Unraveling the chemical profile, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, cytotoxic potential of different extracts from Astragalus caraganae

Six extracts (water, ethanol, ethanol-water, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and n-hexane) of Astragalus caraganae were studied for their biological activities and bioactive contents. Based on high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), the ethanol-water extract yielded the highest total bioactive content (4242.90 µg g-1 ), followed by the ethanol and water extracts (3721.24 and 3661.37 µg g-1 , respectively), while the least total bioactive content was yielded by the hexane extract, followed by the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts (47.44, 274.68, and 688.89 µg g-1 , respectively). Rutin, p-coumaric, chlorogenic, isoquercitrin, and delphindin-3,5-diglucoside were among the major components. Unlike the dichloromethane extracts, all the other extracts showed radical scavenging ability in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay (8.73-52.11 mg Trolox equivalent [TE]/g), while all extracts displayed scavenging property in the 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay (16.18-282.74 mg TE/g). The extracts showed antiacetylcholinesterase (1.27-2.73 mg galantamine equivalent [GALAE]/g), antibutyrylcholinesterase (0.20-5.57 mg GALAE/g) and antityrosinase (9.37-63.56 mg kojic acid equivalent [KAE]/g) effects. The molecular mechanism of the H2 O2 -induced oxidative stress pathway was aimed to be elucidated by applying ethanol, ethanol/water and water extracts at 200 µg/mL concentration to human dermal cells (HDFs). A. caraganae in HDF cells had neither a cytotoxic nor genotoxic effect but could have a cytostatic effect in increasing concentrations. The findings have allowed a better insight into the pharmacological potential of the plant, with respect to their chemical entities and bioactive contents, as well as extraction solvents and their polarity.

Screening for Chemical Characterization and Pharmacological Properties of Different Extracts from Nepeta italica

Plants from the Nepeta genus have been proved to possess different pharmacological properties, among which are antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cytotoxic effects. Nepeta italica is a medicinal plant traditionally used for its analgesic effects, and in the present study, the phytochemical composition and biological effects of hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), ethanol, ethanol-water, and water extracts of the aerial parts were investigated for determining phenolic composition, antioxidant effects, and anti-inflammatory effects in isolated mouse colon specimens exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Polar extracts were the richest in terms of phenolic compounds, especially rosmarinic acid. In parallel, ethanol, ethanol-water, and water extracts were also the most effective as scavenging/reducing and enzyme inhibition agents, especially towards cholinesterases and α-glucosidase, and in inhibiting the LPS-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) gene expression in mouse colon. This poses the basis for future in vivo investigations for confirming the protective effects of polar extracts of N. italica against inflammatory bowel diseases.

Major Depressive Disorder Comorbid Severe Hydrocephalus Due to Arnold Chiari Malformation in an Apathetic Patient

Objective

Arnold Chiari Malformation (ACM) is a disorder of embryologic development that is characterized of herniation of the cerebellar structures through the foramen magnum by four types. ACM type 1 (ACM 1) consists in cerebellar tonsil herniation, which is sometimes associated with other abnormalities, including syringohydromyelia, hydrocephalus and skull base alterations. To date, five cases of psychiatric disorders comorbid with ACM-I have been reported. We here present an apathetic patient have delayed diagnosis ACM-I and severe hydrocephalus and comorbid major depressive disorder.

Case

A 36-year-old, male patient who is married and two children, was admitted to hospital with don’t want to make anything, despondency, thoughts of have an incompetency, uselessness and want to death, tiredness, weakness complaints which are increased day by day last 2 months. He was diagnosed with major depression after the psychiatric evaluation and hospitalised. He has unwillingness, tiredness and headache complaints which are started when he was 20 years old and he used antidepressant, anxiolytic, and low dose anthipsycotic drugs under psychiatrist control at this years. In radiologic evaluation, Arnold Chiari type 1 and severe hydrocephalus was detected in brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Discussion

ACM 1 is related to hydrocephalus as a result of posterior fossa hypoplasia and causes spinal injury by obstruction to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow at the foramen magnum. Apathy is a common yet often overlooked symptom in hydrocephalus. This symptom may be a significant obstacle for cognition and quality of life and is associated with increased level of depression.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Starch/PCL composite nanofibers by co-axial electrospinning technique for biomedical applications

BACKGROUND

In this study, starch and polycaprolactone (PCL), composite nanofibers were fabricated by co-axial needle electrospinning technique. Processing parameters such as polymer concentration, flow rate and voltage had a marked influence on the composite fiber diameter. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical and physical properties (such as density, viscosity and electrical conductivity) of the composite fibres were evaluated. Moreover, a cell culture test was performed in order to determine their cytotoxicity for wound dressing application.

