The effect of crataegus fruit extract and some of its flavonoids on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the heart

Antigenotoxic effect of hyperoside against Mitomycin C and hydrogen peroxide-induced genotoxic damage on human lymphocytes

Hyperoside is a flavonol glycoside isolated from various plant genera such as Hypericum and Crataegus. It has an important place in the human diet and is used medically to relieve pain and ameliorate cardiovascular functions. However, a comprehensive profile of the genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of hyperoside is not known. The current study aimed to investigate the genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of hyperoside against genetic damages induced by two genotoxins (MMC and H₂O₂) in human lymphocytes using chromosomal aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), and micronucleus (MN) assays in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro. Blood lymphocytes were incubated with 7.8-62.5 μg/mL concentrations of hyperoside alone and simultaneously with 0.20 μg/mL Mitomycin C (MMC) or 100 μM Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Hyperoside did not exhibit genotoxic potential in the CA, SCE, and MN assays. Moreover, it did not cause a decrease in mitotic index (MI) which is an indicator of cytotoxicity. On the other hand, hyperoside significantly decreased CA, SCE, and MN (except for MMC treatment) frequencies induced by MMC and H₂O₂. Hyperoside, increased mitotic index against both mutagenic agents at 24-h treatment when compared to positive control. Our results demonstrate that hyperoside exhibited antigenotoxic effects rather than genotoxic in vitro human lymphocytes. Therefore, hyperoside may be a potential preventive agent in inhibiting chromosomal and oxidative damage induced by genotoxic chemicals.

Botanical, Phytochemical, Anti-Microbial and Pharmaceutical Characteristics of Hawthorn (Crataegusmonogyna Jacq.), Rosaceae

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) is a wild edible fruit tree of the genus Crataegus, one of the most interesting genera of the Rosaceae family. This review is the first to consider, all together, the pharmaceutical, phytochemical, functional and therapeutic properties of C. monogyna based on numerous valuable secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, vitamin C, glycoside, anthocyanin, saponin, tannin and antioxidants. Previous reviews dealt with the properties of all species of the entire genera. We highlight the multi-therapeutic role that C. monogyna extracts could have in the treatment of different chronic and degenerative diseases, mainly focusing on flavonoids. In the first part of this comprehensive review, we describe the main botanical characteristics and summarize the studies which have been performed on the morphological and genetic characterization of the C. monogyna germplasm. In the second part, the key metabolites and their nutritional and pharmaceutical properties are described. This work could be an essential resource for promoting future therapeutic formulations based on this natural and potent bioactive plant extract.

Hyperoside suppresses BMP-7-dependent PI3K/AKT pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Background

New therapeutics for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are urgently needed and searching for new anti-cancer compounds in plant medicines may represent a promising approach. The present study was conducted to clarify the role of hyperoside (HP) and its underlying molecular mechanism in a cancer cell.

Methods

Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) protein expression was measure in Human HCC tissue. In in vitro experiments, HP effects on cell proliferation and the mechanism were investigated deeply.

Results

The result showed a higher expression of BMP-7 in human HCC compared to adjacent noncancerous counterparts, and that silencing of BMP-7 suppressed HepG2 cell proliferation, suggesting BMP-7 plays an anti-cancer role in HCC. Furthermore, we found that HP could induce cell cycle arrest in proliferating HepG2 cells at the G1 phase by decreasing BMP-7 expression and that the phosphorylation of AKT and expression of PI3K were significantly down-regulated upon treatment of HP or BMP-7 knockdown. In addition, silencing of BMP-7 abrogated the difference of AKT phosphorylation between cells with and without HP treatment.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that HP suppressed cell proliferation by inhibiting the BMP-7-dependent PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in HepG2 HCC cells, and either HP supplement or targeting BMP-7 might be a promising treatment against HCC.

Flavonoids as Anticancer Agents

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds subdivided into 6 groups: isoflavonoids, flavanones, flavanols, flavonols, flavones and anthocyanidins found in a variety of plants. Fruits, vegetables, plant-derived beverages such as green tea, wine and cocoa-based products are the main dietary sources of flavonoids. Flavonoids have been shown to possess a wide variety of anticancer effects: they modulate reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzyme activities, participate in arresting the cell cycle, induce apoptosis, autophagy, and suppress cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness. Flavonoids have dual action regarding ROS homeostasis—they act as antioxidants under normal conditions and are potent pro-oxidants in cancer cells triggering the apoptotic pathways and downregulating pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. This article reviews the biochemical properties and bioavailability of flavonoids, their anticancer activity and its mechanisms of action.

