In vitro analysis of the properties of Beiqishen tea.

OBJECTIVE: Chinese Beiqishen tea was studied in an in vitro test system. METHODS: Phytochemical screening, trace element analysis, and the analysis of antioxidant properties were carried out. Characteristic constituents were determined by chromatographic (capillary gas chromatography and GCQ Ion Trap mass spectrometry) and spectrometric (ultraviolet and UV-VIS) methods. Element concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Antioxidant capacity was studied by spectrophotometric and luminometric techniques using a Berthold Lumat 9501 luminometer. Hydrogen-donating activity, reducing power, and total scavenger capacity were measured. RESULTS: Total polyphenol content was 20.77 +/- 0.52 g/100 g of drug; total flavonoid content was 0.485 +/- 0.036 g/100 g of drug; and tannin content was 9.063 +/- 0.782 g/100 g of drug. Caffeine content was 1.08 mg/100 g of drug. Essential oils were identified by gas chromatography: (+)-limonene (21%), p-cymene (1.7%), estragol (3.2%), beta-ocimene (1.4%), and thymol (2.6%). Metallic ion analysis showed significantly high concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Ti in the drug. Antioxidant and scavenger properties were identified as a function of concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The tea infusion contained some non-desirable trace elements and caffeine in addition to polyphenols and tannins in high concentrations. Therefore, the consumption of this tea may involve risks.

Effects of black radish root (Raphanus sativus L. var niger) on the colon mucosa in rats fed a fat rich diet.

The effect of black radish root (Raphanus sativus L. var niger) was studied on the structure and redox state of the colon mucosa in fat-rich diet fed rats. The epithelial lining disrupted, the number of enterocytes and the goblet cells reduced and inflammatory cells were observed in rats fed with a fat-rich diet. After treatment with granules from black radish root all of the histopathological changes and parameters of the redox state caused by the fat-rich diet were improved. The structure of the epithelial cells was similar to the controls, the number of goblet cells increased and no inflammation was observed.

The in vitro effect of Helichrysi flos on microsomal lipid peroxidation.

Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench has long been known as a medicinal plant in Europe for its cholagogue, choleretic, hepatoprotective and detoxifying activities. Antioxidant properties of its main phenolics, flavonoids may be supposed to be responsible for these effects. The aim of this study was to verify the antioxidant properties of lyophilized water extracts with different polyphenol and flavonoid contents from inflorescences. The effects of natural extracts on microsomal fraction of rat liver were examined. Enzymatically induced lipid peroxidation and NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity in liver microsomes were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Results were compared with the activity of silibinin flavonoid, the main agent of well-known milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.). The natural plant extracts diminish the enzymatically induced lipid peroxidation in a concentration-dependent manner and reduce the cytochrome c dose dependently. The sample with higher polyphenol and flavonoid contents showed more stimulation of NADPH cytochrome c reductase. The lyophilized Helichrysi flos extracts proved to be more effective compared to silibinin in examined concentrations.

Oxidative damage in alcoholic liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: The metabolic effects of alcohol are due both to its direct action and to that of its first metabolite, and can also be connected with the changes in redox state. Differences in ethanol distribution, bioavailability and hepatic metabolism can provide insight into the protective and predisposing factors in alcoholism, as well as gender differences of alcohol toxicity. Oxidative stress occurs following various conditions of ethanol consumption. DESIGN: Twenty-six Caucasian patients with alcoholism and 32 healthy, abstinent controls of both sexes were investigated with special regard to reduction-oxidation status and ad hoc free-radical-antioxidant balance. METHOD: Plasma free SH-group concentration, H-donating ability, and reducing power property were measured by simple spectrophotometric methods. Total scavenger capacity was determined by a newly developed chemiluminometric method in plasma and erythrocytes. RESULTS: Alcoholics showed a decrease of free SH-group concentration, hydrogen-donating ability and an increase of reducing power property in plasma. A decreased total scavenger capacity of erythrocytes and plasma of alcoholic patients, combined with gender differences, could be detected. CONCLUSIONS: Alcoholic dependence causes gradual exhaustion of the antioxidant capacity of erythrocytes, therefore this non-invasive measurement may be useful as a follow-up of the evolution of alcoholic liver disease. The results also suggest a gender susceptibility of alcohol toxicity.

In vitro antioxidant properties of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench.

The choleretic, hepatoprotective and detoxifying activities of the inflorescence of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench (everlasting, immortelle: Asteraceae-Helichrysi flos syn. Stoechados flos) have been known for a long time from herbal medicine in Hungary. Antioxidant properties of its main phenolics, flavonoids, are supposed to be responsible for these effects. The aim of this study is to verify the antioxidant properties of the lyophilized water extracts from inflorescences, and to define the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in Helichrysi flos water extracts as well as in lyophilized water extracts. The hydrogen-donating ability and the reducing power property of the lyophilizates were determined spectrophotometrically; their OH&z.rad; scavenging activity was measured, in the H(2)O(2)/OH&z.rad;-luminol-microperoxidase system, by a chemiluminometric method. Results were compared with the activity of the flavonoid silibinin, the main agent of the well-known milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.).

