Poly-Dianix Blue/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrode for Detection of Levodopa in the Presence of High Concentrations of Ascorbic and Uric Acids.

A selective and sensitive electrochemical sensor was studied for determination of levodopa (LD) in the presence of uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA) using poly-dianix blue and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PDB/MWCNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode. Cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and chronoamperometry methods were applied to investigate the electrocatalytic oxidation of LD, UA and AA in aqueous solutions. By DPV technique, LD, UA and AA give oxidation peaks at 0.380, 0.520 and 0.180 V, respectively. Under the optimized experimental conditions LD, UA and AA give a linear response in the range of 0.09-75 µmol L-1, 0.3-110 µmol L-1 and 10-160 µmol L-1, respectively. Accordingly, the obtained detection limits were 0.003, 0.002 and 0.023 µmol L-1. The method provides a simple electrochemical sensor for successful determination of LD in human blood serum samples.

Influence of ginger and cinnamon intake on inflammation and muscle soreness endued by exercise in Iranian female athletes.

BACKGROUND: Ginger rhizomes (rich in gingerols, shogaols, paradols and zingerone) have been used in Asia for the treatment of asthma, diabetes, and pain, and have shown potent anti-inflammatory attributes. Common spices such as Cinnamon (including cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamyl aldehydeis) are used in food and many studies have focused on its anti-inflammatory components. Intense exercise can result in an inflammatory response to cell damage and also muscle soreness. The efficacy of dietary ginger and cinnamon as anti-inflammatory agents and their effectiveness in reducing muscle soreness has been investigated in limited studies on humans. Therefore, we have studied the effects of dietary ginger and cinnamon on inflammation and muscle soreness in Iranian female taekwondo players. METHODS: Sixty healthy, trained women, aged 13-25 years, were enrolled in the six-week investigation and randomly categorized into three groups (cinnamon, ginger or placebo) and received 3 g of ginger, cinnamon or placebo powder each day, depending on the group they belonged to. The IL-6 level and Likert Scale of Muscle Soreness were evaluated at the beginning and the end of the study and compared among the groups. RESULTS: Forty-nine of the participants completed the six-week intervention. There were no significant changes in the IL-6 cinnamon and ginger group when compared with the placebo group, whereas, there was a significant fall in muscle soreness in the cinnamon group and placebo (P < 0.1) and ginger group and placebo (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of ginger and cinnamon in athlete women for six weeks did not show any significant change in the IL-6 level, but showed a decrease in muscle soreness in the cinnamon and ginger groups.

Effect of ginger and cinnamon intake on oxidative stress and exercise performance and body composition in Iranian female athletes.

BACKGROUND: Ginger (rich in gingerols and shogaols) rhizomes have been widely used as dietary spices and to treat different diseases in Asia. Cinnamon (containing cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamyl aldehyde) is used as spices and as a pharmacological agent in ancient medicine. Intense exercise can result in oxidative damage to cellular compounds and also muscle soreness. Efficacy of dietary ginger and cinnamon as antioxidant agents and their effectiveness in exercise performance and reducing muscle soreness have been investigated in limited studies on humans. So we studied the effects of dietary ginger and cinnamon on oxidative stress and exercise performance and body composition in Iranian female taekwondo players. METHODS: Sixty healthy trained women, aged 13-25 years, were enrolled in the 6 week investigation and randomly categorized in three groups (cinnamon, ginger, or placebo) and received three grams of ginger, cinnamon, or placebo powder each day depending on the group they belonged. Human malondialdehyde (MDA) level, exercise performance, and body composition were evaluated in the beginning and at the end of the study and compared among the groups. RESULTS: Forty-nine of the participants completed the 6 weeks intervention. There was minor decrease in MDA in cinnamon and ginger group compared with the placebo group and significant increase in exercise performance in ginger group (P < 0.01), and considerable increase in skin fold in cinnamon groups (P < 0.01), whereas there were significant accretion in BMI for ginger group (P < 0.1) and cinnamon group (P < 0.05). No significant changes in MDA, EP, and BMI were observed between groups over time. But there were specific changes in skin fold between cinnamon and placebo group (P < 0.05) and cinnamon and ginger groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Six weeks administration of ginger and cinnamon in athlete women did not show any significant change in MDA level, body composition, and exercise performance as compared with the placebo group.