Hyperoside Attenuates Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Inhibiting Apoptosis in Rats

PURPOSE

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a serious complication of many clinical conditions, which may lead to liver or multiple organ failure. Hyperoside, a flavonoid compound, has been reported to protect against myocardial and cerebral injury induced by IR. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of hyperoside on hepatic IR injury in rats.

METHODS

Using the 70% hepatic IR injury model, we divided 32 male Wistar rats into 4 groups (n = 8): sham-operated, IR+saline (saline/p.o.), IR+vehicle (carboxy methyl cellulose/p.o.), and IR+hyperoside (50 mg/kg/d/p.o.). At 24 hours after reperfusion, blood and liver tissue were collected. The effects of hyperoside on hepatic IR injury were assessed through tests of serum transaminase, hepatic histopathology, and measurement of markers of oxidative stress and apoptosis.

RESULTS

Pretreatment with hyperoside protected the liver from IR injury by a reduction in serum aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase levels and a decrease in the severity of histologic changes. Hyperoside treatment also decreased the activity of malondialdehyde, increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, up-regulated the expression of heme oxygenase 1 and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, and reduced the apoptotic index after IR injury. A decrease in the expression of caspase-3 and an increase in the ratio of B cell lymphoma 2 to B cell lymphoma 2-associated X also were observed.

CONCLUSION

Hyperoside has a protective effect on hepatic IR injury in rats, which may be due to its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties.

HPLC-ED Analysis of Phenolic Compounds in Three Bosnian Crataegus Species

The aim of this work was the qualitative and quantitative determination of selected phenolic compounds in three Crataegus species grown in Bosnia. Crataegus plants are consumed for medicinal purposes and as foodstuff in the form of canned fruit, jam, jelly, tea, and wine. Two samples of plant material, dry leaves with flowers, and berries of three Crataegus species—Crataegus rhipidophylla Gand., Crataegus x subsphaericea Gand., and Crataegus x macrocarpa Hegetschw.—were analyzed. Twelve ethanolic extracts were isolated from the selected plant material using Soxhlet and ultrasound extraction, respectively. Soxhlet extraction proved to be more effective than ultrasound extraction. A simple and sensitive method, high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, HPLC-ED, was used for the simultaneous determination of phenolic acids and flavonoids in Crataegus species. The content of gallic acid in the extracts ranged from 0.001 to 0.082 mg/g dry weight (DW), chlorogenic acid from 0.19 to 8.70 mg/g DW, and rutin from 0.03 to 13.49 mg/g DW. Two flavonoids, vitexin and hyperoside, commonly found in chemotaxonomic investigations of Crataegus species, were not detected in the examined extracts. In general, leaves with flowers samples are richer in gallic acid and rutin, whereas the berries samples are richer in chlorogenic acid. Distinct similarities were found in the relative distribution of gallic acid among the three species. Extracts of C. x macrocarpa had the highest content of all detected compounds, while significant differences were found in rutin content, depending on the plant organ. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting content of phenolic compounds in Crataegus rhipidophylla Gand., Crataegus x subsphaericea, and Crataegusxmacrocarpa from Bosnia.

Depressor effect of the young leaves of Polygonum hydropiper Linn. in high-salt induced hypertensive mice

