Two New Flavonoids and Biological Activity of Astragalus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Steud. ex A. Rich. Aerial Parts.

2 new flavonoid glycosides, kaempferol 3-O-(4",6"-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1) and quercetin 3-O-(4",6"-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), were isolated from the n-butanol soluble fraction of the methanol extract (BF) of Astragalus abyssinicus aerial parts, together with 3 known compounds, rutin (3), kaempferol 3-O-ß-D-rutinoside (4) and 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxyisoflavone (5). The structures of the isolated compounds were characterized on the basis of UV, NMR and negative ESI-MS analyses. The BF fraction showed in vitro weak antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, while 2 and 3 exhibited in vitro antioxidant activity higher than ascorbic acid using DPPH free radical scavenging activity method.

Leaf extract of Markhamia platycalyx: polyphenolic profile, acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and in vitro antioxidant activities.

10 polyphenols were identified from 80% aqueous methanol extract (AME) of Markhamia platycalyx [(Baker) Sprague] leaf. Their structures were characterized as protocatechuic acid (1), E-caffeic acid (2), E-methyl caffeate (3), isoverbascoside (4), verbascoside (5), jacraninoside-I (6), cosmosiin (7), cinaroside (8), luteolin (9) and apigenin (10) based on chemical and extensive spectral studies (UV, ESI-MS, (1)H, (13)C and 1D/2D NMR). Biological evaluation indicated that AME is non-toxic to the experimental animals. It exhibited a significant inhibition of oedema after 1, 2, 3 and 4 h for all examined doses (250, 500 and 1 000 mg/kg). In comparison with silymarin, the AME demonstrated a significant hepatoprotective effect in the form of high reduction in elevated ALT and AST serum levels in regard to paracetamol treated group. As well as, it revealed a marked significant scavenging activity by 62.9, 82.5, 88.3, 83.7 and 83.7%, for the concentrations 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/ml of the extract, respectively, relative to L-ascorbic acid (86.8%), which was used as a reference antioxidant drug.

Increase of lower esophageal sphincter pressure after osteopathic intervention on the diaphragm in patients with gastroesophageal reflux.

The treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease may be clinical or surgical. The clinical consists basically of the use of drugs; however, there are new techniques to complement this treatment, osteopathic intervention in the diaphragmatic muscle is one these. The objective of the study is to compare pressure values in the examination of esophageal manometry of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) before and immediately after osteopathic intervention in the diaphragm muscle. Thirty-eight patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease - 16 submitted to sham technique and 22 submitted osteopathic technique - were randomly selected. The average respiratory pressure (ARP) and the maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) of the LES were measured by manometry before and after osteopathic technique at the point of highest pressure. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney, and magnitude of the technique proposed was measured using the Cohen's index. Statistically significant difference in the osteopathic technique was found in three out of four in relation to the group of patients who performed the sham technique for the following measures of LES pressure: ARP with P= 0.027. The MEP had no statistical difference (P= 0.146). The values of Cohen d for the same measures were: ARP with d= 0.80 and MEP d= 0.52. Osteopathic manipulative technique produces a positive increment in the LES region soon after its performance.

Novel macrocyclic monoterpene glycosides from bioactive extract of Parkinsonia aculeata L.

Five novel macrocyclic monoterpene O-glycosides, parkinsenes A-E (1-5), and eleven known phenolic metabolites including three 3-O-glycosylflavonols (6-8), five C-glycosylflavones (9-13), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (14), esculetin (15), and diosmetin (16) were isolated from the leaves and small twigs of Parkinsonia aculeata L. (Fabaceae). Their structures were established by chemical and spectroscopic analyses (UV, ESI-MS, and 1D/2D NMR). The investigated 80 % aqueous methanol extract (AME) showed significant analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, and antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner using two different doses 250 and 500 mg/kg b. wt.

The importance of socioeconomic factors in symptoms of heartburn.

INTRODUCTION: Patients' socioeconomic status is rarely assessed during medical consultations. OBJECTIVE: To correlate patients' socioeconomic conditions with symptoms of heartburn. METHODS: 1184 patients who answered a questionnaire in three cities on the coast of the State of Sä Paulo, Brazil, were evaluated prospectively. Socioeconomic status was assessed using several criteria: number of bathrooms, consumer goods present at home, health conditions at home, comfort (cars and/or home helps), monthly family income and head of household's educational level. RESULTS: 583 patients (49.2%) reported occurrences of heartburn over the 30 days preceding the consultation, with frequencies ranging from five to thirty episodes over this period. Among patients from the city of Guarujá (low socioeconomic condition), 9.7% had never felt heartburn, while 65.7% reported occurrences, reaching statistical significance in relation to patients of medium socioeconomic condition (city of Sä Vicente) (p = 0.012). There was no difference between patients from medium socioeconomic condition and patients from Santos (high socioeconomic condition) (p = 0.997). There was a statistically significant difference in occurrence of heartburn between the patients with high socioeconomic condition and those of low socioeconomic condition (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The least favored socioeconomic status patients, as confirmed according to a variety of socioeconomic factors, presented greater incidence of heartburn than did the most favored social class.

Two new flavonol glycosides from leaves of Koelreuteria paniculata.

Two new flavonol glycosides were isolated from dried leaves of Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. (Sapindaceae) and characterized as 6,8-dihydroxy-afzelin and afzelin 3"-O-gallate, based on chemical and spectral evidences, in addition to nine known polyphenolic metabolites, including eight isolated for the first time from this species.