RESULTS

The effect of starch ratio in the solution on the properties and morphological structure of the fibers produced was presented. With lower starch concentration values, the fibers have greater ultimate tensile strength characteristic (mostly 4 and 5 wt%). According to SEM results, it can be figured out that the nanofibers fabricated have good spinnability and morphology. The mean diameter of the fibers is about 150 nm. According to results of cell culture study, the finding can be determined that the increase of starch in the fiber also increases the cell viability.

CONCLUSIONS

Composite nanofibers of starch/PCL have been prepared using a co-axial needle electrospinning technique. PCL was successfully encapsulated within starch. Fiber formation was observed for different ratio of starch. With several test, analysis and measurement performed, some important parameters such as quality and effectuality of each fiber obtained for wound dressing applications were discussed in detail.

Mastalgia Due to Degenerative Changes of the Spine

BACKGROUND

Mastalgia is a common and enigmatic condition; the cause and optimal treatment are still inadequately defined. Cervical radiculopathy, which is the result of cervical nerve root pathology often caused by spaceoccupying lesions such as cervical disc herniation, spondylosis, or osteophytosis, is frequently encountered in physical therapy.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of vertebral pathologies in patients with non-cyclic mastalgia and the efficacy of conservative treatment of these pathologies on relieving breast pain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred patients were included in the study, all with breast pain continuing throughout the day and lasting at least three months. Breast and axillary physical examinations, mammographic and/or ultrasonographic evaluations were normal in all the patients. The patients' pain levels were scored using a visual analog scale (VAS). Cervical and thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on all the participants.

RESULTS

Among 96 patients that had pathological findings on magnetic resonance imaging (96%), 49 women had diffuse annular bulging of the cervical spine, and 47 had cervical disc protrusion. Additionally, 12 patients had thoracic disc protrusion. At the end of the three-month period, the patients who were given only conservative treatment returned for follow-up evaluations. According to the VAS scores, five patients had mild to moderate improvement, 55 showed significant improvement, and 29 achieved complete remission.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors concluded that if none of the known causes of breast pain are found in a patient, the patient should be evaluated for vertebral pathologies.

Prone versus supine position during surgery for supracondylar humeral fractures

PURPOSE

To compare the supine versus prone position in closed reduction and percutaneous pinning for supracondylar humeral fractures in children in terms of patient characteristics and outcome.

METHODS

Records of 25 girls and 31 boys aged 4 to 9 (mean, 6.7) years who underwent closed reduction and percutaneous pinning in the prone (n=27) or supine (n=29) position each by one experienced surgeon for supracondylar extension type-3 humeral fractures were reviewed.

RESULTS

The prone and supine groups were comparable in terms of patient characteristics and outcome, except that anaesthesia duration was shorter in surgery performed in the supine position (46.7 vs. 37.2 minutes, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In surgery for supracondylar humeral fractures in children, patient position affected only the duration of anaesthesia.

The effects of scalpel, harmonic scalpel and monopolar electrocautery on the healing of colonic anastomosis after colonic resection

Purpose

In our study, the effects of harmonic scalpel, scalpel, and monopolar electrocautery usage on the health and healing of colon anastomosis after resection was investigated.

Methods

In this study, 120 female albino Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups each containing 40 rats. Group A, resection with scalpel; group B, resection with monopolar electrocautery; group C, resection with harmonic scalpel. The groups were divided into 4 subgroups consisting of 10 rats and analysed in the postoperative 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days. Anastomotic bursting pressures, hydroxyproline levels and histopathological parameters were surrogate parameters for evaluating wound healing.

