Antioxidant properties of essential oils. Possible explanations for their anti-inflammatory effects.

Pathogenesis and symptoms of inflammatory processes are accompanied and/or initiated by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The effects of essential oils on these processes have been studied with the aid of biochemical model reactions simulating these pathological events. It can be shown that Myrtol Standardized and Eucalyptus oil ameliorate inflammatory processes by interacting with aggressive oxygen radicals of the OH.-type and interfere with leukocyte activation. These activities partially allow attenuation of oxidative attack and damage introduced by infections or environmental impacts.

Efficacy and tolerability of myrtol standardized in long-term treatment of chronic bronchitis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Study Group Investigators.

This multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized parallel-group trial was conducted to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of myrtol standardized (MYS, Gelomyrtol forte, 3 x 300 mg) in the long-term treatment of patients with chronic bronchitis during the winter. 246 patients received the investigational treatments (MYS: 122, placebo: 124) for at least 1 month; 215 subjects (110 under MYS and 105 under placebo) were evaluable in terms of efficacy (exacerbation rate, the need for antibiotics, symptom scores and general well-being) for the protocol-defined 6 months of treatment. Statistically significantly (p < 0.01) more patients remained without acute exacerbation in the myrtol standardized group (72%) compared to the placebo group (53%). In the placebo group, there was an evident peak in the incidence of exacerbations during the third month of treatment, which was not observed in the active treatment group. In the MYS group, 51.6% of the patients with an acute exacerbation required antibiotics vs. 61.2% under placebo. 62.5% of the patients treated with antibiotics in the MYS group required them for < or = 7 days, whereas 76.7% of the patients in the placebo group treated with antibiotics for exacerbation needed antibiotics for > 7 days. Well-being (assessed in terms of general health and health impairment by cough and expectoration) was significantly better under treatment with MYS. The overall therapeutic efficacy evaluation scored higher for MYS. Therefore, it is concluded that long-term treatment with MYS is equally well tolerated as placebo but is clearly superior in efficacy in terms of protecting against acute exacerbations in patients with chronic bronchitis: it reduces the frequency and intensity of acute exacerbations, the need of antibiotics for them and the health impairment by cough and expectoration.

Studies on the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of chloral hydrate.

Chloral hydrate (CAS 302-17-0), a widely used hypnotic and sedative agent, is reassessed on its mutagenic and carcinogenic potential on the evidence of recently unpublished and already published data. The compound was administered to rats in a carcinogenicity study in the drinking water for 124 (males) or 128 (females) weeks at dosages of 15, 45 and 135 mg/kg b.w./day. The administration of chloral hydrate produced no effects on survival, appearance and behaviour. At necropsy, there was no evidence of treatment-related changes, histopathology revealed an increased incidence of hepatocellular hypertrophy at the high dose level. There was no indication for a carcinogenic potential of chloral hydrate examined as life-time carcinogenicity study in rats. Further, in several in vitro and in vivo test systems no indication for a mutagenic potential was detected. Still unresolved is the end-point 'aneuploidy'. However, no validated in vivo test systems are available at the moment to confirm the positive results observed in vitro under certain experimental conditions and to assess the relevance of the in vitro findings for man, above all, since chloral hydrate is quickly metabolised to trichloroethanol in man. Based on the extensive range of data available, it can be concluded, that chloral hydrate has to be considered as a safe and effective substance.

Interference of myrtol standardized with inflammatory and allergic mediators.

Myrtol standardized (Gelomyrtol/Gelomyrtol forte) inhibits the activity of 5-lipoxygenase of human basophil and eosinophil leukocytes and the formation of leukotriene C4 as well as 1.8-cineole (eucalyptol). An increase of prostaglandins (PGE2) in mucous membranes of teat cisterns after topical administration of TPA (tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) was inhibited. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed spasmolytic and broncholytic effects of Myrtol stand. After topical administration into the teat cisterns of the isolated bovine udder Myrtol stand. increased the surface temperature, comparable to effects of menthol.

[The plasma level of the neurotoxin 1-trichloromethyl-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (TaClo) in man after oral administration of chloral hydrate]. / Untersuchungen zu Plasmaspiegeln des Neurotoxins 1-Trichlormethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carbolin (TaClo) beim Menschen nach oraler Verabreichung von Chloralhydrat.

