracts prepared from different vegetative organs of parsley have been investigated. The chemical composition of the extracts and fractions were analyzed by chromatographic (GC, HPLC) and spectroscopic (UV, UV-VIS) techniques. We intended to provide evidence for the antioxidant activity of vegetable drugs and also studied the free radical scavenger activities by means of spectrophotometry (H-donor activity, reducing capability, chelat formation) and chemiluminometry. To prove the free radical scavenging effect of the extracts, the reduced intensity of the H2O2/.OH-isoluminol, microperoxidase system was studied in vitro. The highest correlation was found between the chemical property and the antioxidant effect of the flavonoid rich samples. At the same time it was also observed that the essential oil plays a significant role in the scavenging effect as well. More experiments are in progress to study the most promising compounds in the vegetative and generative organs of parsley.

[Determination of 23 elements in lady's thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertner)]. / A máriatövis (Silybum marianum L. Gaertner) elemtartami vizsgálatai.

23 elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, Pb, S, Ti, V, Zn) were measured in lady's thistle (Silybum marianum L.) herba and fructus by ICP-AES technique after digestion in teflon vessels. This is the first report about the content of these elements in the plant originated from Hungary. This measurements is important in view of plant physiology and pharmacology. Significant amounts of aluminium and iron were measured in lady's thistle herba. In the course of tea making, the relative concentration of some elements decreases because of the poor solubility of the compounds of these elements. The low concentration of these elements in teas in favourable in pharmacological aspect. No significant differences were found in boron, calcium, potassium and magnesium concentrations of lady's thistle fructus samples of different origin.

[Spectrophotometric and chromatographic investigation of bilberry anthocyanins for qualification purposes]. / A fekete áfonya termés antociánjainak spektrofotometriás és kromatográfiás vizsgálata minösítés céljából.

Analysis of the bilberry anthocyanin extracts of different origin (French, Polish, Roumanian and Italian) was performed for qualification and identification. Direct spectrophotometry was considered as simple, informative method for controlling the purity of the extracts and proving the presence of polyphenols with the estimation of the ratio A1 cm1% 535/A1 cm1% 280. Thin-layer chromatography is an appropriate technique for the separation of 5 to 6 constituents in the extracts for qualification and for the evaluation of compound-ratios by TLC-densitometry. The new RP-HPLC gradient procedure seemed to be the best method for the standardization of bilberry extracts by the separation and quantitative estimation of 12 anthocyanins. Therefore it is of great value in the standardization of anthocyanin extracts and crude drugs containing them.

[Instrumental analysis of medicinal plants and their drug products]. / Gyógynövények és drogjaik müszeres vizsgálatának lehetöségei.

The experiences obtained during the development of gas chromatographic and other (GC, TLC and infrared spectrophotometric) methods for the 7th edition of the Hungarian Pharmacopoeia for essential oils and drugs containing essential oils are summarized with emphasis on the selection of suitable internal standard for the gas chromatographic assays. The qualitative and quantitative estimation of bitter compounds and polyphenoles e.g. flavonoids and procyanidines by means of ultraviolet and infrared spectrophotometry and HPLC is also described. Some HPLC methods for the determination of anthocyan and carotinoid derivatives are also presented. These are not yet included in the pharmacopoeia but are successfully used for the analytical investigation of commercially available medicinal plants and drug products made thereof.

Influence of phaseolotoxin on the alkaloid accumulation in Datura innoxia Mill.

In crude protein extracts of aseptically grown plantlets of Datura innoxia ornithine carbamoyltransferase was detected. The ornithine carbamoyltransferase of plant extracts was inhibited by phaseolotoxin. The level of this inhibition was dependent on the concentration of the toxin applied. Subsequent accumulation of ornithine in plant vegetative parts was observed. Phaseolotoxin influenced both the vitability and alkaloid accumulation of treated plants.

Medicinal plants in Mozambique and their popular use.

The authors give a review about plants used in the folk medicine of Mozambique, according to the literature and the personal experiences of the first author in dealing with people there. This paper shows their known active compounds and treatment of the therapeutical values as well as methods of application in Mozambique and in its neighbouring countries.