ABSTRACT
In this study, the antioxidant activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of four plants from the genus Cassia were evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), DPPH free radical scavenging, metal chelating activity, phosphomolybdenum reducing power, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, deoxyribose degradation and ß-carotene bleaching assay. The various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidant such as ascorbic acid. All the extracts showed antioxidant activity in the tested methods. Among the four species, Cassia auriculata has been found to possess highest activity in most of the tested models. In addition to the antioxidant activity, the total phenolics and flavonoids were measured in the extracts. The ethanolic extract exhibited highest phenolics and flavonoid contents and had also shown potent antioxidant activity in comparison to the aqueous extracts. The possible antioxidant mechanism of the ethanol extract can be due to its hydrogen or electron donating and direct free radical scavenging properties. Hence, the ethanol extract represents a source of potential antioxidants that could be used in pharmaceutical industries.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Cassia/chemistry , Antioxidants/chemistry , Ethanol/chemistry , Flavonoids/analysis , Free Radical Scavengers/pharmacology , Phenols/analysis , Phytochemicals/analysis , Phytochemicals/chemistry , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , beta Carotene/chemistryABSTRACT
Between November 1996 and January 1999 there was a nationwide shortage of intravenous multivitamins (MVI) in the US. We investigated whether patients who received parenteral nutrition (PN) with MVI three times per week instead of daily developed clinical manifestations of vitamin deficiency during that period. Five patients were enrolled in the study All received home PN as their sole source of nutrition for at least six months. None of these patients showed clinical manifestations of vitamin deficiency. In addition, compared to daily MVI administration, supplementation with MVI three times per week saved $1,000 per patient per year. This preliminary study raises the question of how much MVI is needed to prevent vitamin deficiency. Using MVI three days a week instead of daily would substantially reduce the cost of treatment and might reduce the risk of infections for these patients.
Subject(s)
Avitaminosis/etiology , Parenteral Nutrition, Home , Vitamins/administration & dosage , Adult , Aged , Dietary Supplements , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nutritional Requirements , Vitamins/supply & distributionABSTRACT
Pulmonary embolism remains a major problem in clinical practice. Pulmonary angiography remains the most accurate diagnostic procedure. Standard therapy includes heparin then warfarin, and now low molecular weight heparin. The role of prophylactic measures cannot be over emphasized.
