Symphytum officinale L. (Boraginaceae; common name: comfrey) grows in Europe and Siberia (1) and is found abundantly in Turkey. Within the family Boraginaceae, the genus Symphytum contains several species which are used in traditional medicine as home remedies for inflammatory, rheumatic, and gastrointestinal diseases (2). The identification of both glycosides was performed by acid and alkaline hydrolysis as well as by comparison of their spectroscopic data (IR, UV, FAB-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 1H-1H 2D-COSY, 13H-1H 2D COSY, DEPT, HMBC and HOHAHA) with those previously reported for these compounds (6-8). Information in detail on the work-up procedure and copies of the original spectra are obtainable from the author of correspondence.

Bladder cancer (BC) is the sixth common cancer in the world, characterized by high recurrent rate and poor prognosis. In most cases is asymptomatic and it can take years until symptoms develop. What is more, diagnosed patients need regular re‐examinations which are invasive and expensive. Here, we used chromogenic substrates for the qualitative determination of specific activity of urine enzymes in healthy and bladder cancer patients. The peptide ABZ‐Met‐Lys‐Val‐Trp‐ANB‐NH2 appears at low absorbance at 410 nm. During the hydrolysis, a free ANB‐NH2 is released which has a maximum absorbance at 410 nm. Using the peptide, we identified proteolytic activity in the majority of urine samples collected from patients with diagnosed bladder cancer, while the proteolytic activity in urine samples from healthy volunteers was not detected.

Cancer development and progression is often associated with inflammation. Late diagnosis of inflammation that directly leads to the development of neoplasm - cancer is associated with a reduction in the chance of successful treatment or is associated with therapeutic difficulties. A panel of chromogenic substrates was used for the qualitative determination of specific activity of enzymes in urine of patients with confirmed inflammatory reaction and/or epithelial neoplasms in particular tumors at various stages of development. Urine of people with excluded inflammation was used as a control group. Proteolytic activity was determined in urine samples collected from patients with epithelial neoplasms and/or inflammation. What is more, we determine human neutrophil elastase (HNE) activity related inflammation based on the examination of urine samples. We suspect that the proteolytical activity of urine samples is due to neutrophil response to inflammation, which is directly related to cancer. This is the first study to determine elastolytic activity in bladder cancer urine samples. It supports wider use of urine for inflammation screening.

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