Chloral hydrate (CAS 302-17-0) is a widely used hypnotic and sedative agent. It was recently reported in the literature that a neurotoxin, TaClo (1-trichloromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline), may be formed in vitro from tryptamine (Ta) and chloral (Clo). Intraperitoneal administration of TaClo led to parkinson-like symptoms in the rat. Hence, the plasma levels of TaClo were determined at various time-points in 18 healthy volunteers in two periods each during a bioavailability study of several chloral hydrate preparations. The limit of quantitation for TaClo was 5 ng/ml. No TaClo could be determined in the plasma of the various volunteers following administration of human therapeutic doses of chloral hydrate. Hence, it is unlikely that TaClo will be formed in man after application of therapeutic doses of chloral hydrate to patients.

Transcriptional and translational regulation of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta account for the control of IL-1 in experimental yersiniosis.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) gene expression was investigated in mice following oral infection with Yersinia enterocolitica 08. In Peyer's patches (PP), the primary site of bacterial invasion, induction of IL-1 alpha mRNA was delayed when compared to IL-1 beta mRNA. As shown by in situ hybridization. IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA were found to be expressed within different cell types. These results indicate that expression of the two forms of IL-1 is regulated in a cell-specific manner at the transcriptional level. Moreover, IL-1 (alpha and beta) mRNA was increased in other organs such as spleen and lung. In spleens, IL-1 beta mRNA was found within the red pulp, and IL-1 alpha mRNA was located to the marginal zone confirming that differential expression of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA does not represent a tissue-specific event. However, as revealed by immunohistochemistry and measuring IL-1 activity in tissue homogenates, synthesis of IL-1 proteins was not detectable in spleens, unless mice were challenged with LPS. Because IL-1 synthesis was inducible in spleen cells following actinomycin D treatment, the results indicate that at distant sites of infection IL-1 (alpha and beta) mRNA is expressed but not translated into protein. It is concluded that cell-specific transcription of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta as well as dissociation between IL-1 mRNA and protein synthesis are two mechanisms effective in regulating the production of IL-1 during infection.

Antiviral activity of African medicinal plants.

Plants from Africa and Mauritius with a history of use in traditional medicine have been investigated for their antiviral activities. Extracts were tested against poliovirus, herpes simplex virus and rhinovirus in plaque reduction assays. Their general toxicity and effects on interferon production were also studied.

Studies on antigen specifity of immunoreactive arabinogalactan proteins extracted from Baptisia tinctoria and Echinacea purpurea.

In a series of experiments the cross-reactivity of antibodies raised against arabinogalactan proteins from Baptisia tinctoria and Echinacea purpurea was studied in order to prove the antigen specificity of the extracted glycoproteins/polysaccharides. Using the antigen-antibody reaction in a competitive ELISA it was evident that antibodies against glycoproteins from Baptisia tinctoria were specific because none of the other antigens like those from Echinacea purpurea, Thuja occidentalis, arabinogalactan from larch, LPS from E. coli 055:B5, and from Salmonella typhimurium were able to inhibit the antigen-antibody reaction. The same results were obtained from ELISA experiments with Echinacea purpurea. From these studies it was concluded that the antigenic regions of immunoreactive proteins from both medicinal plants show structural differences.

[Immunologically active glycoproteins of Baptisia tinctoria]. / Immunologisch aktive Glykoproteine aus Baptisia tinctoria.

Chromatographically purified fractions of aqueous-ethanolic extracts from Baptisia tinctoria roots contained a strong lymphocyte DNA synthesis-stimulating activity. Electrophoretic analysis of these fractions revealed four distinct protein bands with molecular masses of P1 = 58 kD; P4 = 31 kD; P5 = 26 kD; and P6 = 14 kD. They contained carbohydrate as determined by periodic acid Schiff staining. An estimation of the approximate amount of sugar was done by using human transferrin as a reference, this method revealed the following values: P1 = 27%; P4 = 12%; P5 = 14%; and P6 = 8%. The mixture of proteins and every single band were immunoreactive with a polyclonal antiserum against Baptisia proteins determined in immune and dot blots, respectively. Electrophoretically purified proteins were characterized by tryptic cleavage and determination of their amino acid content. They contained several common amino acids, predominantly aspartic acid, glutamic acid, threonine, and alanine. The content of glucosamine and/or galactosamine was less than 0.2 Mol-per cent. The four proteins revealed pI values between 5.3 and 4.7. Protein P 4 was immunochemically related to phytohemagglutinin but, in contrast to PHA-P, it exhibited no hemagglutinating activity and no leucagglutinating activity like PHA-L.

Stimulation der Immunantwort durch Inhaltsstoffe aus Baptisia tinctoria.

