The effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the normal and ischemic rat heart.

Free radical-induced myocardial damage and impairment of vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation are amongst the most important mechanisms responsible for ischemic heart injury. Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GE) has been reported to improve blood circulation in the brain and have a beneficial impact on the cardiovascular system but its cardioprotective effects have not been elucidated yet. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of GE in 70% ethanol (1:5) administered orally to rats on the functions of isolated heart mitochondria under normal and ischemic conditions. Wistar rats were given GE or ethanol (solvent control) at a dosage of 0.32 mL/kg in drinking water for 10 and 18 days, while the control animals received untreated drinking water. Mitochondrial respiration rates were determined oxygraphically. Pyruvate and malate, succinate or palmitoyl-L-carnitine and malate were used as substrates. The GE treatment partially uncoupled mitochondrial oxidation from phosphorylation, reduced the generation of free radicals in the mitochondria, diminished the ischemia-induced V3 decrease and the degree of respiration stimulation by exogenous cytochrome c. Thus, these results indicate that GE exerts cardioprotective effects reducing ischemia-caused impairment of the functions of heart mitochondria.

The evaluation of formulations for the preparation of new formula pellets.

The aim of the study was to prepare pellets of maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) dry extracts by extrusion/spheronization method. The critical step of this process was the amount of added wetting liquid (water-ethanolic mixture) and the amount of extract in the formulation. The samples of pellets containing 30-50% of extracts were formulated: Pellets contained extracts of Ginkgo, Crataegi and Leonuri. The last sample was aimed at the formulation of pellets with the content of 30% of the mixture of Ginkgo, Leonuri and Crataegi extracts in a ratio of 1:5:6. The remainder of the solid compounds in all formulations was microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel® PH-101). It was not possible to find a way to adequately wet the formulations with the content of extracts higher than 30% because of the unsuitable properties of all three extracts used. On the basis of the experiments, pellets with mixtures of all three previously used extracts were prepared. These pellets showed perfect physico-mechanical properties: Hardness (10.00 ± 2.24 N), friability (0.06%), repose angle (20.99 ± 0.41°), flowability (6.97 ± 0.29 s/100g of pellets), sphericity (0.81 ± 0.05), compressibility index (4.65%), intraparticular porosity (0.09%) and interparticular porosity (45.11%), which predetermine them to other testing and usage (feeling into capsules, tableting, coating etc.).

Antiradical activities of the extract of Passiflora incarnata.

The objective of this work was to investigate the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of passionflower and the influence of the flavonoids they contain on the antiradical activity by DPPH* and ABTS* + methods. The data show that the Passiflora extract has not only sedative but also antiradical activity. The ethanol extract catches free radicals more effectively than the water extract. The strongest antiradical effect among the investigated flavonoids (chlorogenic acid, hyperosid, isovitexin, caffeic acid, quercetin, luteolin, orentin, rutin, scutelarein, vicenin and vitexin) was predetermined by vicenin, isovitexin and orentin. The antiradical activity increases with the increase of the concentration of the mentioned materials.

Free radical-scavenging activities of Crataegus monogyna extracts.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to investigate antiradical activity of aqueous and ethanolic hawthorn fruit extracts, their flavonoids, and flavonoid combinations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Total amount of phenolic compounds and the constituents of flavonoids were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant activity of Crataegus monogyna extracts and flavonoids (chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, vitexin-2O-rhamnoside, epicatechin, catechin, and procyanidin B(2)) quantitatively was determined using the method of spectrophotometry (diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.) radical scavenging assay and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)(ABTS.+) radical cation decolorization assay). The level of tyrosine nitration inhibition was determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Ethanolic hawthorn fruit extract contained 182+/-4 mg/100 mL phenolic compounds, i.e. threefold more, as compared to aqueous extract. The antioxidant activity according to DPPH. reduction in the ethanolic extracts was higher 2.3 times (P<0.05). The ABTS.+ technique showed that the effect of ethanolic extracts was by 2.5 times stronger than that of aqueous extracts. Tyrosine nitration inhibition test showed that the effect of ethanolic extracts was by 1.4 times stronger than that of aqueous extracts. The investigation of the antiradical activity of the active constituents in aqueous and ethanolic extracts revealed that epicatechin and catechin contribute to radical-scavenging properties more than other components. Procyanidin B(2) only insignificantly influenced the antiradical activity of the extracts. CONCLUSION: Both aqueous and ethanolic hawthorn extracts had antiradical activity, but ethanolic extract had stronger free radical-scavenging properties, compared to the aqueous extract. The antioxidant activity of the studied preparations was mostly conditioned by epicatechin and catechin. The individual constituents of both extracts had weaker free radical-scavenging properties than the combination of these substances did.

Antioxidative activity of Ginkgo, Echinacea, and Ginseng tinctures.

The aim of this study was to determine the amount of phenol compounds in tinctures prepared from Ginkgo leaves, Echinacea plant, and Ginseng roots and to evaluate the antioxidative activity of these preparations. We studied the antioxidative activity using the standard 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.) radical cation scavenging and tyrosine nitration inhibition tests. The obtained findings showed that the amount of phenol compounds in the studied tinctures differed and ranged between 114 to 340+/-29 gallic acid equivalents (GAE) mg/100 mL. We found that the amount of phenol compounds in Ginkgo tincture was statistically significantly greater than that in Echinacea or Ginseng tinctures. The effectiveness of Ginkgo tincture was by 52.7% (P<0.01) lower (from 1343+/-11 mumol catechin/100 mL solution to 637+/-64 catechin/100 mL solution), compared to Echinacea tincture. Ginseng tincture was the weakest scavenger of free radicals--only 8+/-1 micromol catechin/100 mL solution. The inhibition of tyrosine nitration was by 34% (P<0.01) greater in Echinacea tincture, compared to Ginkgo tincture (from 892+/-36 micromol catechin/100 mL solution to 588+/-17 micromol catechin/100 mL solution). Ginseng tincture was the weakest inhibitor of tyrosine nitration--only 20+/-8 micromol catechin/100 mL solution, which was by 44.6 times less, compared to Echinacea tincture. Tests on DPPH. radical cation scavenging and inhibition of nitration showed that the antioxidative activity of Echinacea tincture was statistically significantly greater compared to that of Ginkgo or Ginseng tinctures. This allows us to conclude that antioxidative activity is determined not only by phenol compounds, but also by a complex of other components of medicinal raw material.