A novel chymase inhibitor has been reported to have depressor effect in salt-induced hypertension. Therefore, we examined the hypothesis that chymase inhibitory dried young leaves of Polygonum hydropiper (PPH) or young leaves extract of Polygonum hydropiper (PHE) could reduce salt-induced hypertension. In this study, 8-wk old wild-type mice were allocated into three experiments and experiment I included groups, I- normal water drinking, II- high salt (2% NaCl) water (HSW) drinking, and III- HSW plus PPH (500 mg kg^-1, orally) for 12-wk. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured at baseline and weekly up to wk-12. In experiment II, mice were given HSW for 12-wk followed by 8-wk treatment with PPH plus HSW (62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg kg^-1 for groups I, II, III and IV, respectively). BP and HR were measured at baseline and monthly until wk-12, following weekly for 8-wk. Experiment III comprised of four groups of mice for 12-wk HSW and 8-wk treatment with PHE plus HSW (2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg kg^-1 for groups I-IV, respectively). BP and HR were measured at baseline and monthly up to wk-12, following weekly for 8-wk. Significant reduction in BP and HR were observed in mice treated with PPH (500 mg kg^-1) compared to HSW control. PPH reduced BP and HR dose dependently in hypertensive mice and the higher dose showed maximum reduction. PHE at its maximum dose (20 mg kg^-1) significantly suppressed BP and HR. Over all, we found that the young leaves of Polygonum hydropiper suppressed salt-induced hypertension.

Hypolipidemic and cardioprotective benefits of a novel fireberry hawthorn fruit extract in the JCR:LA-cp rodent model of dyslipidemia and cardiac dysfunction

Hawthorn is a widely used herbal alternative medicine for the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases. However, the attributed health benefits, purported to be due to the presence of phenolic compounds, may depend on both the specific species and plant part. Studies to date investigating effects of hawthorn on heart disease(s) have used well-described European and/or Asian species, while little is known regarding the bioactivity of species native to North America. Six weeks of supplementation of both fireberry hawthorn berry (native Crataegus chrysocarpa) and English hawthorn leaf (C. monogyna, naturalized in North America) in the JCR:LA-cp rat, resulted in a significant reduction in heart weight, fasting LDL-C and improved heart function (p < 0.05). Fasting triglyceride and myocardial fibrosis were also reduced, but only by the berry extract. We demonstrate that both of the Canadian-sourced hawthorn extracts (introduced leaf and native berry) have cardioprotective benefits, likely via increased availability of nitric oxide.

YiXin-Shu, a ShengMai-San-based traditional Chinese medicine formula, attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing mitochondrial mediated apoptosis and upregulating liver-X-receptor α

Positive evidence from clinical trials has fueled growing acceptance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of cardiac diseases; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Here, we investigated the nature and underlying mechanisms of the effects of YiXin-Shu (YXS), an antioxidant-enriched TCM formula, on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury. YXS pretreatment significantly reduced infarct size and improved viable myocardium metabolism and cardiac function in hypercholesterolemic mice. Mechanistically, YXS attenuated myocardial apoptosis by inhibiting the mitochondrial mediated apoptosis pathway (as reflected by inhibition of mitochondrial swelling, cytochrome c release and caspase-9 activity, and normalization of Bcl-2 and Bax levels) without altering the death receptor and endoplasmic reticulum-stress death pathways. Moreover, YXS reduced oxidative/nitrative stress (as reflected by decreased superoxide and nitrotyrosine content and normalized pro- and anti-oxidant enzyme levels). Interestingly, YXS upregulated endogenous nuclear receptors including LXRα, PPARα, PPARβ and ERα, and in-vivo knockdown of cardiac-specific LXRα significantly blunted the cardio-protective effects of YXS. Collectively, these data show that YXS is effective in mitigating MI/R injury by suppressing mitochondrial mediated apoptosis and oxidative stress and by upregulating LXRα, thereby providing a rationale for future clinical trials and clinical applications.

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis of the anti-apoptotic effect of hyperin, which is mediated by Mcl-1 and Bid, in H2O2-injured EA.hy926 cells

Endothelial injury has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, including thrombotic disorders. Hyperin (quercetin-3-O-galactoside), a flavonoid compound and major bioactive component of the medicinal herb Apocynum venetum L., is commonly used to prevent endothelium dysfunction. However, its mode of action remains unclear. To the best of our knowledge, we have for the first time investigated the protective effect hyperin exerts against H2O2-induced injury in human endothelium-derived EA.hy926 cells using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)‑based quantitative proteomic analysis. The results showed that H2O2 exposure induced alterations in the expression of 250 proteins in the cells. We noted that the expression of 52 proteins associated with processes such as cell apoptosis, cell cycle and cytoskeleton organization, was restored by hyperin treatment. Of the proteins differentially regulated following H2O2 stress, the anti-apoptotic protein, myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), and the pro-apoptotic protein, BH3-interacting domain death agonist (Bid), exhibited marked changes in expression. Hyperin increased Mcl-1 expression and decreased that of Bid in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, flow cytometric analysis and western blot analysis of the apoptosis-related proteins, truncated BID (tBid), cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, Fas, FasL and caspase-8, demonstrated that the rate of apoptosis and the pro-apoptotic protein levels were decreased by hyperin pre‑treatment. In the present study we demonstrate that hyperin effectively prevents H2O2‑induced cell injury by regulating the Mcl‑1‑ and Bid-mediated anti‑apoptotic mechanism, suggesting that hyperin is a potential candidate for use in the treatment of thrombotic diseases.

