The antioxidant activities (AA), reducing powers (RP) and total phenolic contents (TPC) of methanol and water extracts of three lichen species, Usnea longissima Ach., Usnea florida (L.) Weber ex Wigg. and Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. were determined in vitro. Of the extracts tested, the methanol extracts of Lobaria pulmonaria and Usnea longissima showed potent antioxidant activities. The methanol extract of L. pulmonaria also had the highest total phenolic contents (87.9 mg/g lyophylisate). For the methanol extract of this species, there was also a strong correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents. However, a similar correlation was not observed for U. longissima. Although the methanol extract of U. longissima had a lower phenolic content (38.6 mg/g lyophylisate), it exhibited potent antioxidant activity. On the other hand, there was a strong correlation between the reducing powers and the total phenolic contents of the extracts. The highest reducing power was determined for the methanol extract of L. pulmonaria.
We investigated the potential protective effects of montelukast (MLK) on cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)–induced tissue injury in vital organs — liver, heart, kidneys, and especially lungs — through inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokine response and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rats. The rat groups were (1) a 10-mg/kg MLK-treated CLP group; (2) a 20-mg/kg MLK-treated CLP group; (3) a 20-mg/kg MLK-treated, sham-operated group; (4) a CLP control group; and (5) a sham-operated control group. MLK treatment significantly decreased proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6) cytokine levels following CLP. The lipid peroxide level increased in the lung, heart, liver, and kidney tissues after CLP-induced sepsis, and myeloperoxidase activity increased in the lung, heart, and liver tissues. MLK attenuated this elevation in all tissues except the kidney, dose dependently. The glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly increased in the lung, liver, and kidney tissues after MLK treatment. MLK treatment after CLP also potentially reduced mortality. The lung and kidney tissues were the most protected by MLK under sepsis conditions. We can suggest that MLK reverses the systemic inflammatory reaction to polymicrobial sepsis and thereby reduces multiple organ failure.
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