[The analysis of tincture for improvement of blood circulation]. / Kraujotaka gerinancios tinkturos analize.

The article describes qualitative and quantitative analysis of tincture for improvement of blood circulation. Flavonoids have been qualitatively determined by methods of thin-layer chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography and color reaction with magnesium powder and concentrated hydrochloric acid. Ferments were identified with ferric ammonium sulphate solution; glycosides--with dimethylaminobenzaldehyde solution in sulphur acid; saponin--with lead subacetate solution; reductive materials - with silver nitrate ammoniacal solution; albumen--with ninhydrin solution; and caffeic acid--by method of thin-layer chromatography. An optimal spectrophotometrical method for determining the quantity of quercetin was applied. The refractive index, relative density, loss of drying and ethanol concentration were determined according to European Pharmacopoeia Requirements.

[Determination of ethanol concentration in tinctures]. / Etanolio koncentracijos nustatymas tinkturose.

Results are stated summing up the data of experimental verification of the technique used for determining the alcoholic stength in tinctures. Propose three methods for determining alcohol in tinctures (method distillation, method G. K. Koliakova and method P. Balovoine). Experiments showed, that the best method for determination of ethanol concentration in the tincture is the method of P. Balovoine based on dry residue and relative density.

[Production of galenic preparations from primrose]. / Galeniniu vaistu is primula veris gamyba.

Pharmaceutical herbal preparations have been used for the treatment of respiratory diseases for a long time. Alongside with the well known herbs, there are many of crude drugs to be investigated and applied in therapeutics. Respiratory diseases are mainly treated by chemical medicines and antibiotics. The use of herbal preparations is limited and they are usually used as supplemental ones. Application of modern research techniques, the new data on biochemical processes in plants, chemical compounds and information on their value in therapy were obtained. The pharmacological effect of the compounds could be foreseen from their chemical structure. The development of rational technology of pharmaceutical preparations follows the identification of active constituents in pharmaceutical herbs. The proper use of pharmaceutical herbs supplies the organism with the natural substances, thus preventing various diseases. The primrose dried raw material for use in production of pharmaceutical preparations has been analyzed and its quality was evaluated. The dry primrose extract was produced and tested, and later it was used in development of pharmaceutical preparations. The liquid primrose extract and two compositions of primrose syrup were developed. The stability of experimental preparations was evaluated.

[Qualitative and quantitative analysis of ammonium salts of hexamethylenetetramine and 1,10-phenanthroline]. / Heksametilentetramino ir 1,10-fenantrolino amonio drusku kokybine ir kiekybine analize.

By use of chemical and physicochemical methods the qualitative and quantitative analysis of bacteriostatic agents N-carbamoylmethylhexamethylenetetraamonium chloride (U-77) and 1-propyl-1,10-phenanthrolinium iodide (X-50) was carried out. The color reactions of these salts with various agents, e. g., concentrated acids, precipitants, oxidizers, indicators, ninhydrin, salts of heavy metals were assesssed. Some characteristic color reactions were found for analysis of quaternary ammonium salts. Experimental results indicate that interaction of N-carbamoylmethyhexamethylenetetraammonium chloride with silver nitrate leads to precipitate of the free silver in the form of a mirror under the proper conditions. It is a result of degradation of hexamethylenetetramine to formaldehyde and its oxidation, which is accompanied by reduction of silver ion to free silver. By use of thin-layer chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry the physicochemical properties of compounds were tested. The suitability of qualitative methods, such as argentometry, mercurimetry, iodometry, extraction photometric analysis was detected. The results suggest, that the most suitable and precise method is argentometry.

[Production technology and analysis of blood circulation improving tincture]. / Kraujotaka gerinancios tinkturos technologija bei analize.

This article deals with the production of the tincture of Ginkgo biloba leaves, Crataegus fruits and Leonurus herbs while selecting an extractant, the size of particles in a raw material and possible methods of extraction. The optimal composition of ethanol 70%, the particle size of Ginkgo biloba leaves and Crataegus fruits 2-3 mm of Leonurus herbs. The method of production--percolation, the flow speed 0.5 ml/min. The tincture was analyzed at determination of the sum of flavonoids in terms of quercetin, dry residue, relative density, ethanol concentration. The quality of the tincture was evaluated by high-pressure liquid chromatography and spectrophotometry. The stability of the tincture and its expiry date were fixed.

[Technology and analysis of Ginkgo tincture]. / Ginkmedziu tinkturos technologija ir analize.

The article deals with the production of the tincture of Ginkgo leaves while selecting extractant, the size of particles in a raw material, and the method of extraction. The optimal concentration of the extract was established by experiment and was the following: ethanol of 70 percent (V/V), the particles size 2-3 mm, the production method percolation, and the flow speed of tincture 0.5 ml/min. The tinctura was analyzed at determination of the sum of flavonoids in terms of quercetin, dry residue, the concentration of ethanol, density, refraction index, heavy metals and microbe pollution. The stability of the tincture and its expiry date were fixed.