Paronychia argentea Lam. protects renal endothelial cells against oxidative injury.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Paronychia argentea Lam. (Arabic tea), a species spontaneously growing in the Mediterranean area, has been used in folk medicine for renal diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess the antioxidant and protective potentials of different extracts from P. argentea in the renal endothelial NRK-52E cell line by several in vitro models, including a H2O2-induced oxidative stress model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Aerial parts of P. argentea were collected in Algeria and ethanolic, chloroform and aqueous-chloroform extracts were obtained from dried plant. The antioxidant capacity was first evaluated by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and the free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) methods. Cellular viability was assessed by MTT method assay after 24 h pretreatment with each extract concentration in order to measure protection from H2O2 in NRK-52E cells. Furthermore, the intracellular ROS formation (DCFH-DA method), was determined. RESULTS: P. argentea showed in vitro antioxidant activity as evidenced by the ORAC and DPPH assays. No cell toxicity was observed for concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 µg/mL of each extract. These extracts also exerted a protective effect on renal endothelial cells simultaneously treated with 1 mM H2O2. Chemical composition for the aqueous-chloroform extract was assessed by HPLC, as it showed the strongest antioxidant ability, revealing three quercetin derivatives as the main phenolic compounds. CONCLUSION: P. argentea is endorsed with antioxidant activity and protects renal endothelial cells against oxidative damage which indicate this plant constitutes a potential treatment for renal diseases.

Geographic origin influences the phenolic composition and antioxidant potential of wild Crataegus monogyna from Spain.

CONTEXT: Crataegus monogyna Jacq L. (Lind.) (Rosaceae) is used in folk medicine as a sedative, aerial parts being rich in polyphenols with antioxidant ability. OBJECTIVES: To study the variation in polyphenolic composition and antioxidant ability of spontaneous samples of C. monogyna in order to assess the relationship among these variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aerial parts of C. monogyna were collected from nine different locations in central Spain and extracted with methanol after drying. Total polyphenols were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method using gallic acid (GA) as standard. Sixteen polyphenolic compounds (11 flavonoids and 5 phenolic acids) were identified and quantified by reversed-phase HPLC in one single analysis. The antioxidant ability was evaluated by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and the free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) methods. Linear correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between the studied variables. RESULTS: Total polyphenol content ranged between 117.729 ± 0.011 and 204.286 ± 0.015 mg GAE/g extract, depending on the geographic origin. No relationship was found between total polyphenols and antioxidant ability by the ORAC or DPPH methods. Chromatographic analysis yielded lower amounts of polyphenols (23.3-143.26 mg/kg), as only flavonoids and phenolic acids were quantified. All the samples exhibited antioxidant activity between 1.32 ± 0.08 and 2.76 ± 0.007 µmol Trolox equivalents/mg and IC50 from 0.82 ± 0.10 to 3.76 ± 0.67 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: A statistically significant relationship between flavonoids and phenolic acids content and the antioxidant potential obtained by the ORAC method for C. monogyna samples was proven.

Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants used in the treatment of CNS disorders in Sinai Peninsula, Egypt.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: To provide ethnopharmacological information on the use of medicinal plants for central nervous system (CNS) disorders in the Sinai Peninsula region (Egypt). To collect, analyze and evaluate the ethnobotanical knowledge about these medicinal plants in the Sinai Peninsula region with 61,000 km (2) and 379,000 inhabitants. METHODOLOGY: Field work was concluded between March 2006 and May 2011, using semi-structured questionnaire with 700 informants (mean age: 59; 100% men) from 117 settlements of 17 Bedouin tribes. Transects walks in wild herbal plant collection areas and bibliographical review on the collected plants were also conducted. The Interview/ Inhabitant index (I/P), relative importance value of the species and informant consensus factor (FIC) were calculated. RESULTS: More than 300 species were traditionally used in folk medicine in the Sinai Peninsula; 101 of these species belonging to 40 families were reported as useful in different CNS disorders. Only 5 species are endemic of the studied area. All different part plants were used, leaves and aerial parts being the most frequent. Most of the remedies were prepared as infusion or decoction, while oral administration was the most common way to be used. Gastrointestinal (67.3%) and respiratory disorders (42.57%) were also reported as frequently treated by Bedouins with herbal remedies. CONCLUSIONS: Only a few species were found where the traditional use is supported by pharmacological studies (Acacia nilotica, Achillea fragrantissima, Ajuga iva or Mentha longifolia). No bibliographical references in the scientific literature were found for 22 species (21.78%); finally, several studies were published with different pharmacological activities than those provided by Bedouins.

Effectiveness of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil as antihypotensive agent in primary hypotensive patients and its influence on health-related quality of life.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: To study Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) essential oil effect on primary hypotension and its influence on both physical and psychological aspects responsible for health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-two patients with diagnosed hypotension were recruited between March 2007 and September 2008 for a prospective study for 72 weeks in a Spanish pharmacy. Clinical evaluation was carried out through the control of systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels (SBP and DBP, respectively) according to the International Standards from the American Society of Hypertension. HRQOL data were recorded within the SF-36 Health Survey(®) questionnaire throughout the study. Statistical methods were used as the essential tools to evaluate the effectiveness of Rosemary essential oil and to assess the relationship between the two quantitative variables (SBP and DBP) and scores from physical and mental summary components (PSC and MSC) obtained from the SF-36 Health Survey. RESULTS: Both blood pressure variables of SBP and DBP reflect the clinically significant antihypotensive effect of Rosemary essential oil that was maintained throughout the treatment period. After validation of the use of the questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha coefficient>0.82), statistically significant differences have been found between pre-treatment and post-treatment values of PSC and MSC, which indicate an improvement in these parameters that is directly related to the variation in blood pressure values. CONCLUSIONS: The increase achieved in blood pressure values after administration of Rosemary essential oil is clinically significant. The results obtained from this prospective clinical trial prove the effectiveness of statistical methodology as a new approach to explain the antihypotensive effect of rosemary essential oil and its relationship with the improvement in patients' quality of life.

HPLC isolation of antioxidant constituents from Xanthoparmelia spp.

A chromatographic method is described for the purification and characterization of secondary lichen substances with biological activity. A simple reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method with gradient elution has been developed that allows the determination and isolation of salazinic, usnic and stictic acids from lichen samples in a single run and the quantification of every acid in the tested extracts. The antioxidant activity of both the isolated compounds and the respective lichen belonging to Xanthoparmelia genus was determined by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay; their effect as free radical scavengers, effect on cell survival by the 3(4,5-dimethyltiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium reduction assay and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate method were tested on U373 MG human astrocytome cell line. Both lichens extracts and all isolated compounds protected U373 MG cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced damage, suggesting that they could act as antioxidant agents in those neurodegenerative disorders associated with oxidative damage, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Isoscutellarein 7-glucosyl(1-->2)xyloside from sixteen species of Sideritis.

A new flavone diglycoside isolated from the aerial parts of Sideritis lutoela was characterized as isoscutellarein 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2) beta-D-xylopyranoside by means of spectral analyses, applying 2D NMR techniques and NOE experiments. Its presence in 15 other species of Sideritis is described.