Contents of BAPTISIA TINCTORIA have been evaluated for their immunostimulating capability. Aqueous-ethanolic extracts had a low toxicity in regard to interference with the DNS-metabolism. Fractions of these extracts, which had been purified by column chromatography, exhibited a significant potential for lymphoblastoid transformation. It could also be shown that the production of antibodies against sheep red blood cells was enhanced by polysaccharide fractions from BAPTISIA TINCTORIA.

[On the influence of drugs on cellular mechanisms of resistance in the animal experiment/Activation of peritoneal macrophages of the mouse by a resistance stimulant on plant base (author's transl)]. / Uber die medikamentöse Beeinflussung zellulärer Resistenzmechanismen im Tierversuch. Aktivierung von Peritonealmakrophagen der Maus durch pflanzliche Reizkörper.

Enzyme activity of lysosomal hydrolases and phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus were investigated in peritoneal macrophages of mice. After the in vivo stimulation by a single treatment with thioglycolate broth or a host-resistance stimulant on plant base (Esberitox) the elicited peritoneal macrophage population exhibited characteristics of activation. These non specifically activated macrophages secreted higher amounts of lysosomal enzymes and demonstrated a higher phagocytotic activity than resident macrophages.

[On the influence of drugs on cellular mechanism of resistance in the animal experiment. III. Enhancement of leukocyte mobilisation in the mouse by a resistance stimulant on plant base (author's transl)]. / Uber die medikamentöse Beeinflussung zellulärer Resistenzmechanismen im Tierversuch. III. Steigerung der Leukozytenmobilisation bei der Maus durch pflanzliche Reizkörper.

The migration of leukocytes inot the peritoneal cavity of the mouse was studied under normal and under protein-caloric malnutrition conditions. After one week the malnourished mice exhibited pathological alterations as among others weight-loss, hypoproteinemia and after antigenic stimulation diminished leukocyte-migration into the peritoneal cavity. These normal or malnourished mice showed elevated migration rates after a single treatment with a resistance stimulant on plant base (Esberitox).

[Studies on granulocytes from inflammatory peritoneal exudates of the rat (author's transl)]. / Uber die medikamentöse Beeinflussung zellulärer Resistenzmechanismen im Tierversuch. II. Mitt.: Untersuchungen an Granulozyten aus entzündichen Peritoneal-Exsudaten der Ratte.

By the help of an animal model, the exudation of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity of the rat was studied. Exudates were provoked by a repeated challenge with sodium-caseinate. When compared after harvest of the exudates, the cells showed no differences in regard to the quantitative composition but there were definite ones of qualitative kind. By an antiinfectious drug therapy, phagocytosis and inactivation of staphylococcus aureus could be increased significantly, while the controls exhibited a decrease.

[Modification of a rheumatoid model disease using a benzopyron preparation]. / Beeinflussung einer rheumatoiden Modellkrankheit durch ein Benzopyron-Präparat.

The influence of a benzopyrone-preparation on the process of an experimental erysipelas in the rat, an animal model for the human rheumatoid arthritis, was studied. By plethysomometric determination of the paw volume it was shown that the swelling of the paw was significantly smaller in the benzopyrone-group than in the control-group. Furthermore it was observed that the administration of benzopyrones significantly reduced cornea-oedemas, a characteristic of the erysipelas model. The reduction of body weight, occurring during erysipelas disease, is not significantly improved by benzopyrone administration. The mortality, which is much smaller in the benzopyrone-group (30%) than in the matened control group (60%), demonstrates the good tolerance of the drug. The revealed results are described and the influence of benzopyrones on this rheumatoid disease is discussed.

[Modification by drugs of cellular and humoral resistance mechanisms in animal experiments. I. In-vitro studies of peritoneal leukocytes and serums in rats]. / Uber die medikamentöse Beeinflussung zellulärer und humoraler Resistenzmechanismen im Tierversuch. I. In-vitro-Untersuchungen an Peritoneal-Leukozyten und Seren der Ratte.

44 rats were fed p.o. with 3.1 ml/kg of Esberitox over a period of 5 days once daily, for increasing their non-specific resistance against injections. It could be shown that peritoneal leucocytes exhibited an increased phagocytosis of staphylococcus aureus. Besides the direct influence on the ingestion of this pathogenic microorganism, the leucocytes of the Esberitox group showed a stimulated uptake of oxygen when tested in vitro. The humoral defence seems also to be improved due to the elevated bactericidal activity of sera from Esberitox treated rats.