Effect of crataegus usage in cardiovascular disease prevention: an evidence-based approach

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) is a widely used Chinese herb for treatment of gastrointestinal ailments and heart problems and consumed as food. In North America, the role of treatment for heart problems dates back to 1800. Currently, evidence is accumulating from various in vivo and in vitro studies that hawthorn extracts exert a wide range of cardiovascular pharmacological properties, including antioxidant activity, positive inotropic effect, anti-inflammatory effect, anticardiac remodeling effect, antiplatelet aggregation effect, vasodilating effect, endothelial protective effect, reduction of smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation, protective effect against ischemia/reperfusion injury, antiarrhythmic effect, lipid-lowering effect and decrease of arterial blood pressure effect. On the other hand, reviews of placebo-controlled trials have reported both subjective and objective improvement in patients with mild forms of heart failure (NYHA I-III), hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. This paper discussed the underlying pharmacology mechanisms in potential cardioprotective effects and elucidated the clinical applications of Crataegus and its various extracts.

The effect of hyperoside on the functional recovery of the ischemic/reperfused isolated rat heart: potential involvement of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathway

One of the leading causes of death in the world is ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-mediated acute myocardial infarction. There are a lot of Chinese traditional patent medicines, such as Xin'an capsules, Xin Xuening tablets, and so on, which have protective effects against myocardial I/R injury and have been routinely used in treating cardiac diseases for a long time in China. Hyperoside (Hyp) is the chief component of these medicines. This study investigated the action of Hyp in isolated myocardial I/R injury, as well as its possible mechanisms. Using the Langendorff model, isolated Sprague-Dawley rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia and 50 min of reperfusion. Cardiac function was measured, and infarct size was evaluated by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining at the end of the reperfusion. Coronary effluent was analyzed for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK). Myocardium was also measured for total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) was analyzed by Western blotting. We report for the first time that administration of Hyp before/after I/R significantly improved heart contraction and limited the infarct size and CK and LDH leakage from the damaged myocardium after I/R. The activity of SOD and the MDA content remarkably changed in the presence of Hyp as well. Phosphorylation of ERK was significantly increased in Hyp-treated hearts compared to controls (p<0.01). Hyp-induced ERK phosphorylation was inhibited by PD98059. We therefore conclude that Hyp can protect cardiomyocytes from I/R-induced oxidative stress through the activation of ERK-dependent signaling.

Hawthorn leaves flavonoids decreases inflammation related to acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in anesthetized dogs

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects and mechanisms of hawthorn leaves flavonoids (HLF) on acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in anesthetized dogs.

METHODS

The acute ischemia models were prepared by ligating left anterior descending (LAD) artery for 60 min. Qualified 15 male dogs were randomly divided into 3 groups with 5 in each group: blank control (treated with normal saline 3 mL/kg) group, HLF low dosage (5 mg/kg) group and high dosage (10 mg/kg) group, with an once injection through a femoral vein 5 min before reperfusion. Epicardial electrocardiogram was adopted to measure the scope and degree of myocardial ischemia. Simultaneously, neutrophil infiltration in infarct (Inf) and remote site (RS) of myocardial tissue was measured by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity assay. The serum interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factorα (TNF-α) content were quantified by radioimmuno-assay. Furthermore, expression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in Inf and RS tissue were detected by Western blotting technique.

