Abstracts

Phytoestrogen, postmenopausal symptoms

Sunday, July 03, 2011 04:20

Side effects and contraindications connected with hormonal replacement therapy in climacterium resulted in search for new methods of softening menopausal symptoms. The aim of the following study was to evaluate, based on literature analysis, the effectiveness of phytohormonal therapy as an alternative method of relieving the symptoms of menopausal period and preventing the diseases connected with deficiency of estrogens after menopause.

Phytoestrogens therapy reduces the number and strength of the vasomotor symptoms and improves serum lipid profile. Moreover phytoestrogens show beneficial effects on bone tissue metabolism, skin and mucous membranes condition and are applicable in chemoprevention. This therapy is an effective...

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Resveratrol, COPD

Sunday, July 03, 2011 04:20

Airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is believed to be insensitive to corticosteroids. However, corticosteroids are recommended in COPD (GOLD stages III, IV) with frequent exacerbations. Resveratrol has anti-inflammatory properties and could be an alternative to corticosteroids in COPD therapy. We investigated the effect of dexamethasone versus resveratrol on the release of COPD-related inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF, MCP-1) and...

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Mediterranean diet, diabetes mellitus

Sunday, July 03, 2011 04:12

After decades of epidemiological, clinical and experimental research, it has become clear that consumption of Mediterranean dietary patterns rich in olive oil have a profound influence on health outcomes, including obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes mellitus. Traditionally, many beneficial properties associated with this oil have been ascribed to its high oleic acid content. Olive oil, however, is a functional food that, besides having high-monounsaturated (MUFA) content, contains...

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Antidiabetic potential of selected medicinal plant extracts

Friday, January 29, 2010 06:52

Among the Cree of northern Quebec, the disproportionately high rate of diabetic complications is largely due to the cultural inadequacy of modern therapies for type 2 diabetes. To establish culturally adapted antidiabetic treatments, our team identified several candidate plant species used by the Cree to treat symptoms of diabetes.

An initial study focused on 8 species and revealed that most possess significant in vitro antidiabetic activity. The purpose of the present study was to...

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Aloe vera in scabies treatment

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 06:54

Preliminary study of effectiveness of aloe vera in scabies treatment. In an open, non-comparative study carried out between August and December 2002 at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 5 patients with scabies were successfully treated with crude gel of Aloe vera; thereafter the efficacy of the extract was compared with that of benzoate lotion among 30 patients. Sixteen patients were treated with Aloe vera and 14 patients had benzyl benzoate lotion...

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Pycnogenol inhibits immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic response in mast cells

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 07:05

Pycnogenol inhibits immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic response in mast cells. IgE-dependent mast cell activation is known to be associated with the allergic diseases. Pycnogenol (PYC) is a standardized extract of the bark of French maritime pine containing bioflavonoids with a potent antioxidant activity. The antiallergic activity of PYC was evaluated using both in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Oral administration of PYC significantly inhibited anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP)

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Olive tree leaves: potential beneficial effects on human health

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 06:56

Olive tree (Olea europaea L.) leaves have been widely used in traditional remedies in European and Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, Israel, Morocco, and Tunisia. They have been used in the human diet as an extract, an herbal tea, and a powder, and they contain many potentially bioactive compounds that may have antioxidant, antihypertensive, antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic properties. One of these potentially...

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Television Viewing Time and Mortality

Friday, January 15, 2010 06:47

BACKGROUND: -Television viewing time, the predominant leisure-time sedentary behavior, is associated with biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk, but its relationship with mortality has not been studied. We examined the associations of prolonged television viewing time with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and non-CVD/noncancer mortality in Australian adults. Methods and Results-Television viewing time in relation to subsequent all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality (median...

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Cancer Chemopreventive Activity and Metabolism of Isoliquiritigenin, a Compound Found in

Thursday, January 14, 2010 08:11

Isoliquiritigenin (2',4',4-trihydroxychalcone; ILG), a chalcone found in licorice root and many other plants, has shown potential chemopreventive activity through induction of phase II enzymes such as quinone reductase-1 in murine hepatoma cells. In this study, the in vivo metabolism of ILG was investigated in rats. In addition, ILG glucuronides and ILG-glutathione adducts were observed in human hepatocytes and in livers from rats treated with ILG. ILG glucuronides were detected in both...

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