Powerful antioxidants within Cupressus arizonica Greene female cones and leaves essential oil.

The composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oil obtained from the female cones and leaves of Cupressus arizonica were assessed using the DPPH assay. The total oil yields obtained through hydrodistillation from the female cones and leaves were 1.9% (v/w) and 0.65% (v/w), respectively. The GC-MS chemical analysis of the oils from the female cones and leaves resulted in the identification of 17 and 45 compounds, respectively. Moreover, the essential oils obtained from C. arizonica female cones were predominantly composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons, with α-pinene being the most abundant component at 72.20%. In contrast, the oil extracted from the leaves was rich in oxygenated monoterpenes, particularly umbellulone (17.33%). The oils extracted from the leaves exhibited remarkable DPPH radical scavenging activity, displaying a value of 95.6%. This value was comparable to that of ascorbic acid (99.6%) and BHT (96.9%) when tested at a concentration of 59 mg/mL.

Chemical composition of essential oil from female cones of Cupressus arizonica Greene.

The hydrodistilled volatile essential oils extracted from the female cones of Cupressus arizonica Greene that harvested in winter and spring seasons were analysed for their chemical composition by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Twenty-four and seventeen components were identified, accounting for winter (95.5%) and spring (96.9%) of the total oils volume, respectively. Monoterpenoids (winter 93.7% and spring 95.0%) dominated the identified components in the essential oils, followed by a small portion of sesquiterpenoids (winter 1.8% and spring 1.9%). Monoterpene hydrocarbons (MH) (winter 90.9% and spring 94.9%) were the principal subclasses of components with α-pinene (winter 42% and spring 72%), ß-myrcene (winter 18.5% and spring 7.7%), δ-3-carene (winter 11.3% and spring 5.1%), limonene (9.4% for winter), and ß-pinene (5.3% for spring) as main constituents. Limonene (9.4%), camphor (0.2%), exo-methylcamphenilol (0.2%), terpinene-4-ol (0.6%), ß-citronellol (0.9%), and bornyl acetate (0.3%) were representative of the monoterpene hydrocarbon and oxygen-containing monoterpenoids (OM) in winter essential oil.

Hormonal Profile in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that endocrine system may be dysfunctional in patients with heart failure. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we investigated hormonal abnormalities in heart failure and the effect of disturbed hormonal balance on prognostic outcomes of patients with systolic heart failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among patients followed in Heart Failure and Transplantation Clinic, 33 men with a diagnosis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy receiving guidelines-directed medical therapies and with New York Heart Association Class II-III were enrolled. Serum concentrations of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), thyroid hormones, free testosterone, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT Pro-BNP) were measured in all the patients. The physical performance of patients was assessed by six-minute walk test (6MWT). The patients were subsequently followed for a year and the data regarding their death, transplantation, or hospitalizations due to acute heart failure were recorded. RESULTS: Except for testosterone level, the levels of GH, IGF-1, T3, and T4 concentrations in the patients were significantly lower than the normal values (P < 0.05). Among different hormone, only GH had correlation with NT Pro-BNP, hs-CRP, and 6MWT. There was no association between the occurrence of the combined events and different hormonal levels in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The hormonal levels were low in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. However, the prognostic significance of different hormonal deficiencies was not clear in our study populations who were receiving standard therapies for heart failure and had a relatively stable clinical condition.

Hyper-Prolactinemia in Men With Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Does It Have any Prognostic Implications?

BACKGROUND: Prolactin (PRL) has increasingly been recognized to play a stimulatory role in inflammatory response. Recently, studies have reported an increase in prolactin level among patients with chronic heart failure, however, there is conflicting data about its role as a prognostic factor in these patients. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to measure PRL level in male patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) and its relationship with some prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum prolactin level was assessed in 33 men with a diagnosis of IDC, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 35% on standard medical therapy for heart failure and New York Heart Association class II-III. Serum NT-Pro BNP (N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide), hs-CRP (High sensitive C reactive protein) and six-minute walk test (6MWT) were also measured. Our secondary endpoints were mortality, transplantation and hospitalization due to acute heart failure and all patients were followed for one year. RESULTS: The mean age was 33 ± 7 years (24-45 years) and the mean LVEF was 23% ± 6.5. The mean PRL level was 16 ± 7.7 ng/mL (95% confidence interval: 13.3-18.7 ng/mL), which was significantly higher than normal reference values (4.04-15 ng/mL) (P < 0.0001). There was no correlation between PRL levels and pro BNP, hs-CRP or 6MWT test, however, the serum PRL level was slightly higher among patients who died or were hospitalized or transplanted. CONCLUSIONS: Considering our study results, prognostic implication of PRL should be questioned. However, it seems that the significant increase in serum PRL in the study population needs more consideration and may have its own pathophysiologic importance. Further studies are recommended for better addressing the role of PRL in chronic heart failure patients.