RESULTS

Ischemia and reperfusion increased the MPO activity and IL-1 and TNF-α content. HLF (10 and 5 mg/kg) could significantly decrease the degree and scope of myocardial ischemia; markedly inhibit the increase of MPO activity, and IL-1 and TNF-α content induced by myocardial ischemia/infarction. Furthermore, HLF increased GRK2 expression and inhibited NF-κB expression in Inf tissue.

CONCLUSION

HLF could improve the situation of acute myocardial ischemia and inhibit the inflammation in anesthetized dogs, which might be due to its increasing effect on the GRK2 and NF-κB expressions.

Composition and health effects of phenolic compounds in hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) of different origins

Epicatechin, aglycons and glycosides of B-type oligomeric procyanidins and flavonols, phenolic acids and C-glycosyl flavones are the major groups of phenolic compounds in hawthorn (Crataegus spp). The total content of phenolic compounds is higher in the leaves and flowers than in the fruits. Procyanidins dominate in the fruits, whereas flavonol glycosides and C-glycosyl flavones are most abundant in the leaves. Genotype and developmental/ripening stage have strong impacts. Procyanidin glycosides and C-glycosyl flavones may be chemotaxonomic markers differentiating species and varieties of hawthorn. Future research shall improve the separation, identification and quantification of procyanidins with degree of polymerisation (DP) ≥ 6, procyanidin glycosides, C-glycosyl flavones and some flavonol glycosides. In vitro and animal studies have shown cardioprotective, hypolipidaemic, hypotensive, antioxidant, radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory potentials of hawthorn extracts, suggesting different phenolic compounds as the major bioactive components. However, the varying and insufficiently defined composition of the extracts investigated, as a result of different raw materials and extraction methods, makes comparison of the studies very difficult. Clinical evidence indicates that some hawthorn extracts may increase the exercise tolerance of patients with congestive heart failure. More clinical studies are needed to establish the effects of hawthorn, especially in healthy humans.

Direct effects of Vaccinium myrtillus L. fruit extracts on rat heart mitochondrial functions

In this study, the direct influence of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) rich in anthocyanins on the oxidative phosphorylation of isolated rat heart mitochondria was investigated in vitro. Higher concentrations of bilberry extracts concentration-dependently inhibited mitochondrial state 3 respiration (by 23%-61%) with pyruvate plus malate, mildly (by 1.2- to 1.3-fold) uncoupled the oxidative phosphorylation, and increased (by 30%-87%) the state 4 respiration rate in the presence of exogenous cytochrome c. Succinate oxidation was less affected. Pure anthocyanins, the main components of used extracts, malvidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-galactoside, and cyanidin-3-galactoside, had no effect on oxidation of pyruvate plus malate. A statistically significant decrease in H2 O2 production by mitochondria was found in the presence of bilberry fruit extracts. Our findings show that bilberry fruit anthocyanin-rich extracts possess direct effects on rat heart mitochondrial function in vitro. These findings give the first insights into the mechanism(s) of their action on cellular energy metabolism.

Protective effects of hyperoside against human umbilical vein endothelial cell damage induced by hydrogen peroxide

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hyperoside (Hyp) is a flavonoid compound isolated from Rhododendron ponticum L. leaves that elicits vascular protective effects in vitro. Treatment with Hyp has been found to attenuate endothelial cell damage induced by oxidative stress, but its mechanisms of action remain unclear. This study investigated the action of Hyp in an endothelial injury model induced by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), as well as its possible mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with H(2)O(2) alone or in combination with Hyp. The protective effects of Hyp against H(2)O(2) were evaluated, and the activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in Hyp was assayed in HUVECs.

RESULTS

Loss of cell viability as well as excessive cell apoptosis and death were observed in HUVECs after 18 h of challenge with H(2)O(2) (400μM); however, both cell apoptosis and death were attenuated in the Hyp-pretreated cells. Western blot analysis revealed that Hyp increased the expression of Bcl-2 but decreased that of Bax. In addition, Hyp induced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in HUVECs.

CONCLUSION

These observations provide preliminary evidence that Hyp protects HUVECs against H(2)O(2) damage, at least partially, by activating the ERK signaling pathway.

