Enzyme Inhibition and Antioxidant Activities of Asparagus officinalis L. and Analysis of Its Phytochemical Content by LC/MS/MS.

In the study, water, ethanol, methanol, dichloromethane, and acetone extracts of Asparagus officinalis L. were obtained by maceration. DPPH⋅, ABTS⋅+ , FRAP, and CUPRAC methods determined the antioxidant capacities of all extracts. Moreover, the in vitro effects of extracts on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carbonic anhydrase (CA)-I, CA-II and α-Glycosidase were investigated. At a 10 µg/ml concentration, the extract with the highest Fe3+ reduction capacity was ethanol (AE), and the extract with the highest Cu2+ reduction capacity was acetone (AA). AE for AChE (IC50 =21.19 µg/ml) and α-Glycosidase (IC50 : 70.00 µg/ml), methanol (AM) for BChE (IC50 =17.33 µg/ml), CA-I and II (IC50 =79.65 and 36.09 µg/ml, respectively) showed the most potent inhibition effect. The content analysis of acetone extract was performed with LC/MS-MS, the first three phytochemicals found most were p-Coumaric acid, rutin, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (284.29±3.97, 135.39±8.19, and 102.06±5.51 µg analyte/g extract, respectively).

Lichens in Pharmacological Action: What Happened in the Last Decade?

Lichens are a unique group of organisms, which can produce compounds that are named secondary metabolites and rarely or are not produced in other organisms. Lichens possess pharmacological actions related to their secondary metabolites. Our knowledge of lichens and their pharmacological actions rapidly increases as new technologies and devices, which facilitate the investigation of the chemical profile and biological activities of lichens, are introduced and become more readily available. In addition, new methods and perspectives, as well as suggestions for pharmacological mechanisms, accumulate daily. Furthermore, lichen substances stand as a relatively untapped source of natural products. Accordingly, researchers investigate the pharmacological actions of lichen-derived material more frequently than it was in the past. This review focused on the pharmacological activities of lichens published in the last 11 years (2012-2022). Literature data obtained from WebOfScience and PubMed databases using related search keywords revealed that anti-genotoxicity, anticancer, and anti-microbial activity studies have constantly been conducted. More recently, immunomodulatory and inflammation-related studies took to the stage. Enzyme inhibition actions were popular as well. Our selection was based on the novelty and mechanistic insight that papers presented.

Assessment of effectiveness of anakinra and canakinumab in patients with colchicine-resistant/unresponsive familial Mediterranean fever.

INTRODUCTION: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary auto-inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent fever and serosal inflammation. Anti-interleukin-1 (Anti-IL-1) treatments are recommended in colchicine resistant and/or intolerant FMF patients. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of anakinra and canakinumab in FMF patients that are resistant/intolareted to colchicine or complicated with amyloidosis. METHODS: Between January 2014 and March 2019, 65 patients following-up at Sivas Cumhuriyet University (Medical Faculty Rheumatology-Internal Medicine Department) who were diagnosed with FMF according to the criteria of Tel-Hashomer were included in the study. The laboratory values and clinical features of patients and disease activities were recorded at least every 3 months, and these data were analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-one (63.1%) patients used anakinra (100 mg/day) and 24 (36.9%) patients used canakinumab (150 mg/8 week). The median duration of anti-IL-1 agents use was 7 months (range, 3-30). Fifteen (23.1%) cases were complicated with amyloidosis. Seven (10.8%) patients had renal transplantation. Overall, the FMF 50 score response was 96.9%. In the group that had a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 60 ml/min/m2, the median proteinuria decreased from 2390 mg/day (range, 1400-7200) to 890 mg/day (range, 120-2750) (p = 0.008). No serious infections were detected, except in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-IL-1 agents are effective and safe in the treatment of FMF patients. These agents are particularly effective at reducing proteinuria in patients with GFR ≥ 60 ml/min/m2, but less effective in cases with FMF associated with arthritis and sacroiliitis. Large and long follow-up studies are now needed to establish the long-term effects of these treatments.

