In vitro safety assessment of the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) water leaf extract and arbutin in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) leaves have long been used in the traditional medicine of the Mediterranean region. One of their most bioactive constituents is the glycoside arbutin, whose presence makes A. unedo suitable as a potential substitute for bearberry [Arctostaphylos uva ursi (L.) Spreng] leaves, an herbal preparation widely used for treating urinary tract infections. The safety and biocompatibility of strawberry tree water leaf extract have not yet been documented well. This study estimated arbutin content in strawberry tree water leaf extract (STE) using high performance liquid chromatography. Furthermore, we performed an in vitro safety assessment of the 24 h exposure to three presumably non-toxic concentrations of standardized STE and arbutin in human peripheral blood lymphocytes using the apoptosis/necrosis assay, the alkaline comet assay, and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay. The STE was also tested for total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation. At a concentration corresponding to the maximum allowable daily intake of arbutin, the tested extract was not cytotoxic, had a negligible potential for causing primary DNA damage and even hindered micronuclei formation in lymphocytes. It also showed a valuable antioxidant capacity, and did not exert marked lipid peroxidation. These promising results represent a solid frame for further development of STE-based herbal preparations. Although arbutin generally had a low DNA damaging potential, the slowing down of lymphocyte proliferation observed after 24 h of exposure points to a cytostatic effect, which merits further research.

Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs (including dl-PCBs) in human milk samples collected from multiparae from Croatia and comparison with primiparae.

This study investigated the levels of 20 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including toxic dioxin-like PCBs and 7 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in 33 human milk samples collected in 2011 from multiparae living in Zadar, Croatia. Concentrations of ∑PCBs, ∑DDTs, ∑HCHs and HCB in samples ranged from 11.7 to 146.3, 8.7 to 89.2, 0.9 to 28.4, and

Lidocaine serum concentration after epidural administration in combination with morphine and fentanyl in rabbit--a preliminary study.

Morphine and fentanyl are often used as adjuvants in epidural anesthesia to prolong analgesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of addition of morphine or fentanyl to lidocaine on serum lidocaine concentrations in rabbits after epidural administration. During general anesthesia, rabbits of the group L received epidurally 2% lidocaine, rabbits of the group LM 2% lidocaine and morphine, and rabbits of the group LF 2% lidocaine and fentanyl. Blood for determination of serum lidocaine concentration was taken before anesthesia and in first 90 min after epidural administration. After 5, 10, and 25 min in the group L the lidocaine serum concentrations were the lowest, while in the group LM the lidocaine serum concentrations were the highest. Morphine and fentanyl did not cause significant changes of serum lidocaine concentration in rabbits and may be used as adjuvant in epidural anesthesia without significant increase in lidocaine absorption from epidural space.