Lipidomics reveals multiple pathway effects of a multi-components preparation on lipid biochemistry in ApoE*3Leiden.CETP mice

BACKGROUND

Causes and consequences of the complex changes in lipids occurring in the metabolic syndrome are only partly understood. Several interconnected processes are deteriorating, which implies that multi-target approaches might be more successful than strategies based on a limited number of surrogate markers. Preparations from Chinese Medicine (CM) systems have been handed down with documented clinical features similar as metabolic syndrome, which might help developing new intervention for metabolic syndrome. The progress in systems biology and specific animal models created possibilities to assess the effects of such preparations. Here we report the plasma and liver lipidomics results of the intervention effects of a preparation SUB885C in apolipoprotein E3 Leiden cholesteryl ester transfer protein (ApoE*3Leiden.CETP) mice. SUB885C was developed according to the principles of CM for treatment of metabolic syndrome. The cannabinoid receptor type 1 blocker rimonabant was included as a general control for the evaluation of weight and metabolic responses.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

ApoE*3Leiden.CETP mice with mild hypercholesterolemia were divided into SUB885C-, rimonabant- and non-treated control groups. SUB885C caused no weight loss, but significantly reduced plasma cholesterol (-49%, p<0.001), CETP levels (-31%, p<0.001), CETP activity (-74%, p<0.001) and increased HDL-C (39%, p<0.05). It influenced lipidomics classes of cholesterol esters and triglycerides the most. Rimonabant induced a weight loss (-9%, p<0.05), but only a moderate improvement of lipid profiles. In vitro, SUB885C extract caused adipolysis stimulation and adipogenesis inhibition in 3T3-L1 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

SUB885C, a multi-components preparation, is able to produce anti-atherogenic changes in lipids of the ApoE*3Leiden.CETP mice, which are comparable to those obtained with compounds belonging to known drugs (e.g. rimonabant, atorvastatin, niacin). This study successfully illustrated the power of lipidomics in unraveling intervention effects and to help finding new targets or ingredients for lifestyle-related metabolic abnormality.

Uncoupling and antioxidant effects of ursolic acid in isolated rat heart mitochondria

Ursolic acid (1), a pentacyclic triterpene acid, is one of the major components of certain traditional medicinal plants and possesses a wide range of biological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and cytotoxic activities. Furthermore, 1, when present at 1.6-5 ng/mL concentrations in commercial herbal preparations used for patients with cardiac disorders, may also exert pro-cardiac activities. There are several indirect suggestions that the cardioprotective mechanism of ursolic acid could involve the mitochondria; however the mechanism of action is still not known. Therefore, the effects of 0.4-200 ng/mL ursolic acid (1) on the functions of isolated rat heart mitochondria oxidizing either pyruvate and malate, succinate, or palmitoyl-l-carnitine plus malate were investigated. It was found that 1 induced a statistically significant uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. A statistically significant decrease in H₂O₂ production in the mitochondria was observed after incubation with 5 ng/mL 1. This effect was comparable to the effectiveness of the classical uncoupler carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone. Since mild mitochondrial uncoupling has been proposed as one of the mechanisms of cardioprotection, the present results indicate that ursolic acid (1) has potential use as a cardioprotective compound.

The evaluation of formulations for the preparation of new formula pellets

The aim of the study was to prepare pellets of maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) dry extracts by extrusion/spheronization method. The critical step of this process was the amount of added wetting liquid (water-ethanolic mixture) and the amount of extract in the formulation. The samples of pellets containing 30-50% of extracts were formulated: Pellets contained extracts of Ginkgo, Crataegi and Leonuri. The last sample was aimed at the formulation of pellets with the content of 30% of the mixture of Ginkgo, Leonuri and Crataegi extracts in a ratio of 1:5:6. The remainder of the solid compounds in all formulations was microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel® PH-101). It was not possible to find a way to adequately wet the formulations with the content of extracts higher than 30% because of the unsuitable properties of all three extracts used. On the basis of the experiments, pellets with mixtures of all three previously used extracts were prepared. These pellets showed perfect physico-mechanical properties: Hardness (10.00 ± 2.24 N), friability (0.06%), repose angle (20.99 ± 0.41°), flowability (6.97 ± 0.29 s/100g of pellets), sphericity (0.81 ± 0.05), compressibility index (4.65%), intraparticular porosity (0.09%) and interparticular porosity (45.11%), which predetermine them to other testing and usage (feeling into capsules, tableting, coating etc.).