The effect of Tropaeolum majus L. on bacterial infections and in vitro efficacy on apoptosis and DNA lesions in hyperosmotic stress.

Tropaeolum majus L. (T. majus) or nasturtium is a medicinal plant widespread in the areas with temperate climate, commonly used in culinary and in traditional medicine due to therapeutic properties. In the last few years, various effects of the flowers and leaves of this plant have been studied, but their benefits are not fully known. The aim of the study was to identify the phenolic compounds from T. majus edible flowers in relation with its antioxidant capacity and the antimicrobial activity against different bacteria and Candida albicans. In addition, the impact of natural extract on oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis was analysed on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to normotonic and hypertonic conditions. The major phenolic acids, identified by HPLC-RP with UV detection, were gallic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric and predominant flavonoids were quercetin, epicatechin and luteolin. The both fractions of T. majus were rich sources of polyphenols with marked antioxidant activity, evidenced by TEAC or DPPH methods. The extract exhibited a week antibacterial effect on some strains of streptococcus, without antifungal or antibacterial effect on gram negative bacteria. T. majus extract increased the p53 and Bcl-2 expressions and diminished the DNA lesions indicating the protective and antiapoptotic effects in vitro, on endothelial cells exposed to hyperosmotic stress. These experimental findings suggest that T. majus can exert some protection against bacterial infections and reduce apoptosis and DNA lesions in hypertonic conditions.

The influence of homocysteine and oxidative stress on pregnancy outcome.

Oxidative stress in utero-placental tissues plays an important role in the development of placental-related diseases. Maternal hiperhomocysteinemia is associated with placental mediated diseases, such as preeclampsia, spontaneous abortion and placental abruption. The aim of our study is to appreciate the clinical usefulness of the dosage serum homocysteine and malondialdehyde, as an oxidative stress marker, in the pregnancies complicated with risk of abortion or preterm birth. The study was performed at the Obstetric Gynecology Clinical Hospital Oradea from December 2009 until April 2010. It included 18 patients with risk of abortion (group 1), 22 with preterm birth (group 2). The results were compared with a control group composed by 14 healthy pregnant women. Serum homocysteine level was measured by an enzymatic method, on the instrument Hitachi 912, Roche, reagent: Axis-Shield Enzymatic. For proving the oxidative stress we established the level of malondialdehyde using a method with thiobarbituric acid TBA (Kei Satoh 1978) and the level of ceruloplasmin with the Ravin method .Also AST, ALT,CRP, iron, uric acid, urea were assessed.High level of homocysteine in both groups of study in comparison with the control group was found. The concentration of MDA was significantly higher in pregnancies complicated with risk of abortion and preterm birth compared to the control group (p=0.040, p=0.031). Considerable differences of ceruloplasmin concentration between group 1 and group 2 (p=0.045), and between group 2 and control group (p=0.034), was noticed but not any important differences between group 1 and control group (p=0.683). In women with risk of abortion or with preterm birth an oxidative stress and a hyperhomocysteinemia are present.