Evaluation of cardiac functions with tissue Doppler imaging in prediabetic subjects.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate left ventricle systolic and diastolic function, using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE), in relation to blood glucose status in prediabetic patients who had no evidence of heart disease by conventional echocardiography (CE). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We included 60 patients (30 female, 30 male) and 20 healthy controls (10 male, 10 female). All participants were randomised into four groups according to their oral glucose tolerance test. Group-I consisted of those patients who had only impaired fasting glucose (IFG). group-II consisted of patients who had only impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and group-III consisted of patients who had both IFG and IGT, that is so-called combined glucose intolerance. Group-IV included the healthy controls. All subjects underwent both CE and TDE. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among the four groups in terms of CE. There was no significant difference between group-IV and group-I with respect to the early peak diastolic velocity (Ea) of medial mitral annulus (11.65±0.66 vs. 9.72±1.58, p>0.05), whereas a statistically significant difference was found between group-IV and group-II (11.65±0.66 vs. 9.06±1.07, p<0.001) and between group-IV and group-III (11.65±0.66 vs. 9.74±1.09, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Diastolic myocardial dysfunction in prediabetic patients may be identified by quantitative TDE before the appearance of CE indices of myocardial dysfunction.

Nigella sativa reduces tissue damage in rat ovaries subjected to torsion and detorsion: oxidative stress, proinflammatory response and histopathological evaluation.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate biochemically and histopathologically the effects of Nigella sativa (NS) in experimental ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat ovaries. METHODS: Thirty-six female rats were divided into 6 groups: group I = sham operation; group II = 500 mg/kg NS + sham operation; group III = bilateral ovarian ischemia; group IV = 500 mg/kg NS + ischemia; group V = 3-hour period of ischemia + 3-hour reperfusion, and group VI: 3-hour period of ischemia + 500 mg/kg NS 2.5 h after the induction of ischemia + 3-hour reperfusion. At the end of ischemia, the bilateral vascular clips were removed, and 3-hour reperfusion was continued. IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α cytokine levels in serum, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined. RESULTS: I/R increased the MDA level and MPO activity while significantly decreasing the SOD activity and GSH level when compared to the sham. The 500-mg/kg dose of NS before I/R reversed the trend in MDA levels, MPO activity, SOD activity, and GSH levels. Ischemia and I/R increased the serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, while the administration of NS decreased the serum levels of these cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of NS is effective in reversing tissue damage induced by ischemia and/or I/R in ovaries.

The effect of prilocaine or levobupivacaine infiltration on pain during nasal packing removal.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rehydration of Merocel nasal packs with prilocaine or levobupivacaine on reducing pain and discomfort of nasal packing removal in patients who had undergone septoplasties or endoscopic sinus surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. Setting. Tertiary referral center. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on 72 patients, aged 18 to 55 years, who had undergone septoplasty, bilateral functional endoscopic sinus surgery, or both. The patients were divided into 2 groups: prilocaine group (group P, n = 36), who received 2.5 mL of 2% prilocaine, and levobupivacaine group (group L, n = 36), who received 2.5 mL of levobupivacaine hydrochloride dilution. These solutions were diluted with 2.5 mL saline to a final volume of 5 mL, which was then injected into the Merocel packing 15 minutes before removal of the pack. In both groups, 5 mL of saline was injected into the packing in the contralateral nostril as a control 15 minutes before removal of the pack. Visual analog score (VAS) and the Ramsay sedation score were recorded. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in VAS and Ramsay sedation scale scores of levobupivacaine and prilocaine groups compared to controls. No significant difference was noted between the groups in terms of levobupivacaine and prilocaine. CONCLUSIONS: Levobupivacaine or prilocaine infiltration before removal of nasal packs in patients who undergo septoplasties or endoscopic sinus surgery can decrease discomfort and improve patient tolerability.

Antimutagenic effects of lichen Pseudovernia furfuracea (L.) Zoph. extracts against the mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1 in vitro.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methanol, acetone, n-hexane and ether extracts obtained from Pseudovernia furfuracea on genotoxicity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in cultured human blood cells intoxicated with aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)). Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus (MN) tests were used for genotoxic influences estimation. In both the test systems, it was observed that P. furfuracea extracts suppressed the mutagenic effects of AFB(1) due to the type of extracts added to the cultures. Furthermore, a significant reduction in plasma TAC was observed after AFB(1) treatment. Interestingly, the methanol and acetone extracts of the lichen recovered AFB(1)-induced TAC inhibition. The order of extracts of anti-genotoxicity efficacy against AFB(1) was methanol, acetone, ether and n-hexane, respectively. In conclusion, P. furfuracea has been shown to modulate the adverse effects of AFB(1) in human blood cells for the first time.

