BackgroundHordeum vulgare L. (HV or barley) is used by traditional healers to treat various inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, without the knowledge of pharmacologic rationale behind its actions. This study was designed to explore the potential scientific mechanism(s) that could explain the use of Hordeum vulgare in traditional medicine as a treatment for various inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.MethodsA crude extract and its three fractions were prepared from HV and screened for the inhibition of platelet aggregation and various metabolites of cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism as well as for its effects on certain antioxidant enzymes. Platelet aggregation was monitored using turbidometric principle, AA metabolism through radioimmunoassay and antioxidant enzymes by commercial kits using spectrophotometer.ResultsResults show that HV exhibited activities against all human platelet agonists used except adenine diphosphate, and inhibited both COX and LOX pathways of AA metabolism. It also elevated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). However, these activities were distributed in various fractions of HV. Aqueous fraction was most potent in elevating SOD activity; chloroform fraction had concentrated compounds responsible for COX inhibition while n-hexane seems to possess compounds responsible for LOX inhibition as well as the only fraction enhancing the activity of GPx.ConclusionsThese results suggest the likely mechanisms responsible for observed anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular effects of HV in traditional medicine.
In a survey of attitudes towards remuneration for blood donation in Leeds, the following questions were completed by 489 adults (N), of whom 89 were regular donors, 105 were lapsed donors and 295 had never donated: 'If you needed blood, would you be content if the donor had been paid: yes/no'. 'If I were paid enough I would be less/equally/more likely to donate blood '. The majority (67.7%) of potential recipients would be content if the donor had been paid. The prospect of remuneration made 16.4% of respondents more likely and 14.5% less likely to donate. As the difference is less than 2% of N, offering remuneration may not lead to a significant increase in the number of donations. A statistical comparison (chi2 = 45, d.f. = 2, P << 0.001) showed associations between the responses 'more likely to donate if paid' and 'content to receive blood from a paid donor', and between the responses 'less likely to donate if paid' and 'not content to receive blood from a paid donor'. Age distributions are presented for the donor status categories and the responses to the main questions. Of 129 people who stated a minimum, nonzero payment that would persuade them to donate, 103 (80%) suggested pound sterling 10 or less.
Context: Perovskia atriplicifolia Benth (Labiantae) has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine for anti-inflammation in Pakistan; this prompted us to isolate anti-inflammatory compounds from this plant. Objective: The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize the anti-inflammatory principles from Perovskia atriplicifolia. Materials and methods: The CHCl 3 -soluble fraction of the methanol extract of the whole plant on column chromatography yielded compounds 1-6. The anti-inflammatory potential of the compounds 1-6 was evaluated by Leukotriene C4 (LTC 4 ) Release Assay which was performed according to the established protocol. LTC 4 in the supernatant of each well was measured using an ELISA kit (Cayman Chemical Co., Ann Arbor, MI). Results: The bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of the CHCl 3 soluble fraction of the methanol extract of Perovskia atriplicifolia furnished six compounds, abrotanone (1), abrotandiol (2), (+)-pinoresinol (3), (+)-syringaresinol (4), (+)-lariciresinol (5), and (+)-taxiresinol (6). The compounds (1-6) were evaluated for their inhibitory activities on LTC 4 release. Among the tested compounds, (+)-taxiresinol (6) exhibited the most potent inhibition of LTC 4 release with an IC 50 value of 3.4 ± 0.09 mM followed by compounds 4, 5, 3, and 2 with an IC 50 value ranging from 7.9 ± 0.04 to 17.2 ± 0.07 mM. Abrotanone (1) showed the lowest inhibition of LTC 4 release with an IC 50 value of 35.1 ± 0.05 mM (the positive control, zileuton, 0.77 ± 0.05 mM). Conclusion: Compounds 1-6 were found to possess inhibitory activity and seem to have potential therapeutic effect on inflammatory diseases.
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