Membrane stabilising effects of natural polyphenols and flavonoids from Sempervivum tectorum on hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase system in hyperlipidemic rats.

The extensive role of the microsomal mixed-function oxidase (MFO) system in the oxidation of endo-and xenobiotics, in the detoxication, in the generation of reactive free radicals and in the decomposition of the end products of lipid peroxides is well documented in the literature. Steatotic liver is a very frequent damage with different etiology. Drug metabolising reactions are suppressed in fatty liver, in which pathologically increased production of reactive oxygen intermediates may lead to the peroxidation of microsomal membrane lipids and to the change of membrane bound enzyme activities because of overwhelmed protective mechanisms. The subnormal activity of the MFO system may diminish the non specific resistance of the organism. Therefore we have studied the effects of natural flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds on the mixed-function oxidases. Antioxidant, O(2)(-&z.rad;) and &z. rad;OH scavenger properties of Sempervivum tectorum extract (STF1) were proved by EPR spectroscopic and chemiluminometric techniques. Potential bioactive constituents were determined by chromatography (HPLC, TLC) and spectrometric (UV, UV-VIS) methods. In the present study we reflect on the membrane stabilising, antioxidant and lipid metabolism modifying effects of this extract. It was established that activities of NAD(P)H reductase and content of cytochrome P450 were normalised in liver microsomes of hyperlipidemic rats, if the animals were treated with STF1 (2 g/bwkg for 9 days in drinking water parallel with fat-rich diet feeding). Fatty acid composition, examined by HRGLC analysis, was changed beneficially. NADPH induced lipid peroxidation was also decreased in microsomes in in vivo and in vitro experiments. At the same time the STF1 had no significant influence on MFO system in normolipidemic animals and on cytochrome b5 concentration of microsome fractions of hyperlipidemic rats.

The in vitro effect of dandelions antioxidants on microsomal lipid peroxidation.

Dandelions have long been used in herbal medicine for their choleretic, diuretic, antiinflammatory, appetite-stimulating and laxative properties. An antioxidant property can be supposed as a basis of their-therapeutic effects. To understand the mechanism of the drug's action, the effects of natural extracts on a microsomal fraction of rat liver were examined. The extracts diminished the enzymatically induced-lipid peroxidation and reduced the cytochrome c with and without NADPH in a concentration dependent manner.

Biologically active compounds of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench.

The biologically important components of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench are the flavonoids, which may have choleretic, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial properties. During our study, we examined the flavonoids present in the lyophilizate of the inflorescence of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench (Helichrysi flos, syn. Stoechados flos) and in the tea made from the inflorescence via qualitative and quantitative analysis, and determined the flavonoid content. We examined the properties of the lyophilizate antioxidant, and measured the H-donor activity, reducing power property and total scavenger capacity via spectrophotometric and chemiluminescent methods. We compared the results with those of the agent present in milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.), the silibinin flavonoid. Regarding the H-donor activity, our lyophilizate was determined to be more effective than the silibinin at the same amounts; on the other hand, its reducing power property and total scavenger capacity was lower than that of silibinin. The flavonoid content, which is responsible for the lyophilizate effect, was found to be 0.47% according to our measurements; it is, therefore, possible that an extract with such a concentration of flavonoids may be of therapeutic benefit.

[Evidence based reevaluation of primary screening tests]. / A primer szürövizsgálatok bizonyítékokon alapuló értékelése.

Preventive medicine consists of all efforts which delay the development of diseases (primary prevention), make early detection possible (secondary prevention) as well as rehabilitation of patients (tertiary prevention). The aim to reduce premature morbidity and mortality and increase life expectancy and quality of life. The authors summarize the secondary preventive interventions of asymptomatic individuals namely primary screening methods, with special regard to so-called "western diseases": hypertension, hyperlipidemia, colorectal cancer, neoplasms of breast, cervix, prostata, also considering type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis on the basis of the supporting evidence and the recommendation of certain national committees.

[Oral rehydration therapy in the management of diarrhea]. / Orális rehidrációs terápia a hasmenések kezelésében.

Importance of oral rehydration solution in the treatment of diarrhoeal diseases in well-known. It can be applied in all types of diarrhoea, practically, without any side effects, complications, such hypernatraemia is avoidable. It has proved to be effective for the dehydration, caused by diarrhoea, and for the diarrhoea, too. The authors review the position of oralis rehydration liquid in the therapy of diarrhoea, the pathophysiology and epidemiology of diarrhoeal diseases. The therapeutic practices, suitable composition of oral rehydration solution, cost-benefit considerations, further possible indications of solution are discussed as well. The authors give background information about the modification of the composition of oral rehydration solution, recommended by the World Health Organization, and call the attention to the importance of the alteration of health officer's view about the oral rehydration therapy.