Results

The tissue hydroxyproline levels did not show any significant difference between the groups and subgroups. The mean bursting pressure of group A on the 5th day was significantly higher than groups B and C (P < 0.001). When the fibroblast and fibrosis scores were evaluated, scores of group C on the 5th day were significantly higher than the other groups, but the results of bursting pressures and biochemical parameters did not support the fibroblast and fibrosis scores. There were not any significant differences between the groups in other histopathologic parameters.

Conclusion

The use of monopolar electrocautery needs more attention since the device causes tissue destruction. The obliterating effect of harmonic scalpel on luminal organs is an important problem, especially if an anastomosis is planned. Despite the disadvantages of scalpel, its efficacy on early wound healing is better than the other devices.

Effect of ankaferd blood stopper in experimental peritoneal adhesion model

PURPOSE

Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) is an herbal extract attained from 5 different plants. It has the therapeutic potential to be used for the management of external hemorrhage and controlling gastrointestinal bleedings. To date, the safety of ABS for intraperitoneal usage is not clear. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness and safety of using intraperitoneal ABS in an experimental peritoneal adhesion model.

METHODS

Twenty-four male Wistar Albino rats were used in the study. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: saline, ABS, and control. On the 10th day, all rats were euthanized. The adhesions were evaluated by Nair's macroscopic adhesion classification, and pathologically evaluated with Zühlke's microscopic adhesion classification.

RESULTS

macroscopic and microscopic comparison between the ABS and saline groups did not show any differences but both the ABS and saline groups were superior when compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

ABS was found equally effective with saline on the abdominal adhesions and to no effect on postoperative adhesion formation.

Evaluation of intraabdominal adhesion generating potentials of ankaferd and calcium alginate used as hemostatic agents

AIM

The present study aimed to evaluate intra-abdominal adhesion generating potential of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS), which was used as postoperative hemostatic agent in the rats that underwent surgery, in comparison with Ca-alginate.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Totally, 30 rats were randomized into 4 groups. In the control group, 1x1 cm peritoneum was removed from the right lower quadrant after cecal abrasion. In the other two study groups, the same procedure was performed after Ankaferd Blood Stopper and Ca-alginate application respectively. RESULTS were evaluated both histopathologically and by adhesion scoring methods. All results underwent statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Comparing overall results, no statistically significant difference was found between the sham, control, ABS and Ca-alginate groups (p = 0.099). Paired group comparisons revealed no statistically significant difference between the sham group and the control, ABS, and Ca-alginate groups (p = 0.222, p = 0.222, and p = 0.833 respectively). It was observed that there was no statistically significant difference between the control and ABS groups (p = 0.505), but there was a statistically significant difference between the control and Ca-alginate groups with Bonferroni correction (p = 0.028). Histopathological examination revealed no statistical difference between the groups.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, intra-abdominal adhesion generating potentials of Ca-alginate and ABS were experimentally evaluated and macroscopic and microscopic comparisons revealed no significant difference between sham, control, Ca-alginate, and ABS groups (Fig. 8, Ref. 36). Text in PDF www.elis.sk. agent.

Comparative in vivo evaluations of curcumin and its analog difluorinated curcumin against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity

Curcumin, a polyphenol, has pharmacological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer features. In this study, we have performed comparative in vivo evaluations of CDF (curcumin difluorinated) and curcumin in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1) Control; (2) Cisplatin (7 mg/kg body wt, intraperitoneal as a single dose); (3) Cisplatin and CDF (50 mg/rat/day; for 12 days); (4) Cisplatin and curcumin (50 mg/rat/day), for 12 days). Cisplatin treated rats exhibited kidney injury manifested by increased serum N-urea and creatinine (P < 0.001). Kidney from cisplatin treated rats also exhibited significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-isoprostane levels (P < 0.001). Treatment with CDF and curcumin prevented the rise in serum N-urea, creatinine, MDA and 8-isoprostane as compared to experimental control group in kidney (P < 0.05). Compared to curcumin, CDF had greater potential in suppressing cisplatin-induced pro-inflammatory factors NF-κB and COX-2 as well as downstream markers Nrf2 and HO-1 (P < 0.05) in kidney. The analysis on anion transport markers (OAT1 and OAT3) showed a similar trend (CDF > curcumin). CDF could reduce the expression of multi-drug resistance markers OCT1, OCT2, MRP2 and MRP4 to a much greater extent than curcumin (P < 0.05). We also demonstrate that CDF influenced the expression of p-mTOR, p-p70S6K1, p-4E-BP1 and p-Akt. These data suggest that CDF can potentially be used to reduce the chemotherapy induced nephrotoxicity thereby enhancing the therapeutic window of cisplatin. The results also proved that compared to curcumin, CDF has superior protective effect in nephrotoxicity.

