Effect of Carnosine on the Course of Experimental Urate Nephrolithiasis

The prospect of using the antioxidant dipeptide carnosine for the treatment of urate nephrolithiasis was evaluated. Urate nephrolithiasis was modeled in rats by intragastric administration of a mixture of oxonic and uric acids. Carnosine was administered intragastrically through a tube in a dose of 15 mg/kg. In rats treated with carnosine, the concentration of TBA-reactive products decreased by 1.4 times, the total antioxidant activity increased by 1.4 times, and catalase activity increased by 1.3 times. By the end of the experiment, the lactate dehydrogenate level in experimental rats was 2-fold lower than in the control, and the number of urate deposits decreased by 1.6 times with a concomitant alleviation of the inflammatory processes. Thus, the use of direct peptide antioxidant carnosine attenuated the manifestations of urate nephrolithiasis.

Comparative assessment of antioxidant properties of polyphenols from heartwood and Maackia amurensis callus culture

On long-term introduction to rats in dosage 100 mg/kg polyphenol complexes from heartwood and callus culture of Maackia amurensis Rupr. et Maxim. had a marked influence on the activity of free radical oxidation. Under conditions of induced oxidant stress both polyphenol complexes inhibited prooxidant activity directly affecting the products of free radical oxidation. Inhibiting influence on the production of oxygen active forms that is characteristic for both phytocomplexes is determined by inhibition of mechanisms both enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense.

[The search for new anti-ulcer agents from plants in Siberia and the Far East]

Screening tests on mice with the use of a model of neurogenic damage to the stomach revealed antiulcerative activity in extracts of Amoor cork tree, Pacific Bergenia, Lespedeza dichromatic, Leuzea carthamoides, sea-buckthorn, common aspen, Manchurian nuts, Serratula coronarius, and Scutellaria baicalensis. It was proved that an extract of aspen cork produces a marked antiulcerative effect on being administered to animals with "acute" ulcers and in treatment of chronic peptic ulcer. The study of various drug forms of Serratula coronarius extracts (prepared from the bark and the bark and shoots) in experiments on mice (neurogenic ulcer) and rats (Aspirin ulcer) revealed the most marked gastroprotective effect of oil extracts of bark and shoots. A high antiulcerogenic activity of extracts prepared from grass and roots of Scutellaria baicalensis was demonstrated.