Anti-inflammatory and side effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly used drugs in inflammatory diseases, since they are effective in management of pain, fever, redness, edema arising as a consequence of inflammatory mediator release. Studies have shown that both therapeutic and side effects of NSAIDs are dependent on cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition. COX isoforms have been named constitutive (COX-1) and inducible (COX-2). COX-1 catalyzes formation of cytoprotective prostaglandins in thrombocytes, vascular endothelium, stomach mucosa, kidneys, pancreas, Langerhans islets, seminal vesicles, and brain. Induction of COX-2 by various growth factors, proinflammatory agents, endotoxins, mitogens, and tumor agents indicates that this isoform may have a role in induction of pathological processes, such as inflammation. It is well known that therapy with COX inhibitors is associated with a number of side effects including gastrointestinal erosions, and renal and hepatic insufficiency. Such critical adverse reactions are mostly dependent on COX-1 inhibition. As a result of research focused on reduction of the adverse effects of NSAIDs, selective COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib and rofecoxib have been developed. However, many data demonstrate that mechanisms of action of these drugs are multidirectional and complex. These drugs or their derivatives, which belong to the same group, have distinct pharmacological effects, side effects and potencies which implies that there may be more than two, five or even tens of COX isoforms.

Comparison of antioxidant activity and phenolic content of three lichen species.

The antioxidant activities (AA), reducing powers (RP) and total phenolic contents (TPC) of methanol and water extracts of three lichen species, Usnea longissima Ach., Usnea florida (L.) Weber ex Wigg. and Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. were determined in vitro. Of the extracts tested, the methanol extracts of Lobaria pulmonaria and Usnea longissima showed potent antioxidant activities. The methanol extract of L. pulmonaria also had the highest total phenolic contents (87.9 mg/g lyophylisate). For the methanol extract of this species, there was also a strong correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents. However, a similar correlation was not observed for U. longissima. Although the methanol extract of U. longissima had a lower phenolic content (38.6 mg/g lyophylisate), it exhibited potent antioxidant activity. On the other hand, there was a strong correlation between the reducing powers and the total phenolic contents of the extracts. The highest reducing power was determined for the methanol extract of L. pulmonaria.

Anti-inflammatory effects of selective COX-2 inhibitors.

In this study, effects of rofecoxib, celecoxib, nimesulide on the acute phase of inflammation were studied in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model and their influence on the chronic phase of inflammation was evaluated in the cotton pellet granuloma tests. Additionally, effects of these drugs on capillary vascular permeability were examined in the hyaluronidase test and were compared with that of indomethacin (nonselective COX inhibitor). The results of the study demonstrated that rofecoxib, celecoxib, nimesulide, indomethacin at a dose of 10 mg kg(-1) reduced the volume of paw edema by 40.6% (p < 0.05), 21.6% (p < 0.05), 20.3% (p < 0.05), 64.0% (p < 0.05), respectively. Anti-proliferative effect of rofecoxib was of 29%, while those of celecoxib and nimesulide were of 13.5 and 21.2%, respectively. Indomethacin had an anti-proliferative effect of 44.2%. When the drugs were given at a dose of 25 mg kg(-1) rofecoxib, celecoxib, nimesulide reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema by 50.6% (p < 0.004), 27.9% (p < 0.004) and 33.0% (p < 0.004), respectively. Positive control, indomethacin, reduced the paw edema by 86.1% (p < 0.004). As a result, indomethacin, rofecoxib, celecoxib, nimesulide significantly inhibited both acute and chronic inflammation. While indomethacin, celecoxib, nimesulide significantly reduced capillary vascular permeability, the effect of rofecoxib was insignificant. We could not clarify this observation. Further studies are required to enlighten this effect of rofecoxib.