Is valproate promising in cardiac fatal arrhythmias? Comparison of P- and Q-wave dispersion in bipolar affective patients on valproate or lithium-valproate maintenance therapy with healthy controls

Autonomic nerve system is considered to be involved in bipolar affective disorder (BAD) or to be influenced by valproate monotherapy or valproate plus lithium combination. We planned to assess the effects of medication on atrial and ventricular conduction. The electrocardiography records were performed with eligible 15 patients with valproate, 20 patients with lithium-valproate combination use in euthymic phases of BAD and 20 healthy participants. The blood valproate and lithium concentrations in groups were in normal range. The difference in P maximum, P minimum, maximum QTc were statistically insignificant. Minimum QTc (F = 6.36; df = 2; P = 0.003) and QT dispersion (QTD) (F = 5.57; df = 2; P = 0.006) were statistically significant among the groups. There were no significant differences between patient groups among ECG parameters. Minimum QTc was significantly longer in combination group than healthy controls, whereas the QTD values in both patient groups were significantly lower than controls'. Valproate might have some preventive effects on ventricular electrical conduction because of lower QTD in both patient groups. Thus, valproate seems to have cardiac conduction stabilizing effect beside its mood stabilizing aspect. However, this finding needs replication and further corroboration in well-designed studies.

The role of octreotide versus placebo in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To evaluate the effectiveness of a single administration of intravenous octreotide infusion in preventing post-ERCP pancreatitis and progressing hyperamylasemia.

METHODOLOGY

One hundred and twenty (71 female, 59 male) patients who had been diagnosed with pancreaticobiliary pathology were included in this study. 100 microgram (0.1 mg) octreotide diluted in 60 mL normal saline solution administered intravenously 60 minutes prior to the procedure and continued during the procedure and after the procedure. Placebo was given in 87 patients. Patients were assessed clinically and serum amylase level was also measured before the procedure and 3, 12, and 24 hours after the procedure. We define clinical pancreatitis as serum amylase level greater than 4-5 times in conjunction with clinical assessment.

RESULTS

Hyperamylasemia was assessed in 14 of 33 (42.4%) administered octreotide patients. Clinical findings of pancreatitis were observed in 5 of these 14 (11.5%) patients. Hyperamylasemia was also assessed in 41 of 87 (47.1%) administered placebo patients. Clinical findings of pancreatitis were observed in 10 of these 41 (11.5) patients. There were no significant differences between the groups, statistically (p > 0.05) (Pearson chi-square test).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this trial indicate that a single administration of intravenous octreotide infusion does not prevent ERCP-induced pancreatitis and effect serum amylase level.

The effect on survival of thoracic duct ligation in experimental peritonitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

It has been shown that systemic bacteremia and endotoxemia in peritonitis is mainly related to lymphatic transport via the thoracic duct. This study was performed to investigate the effect on mortality of thoracic duct ligation in experimental peritonitis.

METHODOLOGY

Thirty dogs were divided into three groups. Groups I, II, and III were control, unligated, and ligated thoracic duct peritonitis groups, respectively. Liver biopsy, blood and peritoneal fluid cultures were taken and survival time was established.

RESULTS

Bacteria were determined in peritoneal fluid in all animals in groups II and III. Growing bacteria numbers in group III were two times higher than in group II. While bacterium was grown on blood cultures in all group II animals, growing was determined on blood cultures in only 2 animals in group III. Diffuse necrosis was determined in the liver of 2 animals who died within 72 hours in group II. Another 8 animals had minimal focal necrosis in their livers. Diffuse and progressive necrosis was determined in the liver of all animals in group III. The difference between liver necrosis in group II and group III was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

This experimental study demonstrates that thoracic duct ligation decreases bacteremia rates clearly but that mortality increases significantly.