Effect of aqueous extract from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi roots on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses during experimental infection with Trichinella spiralis in mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extract from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi roots (SB) on blood parameters and immune response during an experimental trichinellosis. A total of 60 mice infected with 200 Trichinella spiralis larvae were assigned into two groups. One of them served as a control and the second received SB extract orally from day 5 before infection to day 28 after infection (dpi). Blood was sampled at 7, 14, 21 dpi. Lymphocytes obtained from the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) at 7, 14, 21, and 28 dpi were counted, CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations were analyzed by flow cytometry, and lymphocyte proliferation was estimated with colorimetric (MTT) assay. The intensity of intestinal and muscle invasion was also studied. SB caused a remarkable elevation of banded neutrophils in the blood at 7 dpi. SB increased ConA-stimulated splenocyte proliferation and CD4+ and CD8+ splenocyte subsets at 14 and 21 dpi, whereas MLN lymphocyte subset stimulation involved only CD4+ at 14 dpi. After administration of SB a downward trend in the number of T. spiralis larvae in the muscle was observed. These results suggest that Scutellaria baicalensis root extract stimulates murine cellular immune response during intestinal phase of T. spiralis infection.

Concentrated green tea supplement: biological activity and molecular mechanisms.

AIM: This study was undertaken to determine the biological activity of a green tea supplement with respect to cells and erythrocyte membranes and the molecular mechanism of that activity. MAIN METHODS: The extract's activity was evaluated on the basis of its hemolytic, antioxidant and antiinflammatory actions. In addition, the extract's effect on the physical properties of the erythrocyte membrane was examined. We also conducted a detailed analysis of supplement ingredients using high-yield liquid chromatography, supplemented with standard tests of total content of polyphenols and flavonoids in the supplement. KEY FINDINGS: The study showed that green tea extract has a high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity with no deleterious effect on red blood cells. The extract modifies the physical properties of the erythrocyte membrane, apparently by binding to its hydrophilic region, with consequent rigidity of the hydrophobic region, increased hydration and a moderate increase in its resistance to changes in tonicity of the medium. Because the extract's components anchor in the polar region of membrane lipids, they are able to effectively scavenge free radicals in the immediate vicinity of the membrane and hinder their diffusion into its interior. SIGNIFICANCE: Green tea supplement at concentrations markedly exceeding the blood plasma physiological polyphenol concentrations has no destructive effect on the erythrocyte membrane. Due to the high content of flavan-3-ols, the supplement exhibits high biological activity, which makes it an alternative source of those substances to the commonly used infusion of green tea leaves.

Biophysical mechanism of the protective effect of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L. var. kamtschatica Sevast.) polyphenols extracts against lipid peroxidation of erythrocyte and lipid membranes.

The aim of the present research was to determine the effect of blue honeysuckle fruit and leaf extracts components on the physical properties of erythrocyte and lipid membranes and assess their antioxidant properties. The HPLC analysis showed that the extracts are rich in polyphenol anthocyanins in fruits and flavonoids in leaves. The results indicate that both extracts have antioxidant activity and protect the red blood cell membrane against oxidation induced by UVC irradiation and AAPH. The extracts do not induce hemolysis and slightly increase osmotic resistance of erythrocytes. The research showed that extracts components are incorporated mainly in the external part of the erythrocyte membrane, inducing the formation of echinocytes. The values of generalized polarization and fluorescence anisotropy indicate that the extracts polyphenols alter the packing arrangement of the hydrophilic part of the erythrocyte and lipid membranes, without changing the fluidity of the hydrophobic part. The DSC results also show that the extract components do not change the main phase transition temperature of DPPC membrane. Studies of electric parameters of membranes modified by the extracts showed that they slightly stabilize lipid membranes and do not reduce their specific resistance or capacity. Examination of IR spectra indicates small changes in the degree of hydration in the hydrophilic region of liposomes under the action of the extracts. The location of polyphenolic compounds in the hydrophilic part of the membrane seems to constitute a protective shield of the cell against other substances, the reactive forms of oxygen in particular.

Characterization of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of Solanum scabrum and Solanum burbankii berries.

The purpose of this research was to quantify and characterize phenolic compounds and to measure the antioxidant activity of Solanum scabrum and Solanum burbankii berries. The antioxidant activity of Solanum berry extracts was assayed by electrochemical and spectrophotometric methods, whereas liquid chromatography (LC)/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and ultra-performance LC-photodiode detector were used for identification and quantification of their polyphenols. Eighteen phenolic compounds were identified in these fruits. The presence of seven phenolic acid derivatives and two flavonols was reported for the first time. In both cultivars, the major compound was found to be anthocyanin petunidin-3-(p-coumaroyl-rutinoside)-5-O-glucoside. Additional anthocyanins in S. burbankii and S. scrabum berries were characterized as petunidin, delphinidin, and malvidin with the same glycosidic substitution pattern and acylation with p-coumaric and ferulic acids. S. scabrum was richer in phenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins, and was characterized by more powerful antioxidant activity than S. burbankii .

Characterization and content of flavonol derivatives of Allium ursinum L. plant.

