Evaluation of daily Laurus nobilis tea consumption on anxiety and stress biomarkers in healthy volunteers.

Laurus nobilis is known in the field of herbal medicine and in vitro studies for its antibacterial, antifungal, anti- diabetes, and anti-inflammatory beneficial effects. Laurus nobilis tea consumption was investigated with regard to its effects on anxiety and stress in healthy individuals, measured by subjective tools and by plasmatic cortisol levels. The study included thirty healthy Tunisian volunteers aged between 20 and 57 years consuming Laurus nobilis infusion, prepared from 5g of dried Laurus nobilis leaves in 100 ml boiled water, once a day during 10 days. Plasma concentrations of serum cortisol were measured before Laurus nobilis consumption and at the end of the experiment. Laurus nobilis tea consumption significantly decreased the concentration of plasmatic cortisol ([cortisol] D0= 93.5± 43.01ng/mL, D11=72.23± 25.37, p=0.001). A statistically significant decrease in PSS and STAI scores (p=0.006 and p=0.002 respectively) was also noted.These findings highlight the decrease in blood cortisol levels, which means a possible positive effect on reducing the risk of stress related-diseases in healthy volunteers consuming Laurus nobilis tea. However, more powerful studies with extended treatment periods are required.

Effects of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 deletions on Parkinson's disease risk among a North African population.

PURPOSE: In this study, the effects of glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms Mu1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms Theta1 (GSTT1) on Parkinson's disease (PD) risk factor were evaluated in a Tunisian population. METHODS: These polymorphisms were analyzed in 229 healthy Tunisian subjects and 64 Tunisian patients with PD, using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0. The relative associations between the GST genotypes and PD were assessed by calculating the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The study results demonstrated that the individuals with GSTM1 [OR=3.93, 95% CI: 1.98-7.92, P=10-6] and GSTT1 [OR=5.45, 95% CI: 2.90-10.30, p=10-6] were statistically associated with the risk of PD. A significant association was also found between the individuals with both GSTM1/T1 null genotypes and PD risk [OR=22.10, 95% CI: 6.99-73.75, P=10-6]. CONCLUSION: These genotyping findings suggest that the absence of both GSTM1 and GSTT1 activity could be a contributory factor for the development of PD.

Implications of metabolic parameters of carbamazepine in the therapeutic monitoring of Tunisian patients with epilepsy.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) is widely used in the control of simple and complex focal seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients with epilepsy. The toxic effects of CBZ are not easily predicted, and this is due to the difficulty of delivering the optimal dose and/or plasma concentration of CBZ necessary to achieve beneficial effects, and especially to prevent the onset of toxicity associated with its use. Our study aimed to determine the relationship between the administered daily dose of CBZ and its pharmacokinetic parameters, including concentrations of CBZ and carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZ-E) plasma levels, and the metabolic ratio of CBZ-E to CBZ, in Tunisian patients with epilepsy. To accomplish this, a high-performance liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet detection was used for quantification in the simultaneous analysis of CBZ and one of its active metabolites, CBZ-E, in human plasma. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the daily doses administered (mg/kg/day) and plasma concentrations of CBZ and CBZ-E, and the CBZ-E/CBZ ratio increased significantly as a function of the specific dose (in mg/kg/day). The increase in plasma concentrations of CBZ-E was non-linear in relation to plasma concentrations of CBZ, and there was no correlation between the CBZ-E/CBZ metabolic ratio and CBZ plasma concentrations. Our findings suggest that monitoring of CBZ as well as CBZ-E blood levels should be considered, as it may play a useful role in the therapeutic management of patients with epilepsy.