The phenolic compounds were extracted from green and yellow leaves, stalks, and seeds of garlic ( Allium ursinum L.). The extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS). In total, 21 compounds were detected. The flavonol derivatives were identified on the basis of their ultraviolet (UV) spectra and fragmentation patterns in collision-induced dissociation experiments. On the basis of accurate MS and MS/MS data, six compounds were newly identified in bear's garlic, mainly the kaempferol derivatives. As far as the investigated parts of garlic are concerned, the kaempferol derivatives were found to be predominant in yellow leaves [2362.96 mg/100 g of dry matter (dm)], followed by green leaves (1856.31 mg/100 g of dm). Seeds contained the minimal phenolic compounds, less than stalks. The yellow leaves of A. ursinum possessed a much larger content of compounds acylated with p-coumaric acid than green leaves (1299.97 versus 855.67 mg/100 g of dm, respectively). The stalks and seeds contained much more non-acetylated than acetylated flavonoid glycosides with p-coumaric acid compounds (162.4 versus 62.82 mg/100 g of dm and 105.49 versus 24.18 mg/100 g of dm, respectively).

Metal ion-flavonoid associations in bilayer phospholipid membranes.

The complexation process of the transition (Cu(2+), Fe(2+)) and heavy (Pb(2+)) metals with flavonoids (quercetin and rutin) was studied. The investigation was conducted using the spectrophotometric method in a medium containing phosphatidylcholine liposome membrane and in methanol. The Benesi-Hildebrand method was used to determine the constants of flavonoid-metal complex formation of the "charge transfer" type, and the Gibbs free energy change for that process. It was found that both quercetin and rutin are very effective at complexing transition atoms in both methanol and in the lipid bilayer. Pb(II) ions were only complexed in methanol. A short discussion is given on the importance of metal coordination processes in the context of lipid membrane peroxidation.

Anthocyanin extracts with antioxidant and radical scavenging effect.

The antioxidative activity of three anthocyanin pigments, extracted from the fruits of chokeberry, honeysuckle and sloe, were studied. Lipid oxidation in the liposome membrane, induced by UV radiation, was evaluated with a thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances assay. The antioxidant efficiency of the studied compounds follows this sequence: chokeberry > sloe > honeysuckle. The extract concentrations at which a 50% reduction of phosphatidylcholine oxidation was observed, were respectively: 48, 54 and 60 mg/l. The end products of lipid membrane oxidation were evaluated using HPLC. It was found that the antioxidative potency of anthocyanin extracts is concentration-dependent. As shown by EPR technique the efficiency of the extracts to eliminate free radicals from the solution follows the order of the antioxidant activity.

Antioxidant activity of flavones from Scutellaria baicalensis in lecithin liposomes.

The antioxidant effect of a trihydroxyflavone extract from Scutellaria baicalensis on oxidation induced by ultraviolet light, was studied with phosphatidylcholine liposome membrane. Also, as standards, the antioxidative activity of baicalin, wogonin, baicalein and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was investigated. Comparison of the protective effects of the compounds studied against photoinduced lipid peroxidation in lecithin liposome membranes showed that: (1) the inhibitory effect of those compounds (at 1.2 mol% antioxidant content in liposomes) on TBA reactive materials from lipid peroxidation decreased in the order of baicalin > BHT approximately equal to Scutellaria baicalensis. These were found much greater than wogonin and baicalein; (2) the depressed effect of those compounds (at 1.1 mol% compounds content in liposomes) on the production of conjugated dienes (proportional to oxidation index) could be classified as follows: Scutellaria baicalensis approximately equal to baicalin > BHT, these three were found more active much greater than baicalein and wogonin. Results obtained by ESR measurement confirm that Scutellaria baicalensis extract and the BHT compound significantly depressed the effect of liposome oxidation. It was found that the new trihydroxyflavones of Scutellaria baicalensis, ensured a very satisfactory concentration-dependent protection of the liposome membrane against UV-induced oxidation. These findings suggest that some of the beneficial effects of the extract of the Scutellaria baicalensis can be mediated in certain diseases (for example in skin diseases) by their ability to scavenge free radicals and by their protective effect on lipid peroxidation caused by sunlight irradiation.

Antimutagenic activity of anthocyanins isolated from Aronia melanocarpa fruits.

Anthocyanins belong to the flavonoid family and are ubiquitous in plants, especially in flower petals and fruit peels. We established that anthocyanins isolated from fruits of Aronia melanocarpa markedly inhibited the mutagenic activity of benzo(a)pyrene and 2-amino fluorene in the Ames test. In the Sister Chromatid Exchanges (SCEs) test with human blood-derived lymphocytes cultured in vitro, a significant decrease of SCEs frequency induced by benzo(a)pyrene was observed in the presence of anthocyanins. In the case of mitomycin C the effect of anthocyanins on SCEs frequency was smaller but still noticeable. Anthocyanins markedly inhibited the generation and release of superoxide radicals by human granulocytes. The results suggest that the antimutagenic influence of anthocyanins is exerted mainly by their free-radicals scavenging action as well as by the inhibition of enzymes activating promutagens and converting mutagens to the DNA-reacting derivatives. These preliminary data seem to be important in the aspect of a possible antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic potency of anthocyanins commonly present in fruits and vegetables.